MTFCA Forum

Erik Johnson

I would skip installing rubber pads or shims.

Erik Johnson

When your 1916 touring originally came from the factory, there were no pads between the body brackets and the chassis.

If there were pads when you removed the body from the frame, those would have been added by someone at a later date.

Erik Johnson

Similar to the Safe-T-Man dummy that was marketed circa late 1980s/early 1990s. The original idea was women who drove alone could put it in the passenger seat of their car. An employee of the company where I worked was ticketed when he was caught driving in the carpool lane with a Safe-T-Man in the ...

Erik Johnson

Those are anti-rattlers. They are a band-aid for worn steering components (bushings, tie-rod bolts, kingpins, etc.) but don't actually cure anything other than reducing noise. They are one of the worst things you can install on the front end of a Model T Ford. They create wear marks on steering syst...

Erik Johnson

Water might be getting between the firewall and the body. From the factory, I believe there originally was a rubber gasket, similar to a flat piece of inner tube, along the top of the wooden firewall between the firewall and the body. When my dad replaced the original factory firewall on his 1917 to...

Erik Johnson

For heavily tarnished brass, use Bar Keepers Friend and then follow-up with your favorite polish. It works extremely fast, even if the brass is brown. Wear nitrile or rubber gloves when using it. It's inexpensive and available in powder or liquid and you can find it a Walmart and, if you are in the ...

Erik Johnson

I'm surprised that the rear axle nut "Z" wrench is open-end.

My father has a TT rear axle nut Z wrench and it is box-end. It also has a round handle which is easier on the hands.

Erik Johnson

From the factory, for 1915 through 1922 U.S. roadsters and tourings, there SHOULD NOT be a pair of webbed straps from the front to the rear bow. I believe the same holds true for the 1913 and 1914 model years. It is the top pads tacked to the bows that keeps them separated. If you copy the top pads ...

Erik Johnson

It's fastened to socket two and three with large upholstery nails - one per socket.

Click on these threads and see my posts and photos:

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=34940&p=270542&hili ... ls#p270542

viewtopic.php?t=32994

Erik Johnson

Now I wonder if there were two styles of Hammerblow timer - one with the apron and one without (late version vs early version or vice versa) or if the one shown in the ad that Mark posted was just for illustration purposes.

Erik Johnson

Click on link and read the description - does not use rollers, brush, fibre or raceway. A quickly read some of the material I posted above and it did have a cam as I assumed. https://www.google.com/books/edition/Motor_Age/e45MAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22herz+timer%22+ford&pg=RA2-PA14&printsec=frontc...

Erik Johnson

I searched "Herz Timer" on Google books. They were manufacturing timers early on, long before Model Ts arrived on the scene. Around 1920, they introduced the Herz Hammerblow Timer for Fords. If you search "Hammerblow timer" on Google Books, it yields some good information (two web pages worth of res...

Erik Johnson

If you search Gidleyford in Google books, you will find some articles on Gidleyford and Doryford boats including an extensive article by Murray Fahnestock in "Fordowner and Dealer" magazine. Fahnestock article https://www.google.com/books/edition/Ford_Owner_and_Dealer/4Jo3AwDh9csC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%2...

Erik Johnson

My father has owned and detailed a few nickel over brass National Cash Registers over the years - he still has one of them. The inner workings of those machines are the same as your slightly later 720. I go to a lot of estate sales and I've also examined a number of the them over the years. Remove t...

Erik Johnson

The original owner of my 1917 roadster drove it until 1947 when he sold it. He was a Swedish bachelor farmer in Cokato, MN and raised ginseng. My father was born in 1931 and is a lifelong Minneapolis resident. He said that he would see the occasional Model T used for regular transportation well into...

Erik Johnson

Walmart Supertech SAE HD-30 conventional motor is readily available, at least where I live. However, it's typically not in the automotive department but in the area where they sell lawnmowers or lawnmower sundries/yard and garden. They also sell SAE 30 non-detergent for air compressors but it is not...

Erik Johnson

You might want to obtain a better swivel. Yours is pretty worn and it might not be good situation if the ball pops out.

Erik Johnson

In corset making that type of metal cap is called a boning tip. Quarter inch and half inch metal caps are readily available - for example. Not sure about 5/8" caps. 1/4" tips http://corsetmaking.com/boning-tips/CMS-SSB-BT4DZ.html 1/4" tips http://www.voguefabricsstore.com/Spiral-Bone-Tips-1-4-6mm-pr...

Erik Johnson

That's the water pump - not a starter.

