MTFCA Forum

Erik Johnson

Square felloe wheels are not correct for 1915.

Erik Johnson

Daniel:

I sent you an email.

Erik

Erik Johnson

Still for sale - will bring to Bob Peterson's swap meet in Kenyon, MN this Saturday, June 27.

Erik Johnson

Still for sale - will bring to Bob Peterson's swap meet in Kenyon, MN this Saturday, June 27.

Erik Johnson

Got it, thanks.

Erik Johnson

Complete and ready-to-install brass Rands windshield with laminated safety glass and hard-to-find Rands adjustable rods. Price is $850.00 All the brass was professionally buffed/polished at a local plating shop. Upper panel measures 41" x 10 3/4" Lower panel measures 41" x 12" I plan on bringing thi...

Erik Johnson

Vanguard brass upper windshield frame including parting strip and four hinge screws. Price is $65.00. There is one stress crack in the frame as shown in the photos. This does not effect the function of the frame and can probably be easily filled-in or repaired with silver solder. Frame measures 41 5...

Erik Johnson

The car is a 1923 Model T Ford touring or roadster.

The date the photo was actually taken would be harder to pinpoint. However, if you know the state where it was taken, even a partial view of the license plate as shown in the photo can help determine the year the photo was taken.

Erik Johnson

Here is a 1932-35 Ford truck badge.

Note the copper/brass where the cloisonne is missing.

Erik Johnson

It's a Model A badge.

It's spent a long time in the ground.

The blue cloisonne (porcelain) is gone.

They were nickel or chrome plated over copper or brass. You can see evidence of this on my example where the porcelain is chipped.

The solder on the back is for the stud.

Erik Johnson

The first photo you posted is my 1917 roadster.

In 1917 the metal cap did not have a gutter and is not correct for 1923.

Don't know what year the gutter was added to the cap but I'm sure your '23 should have a gutter. You'd have to do some research.

Erik Johnson

I don't use the forum's key word search. I didn't use the previous forum platform key word search either. I simply use google as I explained in my prior post. If you click on the links I previously posted showing the results of a google search of "Harold Lloyd" on mtfca.com there are plenty of pre-2...

Erik Johnson

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKykk-AegMw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTE5NrLwhSM

Here's a 1923 but the valvetrain has a sheet metal cover:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBSzL--o92w

Erik Johnson

I never use the forum's search function. You can easily search pre-2019 forums via google. For example, to search for Harold Lloyd, put the following in your search bar: site:mtfca.com "harold lloyd" Click on this link to see the results: https://www.google.com/search?q=site%3Amtfca.com+%22harold+ll...

Erik Johnson

Not RHD.

Here's the clue: horns

Erik Johnson · Re: Panrail surprise Looks like 11-3-68 to me.

Looks like 11-3-68 to me.

Erik Johnson

Here's the driver's side of my '17 roadster.

The binding for the armrest continues past the upholstery, all the way down to the bottom of the panel. In other words, it is one continuous piece of binding the covers both the armrest and rearward end of the panel. Click on the photo to enlarge.

Erik Johnson

The panel forward of the passenger door has trim/binding around the entire perimeter, no different than the door. The driver's side panel also has the same trim as above around it's entire perimeter. If you want to do it the same as the factory, the trim immediately forward of the seat riser is just...

Erik Johnson

Further to the left, there is also a large dimple in the body and a large dent in the trunk where it meets the back of the body.

Erik Johnson

To quote my late neighbor, who started working on Model Ts in 1925 and then graduated to Ford V8s:

"Model T Fords are self-healing."

Erik Johnson

There should have been no need to cut anything. If that firewall is original to the car, if you strip the paint you may find the correct locations. First photo is of Paul Iverson's unrestored 1916 touring. It is a very good example of a complete and unrestored car. Note that it has the "round" light...

Erik Johnson

That ring is the retainer for the pin. The timer currently on your car should also have a retainer.

Install in the following order on the camshaft:

- brush
- pin
- retainer
- nut

Erik Johnson

I believe the hole size is the same regardless if it is the round switch or the switch with the rectangle plate. As someone mentioned earlier, the body of both switches are round and are probably the same diameter. Note the drawing that I posted above only shows the hole for the switch body, but doe...

Erik Johnson

The pinion gear skipping over the ring gear in the differential due to worn or disintegrated thrust bearings will cause a banging noise. The sound travels along the driveshaft so it can sound like the problem is occurring directly under the front floorboards even though it originates in the rear end.

