1921

 

FEB 15 Acc. 575, Box 14, #831, Ford Archives
Coupe body had apparently been modified to have the gas tank under the seat in part of 1920 production. Directive advising of change back to the square tank in the rear deck made this date. The height of the coupe seat seemed to be the problem.

 

MAR 10 Acc.235, Box 38, #697, Ford Archives
"We enclose you herewith sheet #3 of our paint specifications on Coupe and Sedan bodies. This sheet gives you the information covering those portions of the paint operations performed at the branches.
"We call your attention in particular to Operation #16, wherein it is noted that all inside moldings, window jambs, windshield frames and door jambs be given one coat of Black Satin Finish F-192."

 

APR 1 Acc. 575, Box 14, #832, Ford Archives
Oil holes in the frame rails for the brake lever shaft discontinued.

 

APR 26 Acc. 575, Box 14, #836, Ford Archives
Bendix cover now painted black instead of zinc plated.

 

MAY 12 Engine production records, Ford Archives
"Began using Heinze commutators."

 

MAY 28 Engine production records, Ford Archives
Engine 5,000,000 built at 7:05 A.M. Given to Edsel Ford.

 

JUN 26 Acc. 235, Box 38, Ford Archives
"Please discontinue furnishing T6881, Top Dust Hood for Touring Car, T6939 Top Dust Hood for Torpedo, and T1923, Tool Box, as regular equipment on new cars as soon as your available stock is exhausted.
"Top hoods may be carried as extra parts in your service stock and supplied at regular catalog price hereafter."

 

JUL 14 Acc. 1701. Model T Releases, Ford Archives
Specified that the shape of the spokes be changed from oval to round. (This may have occurred earlier than this date.)

 

JUL 19 Acc. 235, Box 38, Ford Archives
"We wish to call your attention to the new style pressed steel running board bracket which has gone into production and as shipments have been made to some of the branches we ask that you kindly note the changes which will go into effect through the adoption of this new bracket." (A list of the parts followed.)

 

JUL 17 Acc. 235, Box 38, Ford Archives
"Supplementing our General Letter No. 793 under date of June 18the, wherein we mention the fact that Sedan Side Curtains T10300A1, A2, A3 and T10300B, are to be held for repairs only. This means that side curtains will not be included in standard sedan equipment in the future." (These are the side window curtains.)

 

AUG 3 Henry Ford Office Files, Ford Archives

The following letter was received from the Holley Carburetor Company:
"Dear Mr. Ford:
"A situation which I consider unjust to us has developed at the Highland Park factory which I respectfully request receive your serious consideration.

1. A contract was made between the Holley Carburetor Company and the Ford Motor Company, September 1, 1920, in which the Ford Motor Company was given a shop right to manufacture our NH carburetor, the consideration being orders to be placed with us for 50% of the carburetors used on the Model T cars. From September 1st to June 30th we received orders for 34% of the cars produced.

2. We installed machinery to produce 5,000 carburetors per day. The above contract provided for one year's notice of cancellation. This notice was given us on April 21st, 1921. Since that time, machinery has been installed in the Highland Park factory to produce carburetors known as Model F, which is identical with Model NH with the exception of a slight change in the mixer chamber venturi, as per sketch attached. We are informed that they have orders to produce 3000 of these carburetors per day while we have never produced more than 1,800 per day and have been laying men off a portion of each month.

"We spent about seven months and very nearly $75,000 in perfecting the NH carburetor and so far as the writer knows there are not complaints on workmanship. Our price has been from 11 to 30 cents per carburetor lower than Kingston and, to the best of our knowledge and belief, it is also lower than the cost of the Model G made at the Rowena Street plant. Our relations have been cordial and satisfactory in every way and we are at a loss to understand the reason for the action taken at Highland Park as it is absolutely unjust and only leads toward an organization that will permit such action to be taken."

There is an attached drawing showing the venturi designs for the NH and Model F. The NH has the "straight through" bore while the Model F has the venturi that dips in the middle ¾ what we usually think of as the later NH. It is interesting that the Ford built carburetors had this feature earlier than the Holley.

The Holley letter was accompanied by a letter from F.H. Diehl the Ford Motor Company's purchasing agent. He stated that not only was Ford making Model F's, but that they were building Model G's as well. And they were buying Kingston's too. These documents suggest that Model T's came with four different carburetors from Sept. 1, 1920 to Aug., 1921: The Holley NH with the straight thru design, the Model F, the Model G and the Kingston.

(The above was discovered by Trent Boggess during a visit to the Ford Archives in February 1997.)

 

AUG 6 Engine production records, Ford Archives
"Began to center commutator counterbore with camshaft."

 

AUG 9 Engine production records, Ford Archives
"New style crankcase in all production."

 

OCT 10 Engine production records, Ford Archives
"Began brass rollers" (commutator). By October 13 they were using all brass rollers.

 

OCT 15 Acc. 78, Box 47-49, Ford Archives
Sample "new style" bodies shipped from Highland Park to branches, to be used as samples.

 

OCT 25 Engine production records, Ford Archives
"New commutator shield begun." (The center hole now had a lip.)

 

OCT 28 Acc. 1701. Model T Releases, Ford Archives
"Added slot for stop pin in bottom," referring to the steering gear box under the steering wheel. "Outside of cup to be machined and nickel plated."

 

NOV 1 Engine production records, Ford Archives
First engine with one-piece valve door. The older two-door engines continued until April 3, 1922.

 

NOV 8 Engine production records, Ford Archives
"Start copper plate rollers." (These are the copper-plated steel rollers.)

 

NOV 15 Engine production records, Ford Archives
Began using rolled-thread head bolts.

 

DEC 29 Acc. 78, Box 47-49, Ford Archives
Commutator brushes of bronze and steel being supplied. Aluminum type discontinued.

 

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© Bruce W. McCalley. Rev. February 21, 2007