Erik Johnson

An acquaintence of mine here in the Twin Cities restored a 1909 REO that was very complete and in comparable condition to yours. (It also had the original canvas belly pan/diaper like your REO.) Alhough it was a victim of poor storage, it was actually a low mileage car and mechanically there was ver...

Erik Johnson

To elaborate on what Keith posted, efer to the upper left of ad below.

Erik Johnson

My father and I were invited to Darel's birthday ice cream social but, unfortunately, we couldn't make it. Darel and my father attended Minneapolis Washburn High School. They were in the same homeroom - the "Sound Crew" - which served as both the A/V and stage crew. Darel and my dad are standing nex...

Erik Johnson

On my roadster, I also replaced the original factory springs with lighter springs.

Erik Johnson

Valley Forge brand small 4x6 inch US stick flags are made of a polyester cotton blend. I would try running the edges over a candle flame to melt and seal them to keep them from fraying. (Years ago my sister, an avid sewer, made her own down vest. I watched her pass the nylon edges of all the various...

Erik Johnson

Minnesota 1912-13-14 license plate 22736 was registered in 1912 to a Hupmobile owned by C.F. Dahl of Essig, Minnesota. The registration was published in the June 10, 1912 edition of "Finance and Commerce of the Twin Cities" newspaper. Essig is approximately half-way between Sleepy Eye and New Ulm. (...

Erik Johnson

The most widely possessed but never read books are the Holy Bible and car owner's manuals.

Erik Johnson

The very first thing you should do which does not require taking anything apart is to simply open the petcock on the bottom of the fuel shut-off bulb and stick coat hanger wire straight up through the bulb and into the gas tank to clear any obstruction from the fuel tank into the bulb. Evidence that...

Erik Johnson

The pinstriper that my father utilizes uses 1 Shot. He is also a talented sign painter. As far as various shades of 1 Shot goes, he can pretty much create any shade/color you want by mixing/combining the various off-the-shelf colors. I have witnessed him doing this. Also, I believe 1 Shot has tintab...

Erik Johnson

Adjustment screw at 12 o'clock position on the bucket is correct through at least the 1917 model year.

Erik Johnson

From the factory, there were no webbing straps undere the top. The top pads serve that purpose and, if they are made correctly, they have canvas sewn inside them. There are two pieces of leatherette top material sewn down the middle tacked between the first and second bow as reinforcement (finished ...

Erik Johnson

I had to use the link to see what sawtooth means. Is it better than treads on Blockley, Wards, or other Model T tires, or is the attraction here the bargain price? To paraphrase my elderly father, sawtooth tread is "modern tread" and not period correct for a Model T Ford. Regardless, they are good ...

Erik Johnson

Regarding sidewall cracking: I have 30 x 3.5 Coker sawtooth tires on my roadster. They were on the car when I acquired it 30 years ago and, at that time, the sidewalls were already cracked. I don't know if this is an issue with current production. On the plus side: Coker 30 x 3 Coker sawtooth tread ...

Erik Johnson

I'm guessing that the 1912 touring in the first photo is Canadian because the front wheels appear to be 23" with 30 x 3.5 tires. Also, note the following accessories: knee action front shocks bumper headlamps converted to electric toolbox in lieu of acetylene generator or Prestolite tank seat covers...

Erik Johnson

Two different 1917 coupelets....

Erik Johnson

From personal experience, it is substantially easier to remove and mount a clincher tire with the wheel on the car instead of the wheel or demountable rim on the ground or a bench, etc. If you have demountable rims, move the rim to the front wheel if necessary as there is more room under the fender....

Erik Johnson

honeymoon cropped.jpg This is somewhat "off topic" given the likelihood that this T has been gone for 100 years, but it is a mid year '17 coupelet. The photo was taken by my grandfather, Benjamin Franklin Ostergren Sr. of my grandmother Agnes Dephine Wernstrom Ostergren at Atasca State Park in MInn...

Erik Johnson

Cropped copy of flyer - click on it to enlarge:

Erik Johnson

Cropped copy of flyer - click on it to enlarge:

Erik Johnson

Yes, they really work.

Years ago, you couldn't give them away.

Today, there is some demand.

In my opinion, $200 would be a reasonable price for a matched set of four of the style shown in your photo.

https://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/3 ... 1385911783

Erik Johnson

I mentioned this thread to my 93 year old father - he's been in the antique car hobby since 1948. He said in the into the 1950s, there were a few fellows in the Minnesota Region of the AACA who used 1920s and 30s sedans as tow vehicles to trailer their antique cars. I don't know if he has any photos...

Erik Johnson

As Ed posted above, the gravity flow fuel system is the reason the carburetor sits so low and the intake is so long.