Erik Johnson

I posted a factory drawing for a 1917 firewall. The location for the light switch for 1915 should be the same. See this thread - the hole is 15/16": http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/708324/723219.html?1486501958 Not an expert, but I believe there were two different styles of light switches in 19...

Erik Johnson

Mike at Classtique will sell you material by the yard as well as other supplies. https://www.classtiqueupholstery.com/ Bill Hirsch also sells upholstery material - don't know if he carries anything that is correct for Model T sedans or coupes but you can do the research. Hirsch is also a good source...

Erik Johnson

Terminology - upholstery tacks vs upholstery nails: Many folks and vendors use the terms "upholstery tack" and "upholstery nail" interchangeably. However, an upholstery tack and an upholstery nail are actually two different things. Upholstery tacks are used to fasten the material to the underlying w...

Erik Johnson

As Wayne posted above, the first photo is of Harry Lauder.

It is a well known photograph, taken in Los Angeles. The original negative is in the possession of the Ford Motor Co. or Henry Ford Museum. There are better prints available.

Erik Johnson

All three bolts for attaching the roadster rear fender iron to the sill go through the body/frame bracket, then the wooden sill, sheet metal and finally the fender iron. The body/frame bracket has three square holes to accommodate the corresponding bolt shoulders. In other words, the body/frame brac...

Erik Johnson

The nuts and lock washers are on the outside.

I have an unrestored 1917 roadster with a known history since new. The nuts are hex, not square.

Erik Johnson

Looks like your local O'Reilly Auto Parts carries what you need. If they don't have it in stock, you can probably order one. For example, it shows as being in stock at the Wylie location. https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/b/fleet---heavy-duty-4993/battery-accessories-16452/batteries---commercial-17...

Erik Johnson

Hopefully this does the trick.

Erik Johnson

On a '17, there is burlap or jute between the cardboard and the wood armrest as you show in the picture of the '20. The stuffing doesn't go on top the armrest - it's basically a hard surface and the upholstery is nice and tight on the armrest. I'd post some pictures but I'm at my parents' house, not...

Erik Johnson

To be factory correct, the cardboard covers only the wood armrest. The wood armrest has countersunk holes for bolts. The cardboard covers those holes, creating a smooth surface for the upholstery. On the wood armrest, there is no stuffing between the cardboard and the upholstery material.

Erik Johnson

The June 1917 Rip Van Winkle Ford has black cotton webbing that is nailed to the wood, under the respective panels. My unrestored May 1917 touring has remnants of the door check cotton webbing under the panels. R.V. Anderson makes and sells the appropriate door check material. My dad put a set on hi...

Erik Johnson

Depending on the mileage since the lube was last changed, it wouldn't bother me if it sat for ten years and just needs to be topped off. If you know what viscosity is currently in the rear-end, just add more until the level is 1.5 inches below the bottom of the fill plug. The above is just my opinio...

Erik Johnson

Because you live in Los Angeles county, I would think that if you looked in the yellow pages you would find at least one shop that does re-silvering in Los Angeles or Orange County. I did some Googling for you and there are a few shops that do re-silvering of glass mirrors in LA: https://www.google....

Erik Johnson

The sedan in the first photo is a 1927 Studebaker.

Note the fuzzy logo on the spare tire cover.

Erik Johnson

I have a can of tire talc on the shelf - I believe it is from NAPA. If you can't tire talc from a local auto parts store or bike shop, it is available online. I don't consider it to be a bead lubricant. It's purpose is to reduce the friction between the tire and the tube. Frankly, you don't need muc...

Erik Johnson

It is a 1917 coupelet.

There were two versions in the 1917 model year:

- first version with the folding top, like 1916, as shown in the photo

- second version with the stationary top that was padded to the belt line and removable window pillars

Erik Johnson

That hole in your windshield frame is not factory so it could have been drilled any time in the last 113 years. Also, the rain flap you show appears to be what is known as cobra grain. Cobra grain was not used on Model T roadster or touring tops from the factory although through the years vendors di...

Erik Johnson

If you have another long piece of top material, that may be for a front rain flap/windbreaker. However, be aware that 1917 Fords did not have a rain flap/windbreaker. The windbreaker was introduced around 1920, according to Bruce McCalley. Most folks install the windbreaker. Regarding the windshield...

Erik Johnson

I thought I had answered that in private message. As posted before, the first bow is covered with a single piece of leatherette. The leatherette is cut on the bias (cut diagonally to the weave) so it doesn't pucker at the corners. Because you have eight pieces that are cut on the bias , I can only s...

