MTFCA Forum

(continued) Below is a photo from Clayton Swanson when he was selling an unmolested 1921 touring that still had the 5-piece rear tub and the top saddle rest coming down from the rear seat like the previous 1915-1920 cars. 1921 By Clayton Swanson.jpg Below is what I believe are the typical 1921ish (a...

Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF): Dan you could easily be correct. I always really appreciate your inputs and file them for future reference. Including the one you made above. But I think the original top pivots shown are actually for the 1921ish-1925 touring. And of course, Bruce points out that differe...

JR, Welcome to the affliction. Lot's of good advice above. Model T’s can be a great fun puzzle. From what you have shared so far, It sounds like the car had a “fix-up” sometime in the 1980 or so. And before that an unknown history. Because the Model T parts can interchange so easily – it is usually ...

Will, I looked at your blog, but I didn't see or I may have missed it, which of the two Center Door makers (Fisher or Wadsworth) produced your body? That is a question I've wondered about for years -- how do you tell which body maker produced the body? In Bruce's CD version under the Center Door bod...

Will, Looks like you are making progress! I have not done a rewooding yet of a touring let alone trying to do a Center Door. But looking at the "Ford Owner" reprint that used the Ford Price list from Sept 1, 1922 – for the touring body it states: “There are some variations in dimensions of Ford Bodi...

How special!!! Beautiful car and great job! Mark, you and your father did a great job or raising him right!

Respectfully submitted,

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Rachel,

Thanks for the heads up that it was running late. And thank you also for the great job of putting it together and getting it out to us! I always enjoying reading it!

Respectfully submitted,

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Andy,

Beautiful work! Beautiful car! Thank you so much for posting the photos. I'm sure you will have it sorted out and be enjoying the rides!

Respectfully submitted,

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Andy, So sorry to hear that happened. But you are still years ahead of me on getting my Ts going again. If you find out what the likely cause was of the trouble, please let us know so some of us don't have to discover it for ourselves. And thank you so much for posting the many photos of your Mercur...

Allan, I think it is a two-man style top. Maybe not exactly like the ones Ford USA or Canada used but at least similar. Notice what appears to be the top iron under the driver's right hand. Also note that the bow stack is very similar to the one on our 1918. Sorry -- my T books are in a brown box am...

Tom,

Thank you so much for taking the time to post so many wonderful photos! I wish I had more time to view them and enjoy them. They provide a great window into the past.

Respectfully submitted,

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IMG_9355 (1).jpeg I think the 6th photo down (also reposted above) appears to be a Canadian production Touring. Note the hinged left side front door (although Ford of England also had that with a dummy door on the right front and then later both front doors opened). 1924-25 CA.JPG Note the lower pa...

Allan & Brendan, I think the number 9 photo is an Australian bodied Model T Ford using the Canadian (same as USA and UK) offset hinge windshield frame used on the later 1917 to 1922 Fords. But notice they had to add a spacer between the body and the windshield frame because the body is curved there....

Chris, Sorry it didn’t work out for you to be able to secure the car. I know you would have given it a wonderful home. Thank you for posting the information – I would have missed it if someone hadn’t put it on the forum. And your book is fantastic! (For those who order a copy – be sure you select En...

Tom, Thank you for the great photos – lots of us really enjoy them! The 7th one is almost certainly one of the New York City, New York Red Ford Fire Chief cars. Ford produced 10 of them for NYC NY. Below the photo is shown again: Tom Rootlieb 1911 NYC NY Fire Chief.jpeg At the old thread at: Model T...

Andy,

Again thanks for posting the updates! Your Mercury has some really nice lines to it and with that motor you won't have any problems keeping up with traffic.

Respectfully submitted,

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Adrian,

Thanks for posting -- the pedal car is cute. The additional information on Bullock especially the photos are great.

Respectfully submitted,

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Adrian, Yes, that Centerdoor is the same car I posted the links to from the 2012 forum where you posted some photos about the car. I don’t know if Jay is interested in additional photos at this time, but I know I am. So far, I know of only 2 Model Ts that continued the earlier 1922 style closed car ...

Jay, Bottom Line Up Front: Current available documentation indicates that a 1920-1923 Canadian closed car that was equipped with a starter would NOT have oil side lamps or an oil tail lamp from the factory. Lots of restorers have added those to cars that came with a starter because they liked the lo...

Wayne, Thanks for the kind words. Like so many others I would post more if I was more caught up at work, home, on the car (new and old) and had a little more energy. The energy level has really gone down the last few years. Good news, my job is mostly typing on a computer and teaching folks so there...

There is always so much more to learn about the T’s that were produced in the USA. And those assembled outside of the USA are not as well documented so even more to learn and hopefully document about them. Anyone who has leads on which Ford Factory might have produced the car in the photo, please le...

Gerrit, As pointed out above a Canadian body touring car would have a door on both sides of the front seat. And in 1920 model year they switched to the slant windshield and one man top that was introduced in the USA production with the 1923 model year T's. It also has the USA style horn button inste...

Steve, Minor comment. It appears thta Ford of Canada continued the smooth backing plates into 1920 and possibly later. Ref posting from long ago but found one by Wayne Sheldon at: https://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/599638/630195.html?1459684789 which says: "Canadian production started using the l...

Back in the day my Great Uncle got his going really fast. My Dad was a teenager riding with him and my Great Uncle missed the down shift on and auxiliary straight cut teeth transmission. [There's a reason the signs pm steep descents even today say "Trucks use lower gear" He couldn't get it back in t...

Andy,

Beautiful car! Red to go fast and brakes to stop - great combination. Thank you for posting the updates -- it helps encourage some of the rest of us to open the garage and "get'er done".