My father's 1910 IHC Model F roadster has overhead valves and has a much longer intake than a Model T Ford.

Erik Johnson

RE: nickel plated radiator shell on 1917 Ford touring When I acquired my 1917 roadster, it had aftermarket nickel-plated headlight rims and radiator shell and a honeycomb radiator. However, the radiator and shell were in rough shape so I sold them (the original owner had pushed portland cement into...

Erik Johnson

The 1912 Torpedo with the young woman has Minnesota 1912-13-14 license plate 19029 which was registered to Charles Wayland of Ivanhoe, MN.

Erik Johnson

RE: nickel plated radiator shell on 1917 Ford touring When I acquired my 1917 roadster, it had aftermarket nickel-plated headlight rims and radiator shell and a honeycomb radiator. However, the radiator and shell were in rough shape so I sold them (the original owner had pushed portland cement into ...

Erik Johnson

The 1915 touring in the very first photo has Minnesota 1915-16-17 license plate 87307 which was registered to A.L. Synnes of Gonvick, MN.

I've done casual research A.L. Synnes in the past - he was a photographer and passed away in 1970.

Erik Johnson

My unrestored May 1917 roadster has figure-eight shackles with steel oilers all the way around. My dad's July 1917 touring (last month of the model year) which he purchased unrestored from the original owner in 1949 has "L" shackles all around. L shackles have no provisions for oilers. The unrestore...

Erik Johnson

RE: Re-refined oil In the mid 1980s, I worked for a short time at the neighborhood gas station/convenience store. We stocked and sold a lot of re-refined, non-detergent SAE 30 oil. If I recall correctly, the price was less than a buck for a quart can. The folks that bought it were mainly poor people...

Erik Johnson

When my father started in the hobby 77 years ago, he put the used motor oil from his father's Cadillac in his Model T. An acquaintence of mine in the antique auto hobby who was born in 1925 told me that when he was a teenager, he drove Model A Fords and the service station in his neighborhood used t...

Erik Johnson

For heavily tarnished brass, I use Bar Keepers Friend cleanser and then follow-up with Brasso or Simichrome. Bar Keepers Friend has mild abrasives and oxalic acid and will quickly remove the brownest of tarnish. I inherited a bottle of Noxon 7 Metal Polish when I bought my house years ago. It's good...

Erik Johnson

While it is true that tappet wrenches have a thin profile, you don't have to limit yourself to tappet wrenches.

Just google thin wrench set, super thin wrench set, thin wrenches or thin profile wrenches and will find a good selection.

Erik Johnson

Lap the shut-off valve as previously mentioned and then lubricate it with bar soap.

Erik Johnson

As I posted earlier, 1/2" C Tips are readily available from a number of vendors under the moniker of boning caps and are marketed to corset makers. Click on the link in my first post.

In my opinion, using a 1/2" tip on a 5/8" strap would be easier than trying to re-work a 1" tip.

Erik Johnson

He's looking for 5/8" C tips like the one shown in the photo below of the original top boot from my father's 1917 touring.

Erik Johnson

Too bad RV Anderson isn't around as he could tell you the proper trade name of the end caps. However, boning end caps are used in corset making and are readily available in 1/2" which may suffice. For example: https://www.amazon.com/caps-Spiral-Steel-Corset-Boning/dp/B083C4NSPH?th=1 If you Google bo...

Erik Johnson

Runbaken Magneto Co of Manchester. If you search Runbaken in Google books, there are a lot of hits. If you search Runbaken timer, it brings up the improved design which has four terminals in top. If you search Runbaken commutator, this is what I found that gives the best description regarding the ti...

Erik Johnson

Just another unofficial and mis-applied term used by certain hobbyists.

It's similar to folks that that call their 1928 Model A a "1928 Model AR" or call their 1965 Mustang a "1964 1/2 Mustang" even though Ford Motor Company never referred to those vehicles as such.

Erik Johnson

The fact that each of the braces are rounded have rounded instead of square ends is most likely an indication that it folds. Also, did you check if to see if the end of the diagonal brace that is covered by the vertical brace is slotted so you can push the diagonal brace forward or backward so it no...

Erik Johnson

If either end of the diagonal brace has a latch/release, then you can fold it.

Refer to this thread:

https://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/5 ... 1448354833

Erik Johnson

Does anyone know if that battery box was used strictly on the enclosed cars, strictly on starter/generator-equipped open cars or both enclosed and open cars? On sedans, tourings and roadsters, the logical location for the battery box is on the front end of the driver side running board (at that loca...

Erik Johnson

The photo of the Model S is distorted because the original photo was not scanned on a flatbed scanner or it was copied with a camera and the lens not perfectedly parallel to the original photo.