Erik Johnson

It's $1.69 in Minneapolis proper and $1.49 in the second and third ring suburbs. The lowest prices in the state are in Red Wing where it is below a dollar. However, non-oxy premium which I use in the snowblower and lawnmower is $3.38/gallon. There are two stations within six blocks of me that sell it.

Erik Johnson

To add to Mark's post above, see this thread where I posted a diagram showing the washer that was used with a flat or non-embossed bridge washer:

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/33 ... 1377072854

Erik Johnson

Here's a photo of the 1917 Rip Van Winkle touring showing what David Dewey described. Click on the photo to enlarge. Note that the car was wearing its side curtains when this photo was taken. As he said, it is L or J shaped on the bottom. My father and I also have the original trim piece on our 17's...

Erik Johnson

Richard: All Royce is doing is slowly moving the crankshaft so the piston that is in the compression stroke goes past dead center and ignition and internal combustion takes over. He's not spinning the crank. He's not strong arming the crank. He's slowly moving the crank. That can't be much different...

Erik Johnson

Here's non-Ford example of "starting from spark."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMa3_tT5mKA

Erik Johnson

My dad's 1910 IHC Model F roadster has a low tension, Remy magneto ignition. The coil box has a push button on it. After priming the engine with the ignition off, you turn the switch to "BAT" and you can push the button to fire one of the sparkplugs and you MIGHT get a free start (or at least a "chu...

Erik Johnson

From the factory, on a touring the first bow is covered with one piece of thin leatherette. It is attached with tacks. The leatherette is cut on the bias so it does not pucker when rounding the corners of the bow. If I recall correctly, Classtique does not sell long enough pieces of the leatherette ...

Erik Johnson

From the factory, there a single nail hole on the outboard side of each socket. These are from the large head, upholstery nails that were used to fasten the top material to the socket. As previously posted, eight large head upholstery nails were used on a touring - one upholstery nail per socket. Se...

Erik Johnson

The Hastings window frames were added within the past 40 years. I surmise that the rear windows were damaged or torn sometime during that period so the fix was to add those accessory frames. Someone also added modern muffler wrap with stainless steel bands and an oil can holder to the steering colum...

Erik Johnson

My great uncle, a creative and inventive guy, installed 9 toilet paper holders on the bathroom wall.

My great aunt would make sure that each roll of toilet paper was a different print or color.

Erik Johnson

1917 "Rip Van Winkle" Ford touring. June 1917 serial number.

Click on each photo to enlarge.

Erik Johnson

Adjustable basket strainer wrench: https://www.google.com/search?q=adjustable+strainer+wrench&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwi8hfX9xtfoAhUSTqwKHTXbBm0Q2-cCegQIABAA&oq=adjustable+strainer+wrench&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQAzoECAAQQzoCCAA6BQgAEIMBOgYIABAIEB46BAgAEBg6BAgAEB5QhJQBWKCyAWDjswFoAHAAeAGAAacBiAHyFZIBBDkuMTeYAQCgAQ...

Erik Johnson

I have the 5-Z-196 tool for inserting the universal joint into the tail shaft.

It's a thin profile, open end wrench.

Regardless of what method you use, to avoid injury, keep your hands outside of the ball joint when inserting the u-joint into the tail shaft.

Erik Johnson

Paul Iverson has a really nice, unrestored 1916 touring. If you look at the photos he posted a while back, you can see bits and pieces of the wiring. Note that it looks like the loom is tucked under the edge of the hood former. His car also has the bell wire staples for the headlamp wire. http://www...

Erik Johnson

I'll have to run the wires under the choke wire. Also - Here are photos of the 1917 "Rip Van Winkle" Ford (June 1917 serial number). Note the two staples on the firewall for the light switch wire. We have also installed those on our 1917 touring since I took the photos. My unrestored 1917 roadster i...

Erik Johnson

1917 is the same as 1915 and 1916.

I posted some nice photos a while back that you might find helpful - click on this link:

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/17 ... 1309378046

Erik Johnson

Dunlop closed its remaining UK plant about four years ago and subsequently no longer manufactures tires for early automobiles. However, the Dunlop chevron tread tires are now branded "Ensign Chevron Cord" but I have no idea who manufactures them or whether or not 30 x 3 and 30 x 3.5 tires are availa...

Erik Johnson

I had mentioned in the other thread that my dad had a 1927 Hupmobile with the same but Hall tail light. I should have also mentioned that, six years ago, I had a Dodge Hall light but sold it on eBay. Note that the reflector was missing but the interior was painted white. White paint can be a tempora...

Erik Johnson

Even though you bought the tires direct from Blockley, couldn't you have saved some money by purchasing the tubes from Coker, Universal or Lucas?

Erik Johnson

The "HUPP" on the Hupmobile light was etched on the surface of the lens. My dad had a 1927 Hupmobile Model A (six cylinder) sedan (first photo) so I am very familiar with the tail light. I have seen a few of the Hupp lights at swap meets in various condition and they occasionally show up on eBay. Th...

Erik Johnson

I'm amazed at the amount of perfectly good things that people throw out instead of dropping it off at the Goodwill or giving it away on Craigsilst. Even broken items are worth trying to give away on Craigslist first before relegating them to the trash. Last fall, a neighbor a few doors down from me ...

Erik Johnson

Here are some photos of 1915-17 roadster top sockets and bows for you. This is one of two sets that I have and the construction of both sets is the same. One set is the original from my unrestored 1917 roadster but they are in rough shape so the set shown is what I currently have on my car. Each bow...

Erik Johnson

Harold Schwendeman: If you are referring to Zerk fittings, see this video why you shouldn't need to hold the coupler tightly against the Zerk while pumping the gun. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sq9MNUHwUFY Video showing the same process - note how the coupler can be tightened and loosened on the ...

Erik Johnson

That's a 1923 through 1925 one-man top.

Erik Johnson

Note the difference in tire sizes front vs rear.

Fronts look like balloon tires while rears look like 30 x 3 or 30 x 3.5 clinchers.

Erik Johnson

Shimmie stopper and groove maker......

Erik Johnson

If you decide to buy the Model A wheels, don't pay much because they aren't worth much.

Erik Johnson

Bill Elliot shows an original short strap with serrated buckle from his '14 Ford along with new ones from Classtique in the link below: http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/599638/606536.html?1455820509 I believe Classtique puts a snap on one end so you can run a nail or screw through it hen you fas...

Erik Johnson

Keith: The original short top boot cotton webbing straps that are fastened to the bottom of the seatback in my '17 roadster and my dad's '17 touring have serrated buckles. That allows you to have the long straps on the top boot as loose or as tight as you want them. When you tighten up the center st...

Erik Johnson

More photos of the prototype on Royce's great website:

https://modeltfordfix.com/the-1915-model-t-ford-part-2/

Erik Johnson

Here's another set I also happen to have - English & Mersick - which are probably the most common brand of tear-drop electric coach lamps.

Erik Johnson

No Ford sedan sold retail came from the factory with those. I consider the well-known factory photo of the sedan posted above with those lights to be a prototype. Note that it has crowned or after-market fenders and husky, fork-mounted headlights. That type of light was used as sidelights on electri...

Erik Johnson

Not velvet.

Mohair, which was very common.

The original mohair upholstery in my dad's unrestored 1927 Hupmobile below.

Erik Johnson

If all you are doing is sanding the rims and leaving them bare, you are going to have a rust problem. Paint the inside and outside of the rim with Rustoleum oil-based brush paint. Use a China bristle (natural bristle) brush. Prime the entire rim - inside and outside - with rusty metal primer. Follow...

Erik Johnson

For U.S. assembled Fords: 1909 model year = headlamps were an option 1910 model year forward, with the exception of 1910-1912 (and 1913?) model year closed cars, headlamps were standard equipment. They were not an option. 1915 model = first model year for electric headlights on U.S. assembled cars.

Erik Johnson

To clarify my previous post. The 1915/16 "reproduction" firewalls sold by the vendors do not have hole drilled for the headlight switch when they SHOULD have those holes if the person reproducing them is going by the factory drawings. Same goes for the 1917 and early 1918 firewalls - they too SHOULD...

Erik Johnson

I looked at the wood Snyder's firewalls online. The black radiator firewalls pictured on the website look different that what my dad purchased from Lang's approximately ten years ago. They are missing a number of details that were mentioned in the link that I posted earlier. For example, no notches ...

Erik Johnson

Most likely Electric Vehicle Company hansom cabs, although there were other makes of electric hansom cabs. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_Vehicle_Company Google is your friend so I'm tossing you the bones below so you can do your own research: https://www.google.com/search?q=electric+hansom+...

Erik Johnson

I have to disagree about distortion being common in period photos. Copies of period photos that appear distorted are posted on the forum on a regular basis. The reason is not because the original photo is distorted. The reason is due to taking a photo of the original photo and not having the camera ...