Erik Johnson

Third photo - rare 1917 coupelet with aftermarket wheels.

Erik Johnson

1917 Ford roadsters and tourings didn't come with leather top straps from the factory. The the two front bow straps and the two rear curtain straps were originally cotton webbing. If you don't have a set of front and rears, webbing straps are available from Langs. My dad purchased his 1917 touring i...

Erik Johnson

An oil company instructing Model T Ford owners to drain the oil down to the lower petcock and then adding a pint of (I presume) fresh oil is just a ruse to sell more motor oil.

Erik Johnson

Those look like aftermarket curved front fenders that were available for pre-17 Fords. They don't have quite the same profile as factory issued '17 and later fenders. In my neck of the woods, there was a '16 touring with a set of aftermarket curved front fenders. Here is an example of a 1915/16 road...

Erik Johnson

Looks like a '24 or '25 to me, not a '21.

Erik Johnson

First photo is a highly desireable 1918 coupe (removeable window pillars). Sidelamps have been removed. Appears to be aftermarket wood felloe demountable wheels. Heavy cable coming from battery box and through splash apron indicates it might be equipped with an aftermarket combination starter/genera...

Erik Johnson

Larry: The pads as supplied by Classtique are not how it was done at the factory. Classtique provides the covering and two lengths of jute furniture webbing per pad. The original top pads did not have jute webbing in them. As I described factory issued pads, canvas is sewn inside the top pad materia...

Erik Johnson

I measured the original, factory issued pads from my unrestored 1917 roadster and the width is seven inches. 1915, 16 and 17 all used the same oval top sockets and curved bows. The only difference between the construction of the top is 1915-16 had a tombstone light (window) in the rear curtain whera...

Erik Johnson

If you are purist and want to do it right, this is how the pads were constructed at the factory: - Lightweight white canvas sewn inside, along the folds of the black cotton covering. The pads are stuffed with cotton batting. - There SHOULD NOT be two straps that run from the first bow to the last bo...

Erik Johnson

She's smiling because she bought the car from a little old lady up the street. It had been sitting on blocks in the garage for the past 15 years; that's why it is in such great condition. However, the buyer isn't aware that the reason the car was mothballed is that the aluminum transmission frame is...

Erik Johnson

Wayne: The driver of the 1915 touring looks like Judy Garland, hence the title. Who knows if it is? The woman on the passenger side looks familiar, like another Hollywood actress. The clothing is definitely late 1930s and into the 1940s. If it is Judy, I would say the photo is no earlier than 1942.

Erik Johnson

My father and I use bar soap to lubricate the sediment bulb shut-off valve and the petcock.

It's also impervious to gasoline and readily available inside the house.

Erik Johnson

RE: satin, matte or flat finish If you want a satin, matte or flat finish, use gloss varnish for all the undercoats and then use satin, matte or flat for the final coat. Following the above procedure provides a clear finish. If you use a sheen other than gloss for all the undercoats, the finish will...

Erik Johnson

He's holding a small toy saxophone in his right hand.

It looks like the one I had when I was a kid.

Erik Johnson

Third photo from bottom:

1913 touring with Minnesota 1912-13-14 plate 29466 was registered to B.J. Aenes of Shakopee.

Erik Johnson

When the lamps are lit, the lenses heat-up and slightly expand.

Therefore, I believe any type of rubber gasket, sealant or caulking is not adviseable.

Just my two cents which is neither here nor there.

Erik Johnson

Coker Excelsior 30 x 3 and 30 x 3.5 were previously branded Coker Commander. My dad has Coker Commander tires on his 1917 touring. They are about 25 years old. The reason he bought them is the 30 x 3 tires (front tires) appear to be more period correct as they seem to have a narrower profile and do ...

Erik Johnson

The firewall and floorboards are plywood replacements - not factory.

Erik Johnson

Instead of a six cylinder Chevy, get an eight cylinder Pontiac. This is my father's 1949 Pontiac convertible trailering a 1920 Ford touring and cutter. Photo was taken July 24, 1952. The trailer and bumper hitch were rentals. The Pontiac is long-gone but the 1920 touring currently resides near Manka...

Erik Johnson

The car reeks 1917 although I would say by April 1917, it would not have that earlier style windshield. The 1917 model year was August 1916 through July 1917. Look for a body date and body number on the passenger side floor riser. Depending on the body manufacturer, it will be stamped directly into ...

Erik Johnson

RE: stretching clincher tires My father has a 1910 IHC Model F roadster which he acquired in 1951. It has 27 inch wheels and came with 34 x 3.5 clincher tires from the factory. 34 x 3.5 tires weren't available when he restored the car and I don't think they are available now. To remedy the above, he...