Erik Johnson

Yes, it is a Model T Ford. The Belle Isle conservatory which is in the background of the photo, is located in Detroit, MI. Model T Ford were introduced to the market on October 1, 1908 so it is possible the photo was taken in 1908 and not mis-dated. If it was taken in 1908, it probably was taken in ...

Erik Johnson

Locks with the round bottom like the one on the toolbox on eBay are usually Yale locks. If the lock has a squared-off bottom, they are typically Corbin or Eagle. The above take flat keys. I've had toolboxes with keys. If a key from one box fits other boxes that I own, I've use that key profile or th...

Erik Johnson

That's not a Minnesota certificate of title. It's a carbon copy of the Minnesota application for title and registration or for transfer of an existing title and registration. If it were in better focus, I could determine if it is a new application or transfer. Personally, I wouldn't worry about it. ...

Erik Johnson

Flat tires, flat tires, flat tires...

Erik Johnson

Unless things have changed, the wood firewalls sold by the vendors are generic, for lack of a better term. They work but they are not accurate reproductions of the originals in that they are lacking in a number of details. Refer to the third paragraph of my 1:55 pm timestamped post in the thread bel...

Erik Johnson

Singer 29 series cobbler/leather machines are not rare, at least up here in Minnesota. I occasionally see them at estate sales and they do show up on Craigslist. Right now, there is a Singer 29K71 on Minneapolis Craigslist: https://minneapolis.craigslist.org/ank/hsh/d/maiden-rock-singer-29k71-sewing...

Erik Johnson

If you are building a "put-together" by gathering parts, you can simply exclude the starter and the generator in your build even if you are utilizing 1919 or later block and hogshead.

The starter and generator are bolt-on items. If you delete them, there are plates that cover the openings.

Erik Johnson

I would do the opposite of what you are doing regarding where the straps are fastened to the boot. I would have only the center strap attached to the bottom of the top boot and pass through the rear curtain and through the top of the boot. This pulls up the bottom of the center of the boot which als...

Erik Johnson

On the 1915 through 1922 roadster and touring windshields, in the up position, the upper half of the windshield sits forward of the lower half. Also, the bottom of the upper half slightly overlaps the top of the lower half when the windshield is in the up position. Therefore, by design, there is no ...

Erik Johnson

Your dad may have used a clock cleaning solution which is a mixture of the following: - Water - Household amoninia - Oleic acid (Murphy's Oil Soap) - Acetone (optional) The ratios of the above ingredients vary depending on who you talk to. The reason why the float may not be getting clean in ammonia...

Erik Johnson

Brewster, Minnesota. The vehicles have Minnesota 1918 - 1919 - 1920 license plates. (Three year plate, white over black.). Also - the building survives: https://www.minnpost.com/economic-vitality-in-greater-minnesota/2019/07/a-tale-of-two-school-districts-how-open-enrollment-is-playing-out-in-greate...

Erik Johnson

If you don't have cutting oil, you can use water pump lubricant aka "anti-rust" which is also water soluble oil. The drawback is that it can effect rubber hoses over time. Water pump lubricant is getting harder to find these days at the auto parts store but NAPA does carry it: https://www.napaonline...

Erik Johnson

I'm not a member of the MTFCI so I did not get the magazine so I apologize if the following was covered in your article. The June 1917 "Rip Van Winkle" touring and my father's July 1917 touring had the dust cover and solid hex nut shown in the thread below. The solid nuts are hard to find. http://ww...

Erik Johnson

Steve Jelf:

Dunlop quit making antique car tires around 2015.

When I mentioned locating a set of NOS Dunlops, my presumption is that they too would be fairly new, not 30 or 40 years old.

Also, Dunlops were made in England and extremely high quality (and very expensive).

Erik Johnson

Dunlop Cord chevron tread 30 x 3.5 tires are true, thirty inch tires. If you've ever seen them on a Model T, they look great. Unfortunately, Dunlop quit producing antique car tires a few years ago but the molds were purchased by another company who produces tires under the Ensign brand name. I don't...

Erik Johnson

Pierce Arrow

Erik Johnson

I agree with Tim. It's a Covert. Here is a photo referenced as a 1904 Covert which appears to have been taken at the Henry Ford Museum (note the floor). They may have disposed of it during the "big purge" a while back. It does have different side lamps, the rear fender irons are gone but it does hav...

Erik Johnson

If you polish a 104 year old brass radiator, it will still be a 104 year old brass radiator when you are finished. I don't understand the attraction to dirt, grease, oil and tarnish. People did wash their cars. I would have no problem detailing an unrestored antique car including polishing the brass...

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