Erik Johnson

The adjustment screw was at the 12 o'clock position through at least the 1917 model year.

The combination horn button/light switch and dimmer coil on the firewall was introduced early in the 1918 model year (the fall of 1917).

Erik Johnson

The adjustment screw was at the 12 o'clock through at least the 1917 model year and the headlamps are not as scarce as one might think. If you are stickler, you should have a matched pair made by the same manufacturer. For example, the headlamps on my unrestored May 1917 roadster are John Brown whil...

Erik Johnson

The hard rubber switch housing was used through at least the 1917 model year. My dad has a July 1917 touring that he purchased from the original owner and it has the hard rubber switch. So does the June 1917 Rip van Winkle touring. My unrestored May 1917 roadster has the later stamped steel switch h...

Erik Johnson

I noted that it has a Pennsylvania dealer plate, most likely 1937, in one of my earlier posts. Also, as I noted earlier, the reason why the image in the original post is askew is because the original poster took a photo of the photo, which was hanging on a wall, with his camera lense not perfectly p...

Erik Johnson

I respectfully disagree.

It's sun-bleached, weathered veneer that has become wavy-gravy because it has let loose from the core.

What you are looking at on the left is the bracket that attaches the windshield to the firewall. There is an identical bracket on the right.

Erik Johnson

I doubt it is AI.

As far as the firewall is concerned: it looks like the veneer is faded and delaminating and that is why it looks wavy and wrinkled which gave you the impression that it is transparent.

Erik Johnson

Note that it has a Pennsylvania dealer plate - I'm pretty sure it's a 1937 plate. Regarding the windshield staying upright without stock/factory rods from the hinges to the front of the car. Note that there appears to be short support rods from the hinges back to the body, somewhat similar to a 1913...

Erik Johnson

It's a 1912.

As far as the skewed perspective is concerned: that is a photo of a photo. It looks askew because whoever copied the photo with their camera did not have their lense perfectly parallel to the photo.

Erik Johnson

Just an FYI:

This weekend, Harbor Freight has a 30% off coupon for all of their Viking jump starters and chargers:

https://go.harborfreight.com/email/2024 ... 66&mi_sc=t

Erik Johnson

I wouldn't necessarily say that batteries and charging systems (or starters) were less reliable. One purpose of having a removeable crank along with the other factory issued tools under the seat or in the trunk has to do with maintenance and repairs, i.e. the ability to hand-crank the engine in orde...

Erik Johnson

Credit should go to Trent Bogess.

It was due to one of his posts years ago that I became aware that the ground wire was soldered to the radiator cross bar.

See this thread and read Trent's comment:

https://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/29/24151.html

Erik Johnson

Here are photos of the "Rip Van Winkle" 1917 touring - click on photos to enlarge. This car has a June 1917 motor number and was most likely assembled in the downtown Minneapolis plant. The wire is grounded to the radiator support strap. The yellow arrow points to solder blob which actually extends ...

Erik Johnson

You may ground the headlamp wire to whatever you please. The radiator support is the strap/crossbar/bracket towards the bottom of the radiator - it has a hole at each end so you can mount the radiator to the frame. It is my understanding that from the factory, the ground wire was actually soldered i...

Erik Johnson

Frank:

Your diagram does not apply to a stock 1915 Ford.

Erik Johnson

The last photo with the 1914 touring and the gentleman holding the package has Minnesota 1912-13-14 license plate 60605 which was registered to Belvin T. Demevith of Grasston, MN for a Ford.

Erik Johnson

Folks - re-read the original post.

He's asking about the spur at the bottom of the key, not the hole.

Personally, I think someone filed the key to make that spur for their own purposes.

Erik Johnson

Ground wire from headlamp socket to radiator stud as Dan posted - this is my father's 1917 Ford. From the factory, supposedly the ground wire from the headlight was actually soldered to the radiator support. Don't know if that was how it was done on the Rip Van Winkle 1917 touring - I have a number ...

Erik Johnson

I don't think you will find an off-the-shelf 6V jump starter box. A month ago, I picked up a free used Walmart Everstart Maxx 800 peak amp jump starter. It also has an air compressor, flashlight and USB ports. An jump starter is also available under both the Craftsman and Stanley brands and a simila...

Erik Johnson

It is substantially easier to mount a clincher tire with the wheel/rim on the car. Click on this link and scroll down to Royce Peterson's posts on how to mount a clincher tire with the wheel on the car: https://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/179374/256320.html?1325091009 The last time I did it, it re...

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