Respectfully submitted,

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What John said, "Read the service manual before tearing it down." There may be other "gotchas" but if it has an electric starter and you try to remove it before you remove the starter bendix -- you will damage (read will need to rebuild or purchase a rebuilt or used) coil ring. If it doesn't have a ...

Ken, We are sorry to hear of the loss of your father. When I first lost my dad, I would see his tools or cars and just have a heaviness. But in about six to twelve months, I would look at the same tool or car and have so many wonderful memories of dad and the times we had together. There’s an old Jo...

Below is photo I have posted before, but I really like it. I was driving the speedster taking folks for rides. My wife is with me and our family was visiting. Life was and still is good. I'm very thankful for so many blessings. While I haven't met many of you in person, I'm thankful for the encourag...

Larry,

Thank you for the heads up. Some of us are always looking for information on those cars. I'm sure some of it will have been published before. But you never know when something you haven't read or a photo you haven't seen before will be found.

Respectfully submitted,

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Nice photo. A little more clarification may (or may not be helpful). The Model S Runabout was sold 1907 & 1908 and the Model S Roadster was sold in 1908 with 3 or so sold in 1909. The photo clearly shows the front fenders have fender skirts, the running board is the short style (similar in size to t...

Donnie, You are correct that there was a metal spacer used for a short time when the low cowl metal firewall was first introduced. Perhaps this might be the thread you were thinking about? http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/599638/619358.html?1456565564 In that thread Trent responded to the questi...

Martynn, Thank you so much for all your many illustrations! Just to clarify (and it may have been done above -- but if so I missed it.) In 1923 for USA production both the metal (low firewall) and wooden firewall were used in production. From: https://www.mtfca.com/encyclo/1923.htm DASHBOARD(Firewal...

Our condolences to Russ' family and friends. Russ did so much for so many and will be greatly missed by all those his life touched. And he is still giving...from his obituary at: https://obituaries.sunsetfuneralhome.com/obituary/Russell-Potter it has: "Memorials may be made in Russell’s memory to th...

Steve, Always good to see you posting. You are correct that those 'blocks of numbers" were sent to Long Island NY and Manchester England (and other assembly plants) and were only the serial numbers and NOT the engines. The engines were assembled at those locations and stamped with one of the serial ...

Great photos! Thanks to all for posting! And so many different ideas on how to build a speedster the owner really likes. And I liked them all also! I suspect there would be over 15,000,000 speedster possibilities at one time :)? Below is a photo from the internet (sorry I didn't save the address – m...

Adrian, Glad to hear you are able to visit. I wish I was closer so I could stop by. You probably have already checked the chapter listings. But if not the following links may help: MTFCA chapters at: https://www.mtfca.com/chapters/#tx They have the the Dallas-Ft Worth Lone Star T's which I recognize...

Thanks Tom for posting the photos! I have a few comments on the 2nd photo which I reposted below: 1917 later - Rootllieb.jpeg All references are from Bruce McCalley’s “On Line Encyclopedia” The 1917 comments are from: https://www.mtfca.com/encyclo/doc17.htm 1917 ----- Acc. 575, Box 14, #826, Ford Ar...

It is great to start a new year. Wishing you all success in your ventures and hopefully I as well as others will make more progress on our T's!

Thankfully submitted,

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Reposted from a similar previous discussion located at: http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/506218/517565.html?1423792688 by me (Hap l9l5 cut off): I believe the evidence supports that the date listed in the USA engine logs from Jan 1915 to 1927 is usually not the date the car was assembled althoug...

Great info. Below is a copy of a factory Ford drawing for a USA Kelsey Wheel used by Ford USA. (Note Ford of Canada was supplied by Kelsey Wheel Canada factory that was located in Canada to avoid custom tariffs ref: David Roberts, "In the Shadow of Detroit" pages 100, 213 and other pages. From memor...

Paul and others, Thank you for sharing information from your car and also other sources. I have been working the issue for several years and I am hoping when I retire to be able to visit the Benson Ford Archives (at the Henry Ford) and find some additional information. Until then, the fossil record ...

Dan thank you for you many many helpful postings. I always learn from them. Above you posted: 10-18-21 T400D1 New design (one valve cover) to be run at a rate of 100 per day Which is from: (ref: http://www.mtfca.com/encyclo/E.htm#eng2 ). Just above that listing of the “Date of Change and Factory num...

Paul wrote: I bought a 1914 Touring some years ago but have never been able to determine who the body builder might have been. Can anyone ID it? Would you please look on the front seat and rear seat heel panels and see if you find any sort of letter on one of them. The heel panel is the panel that i...

For Mike, Thank you for the updates! For Ricky, Summary: According to Bruce McCalley, "Ford referred to the cars built after August 1, 1909 as “1910” cars but common usage today is to call the cars built within calendar year 1909 “1909” models." That is similar to when the Ford Mustang was first int...

I would like any of the cars or trucks from that auction :) Note, I think the car advertised as a 1906 Model N Ford probably has a modified or reproduction body. Below is a photo of that cars seat area: Strange seat layout.png Below is a photo showing Rob's N #3 seat when the upholstery was out. You...

I apologize if it was already mentioned, but the Ford Pamphlet on the New York to Seattle Race (Ocean to Ocean) back in 1909 is a fun read. I looked but I didn't see it listed for sale in Lang's -- maybe it never was? But most of it (maybe all) is included on pages 62- 75 of Philip van Doren Stern's...

George I sent you an e-mail and if it is still available, I would like to purchase the latch.

Thanks!

Very Respectfully,

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Pat,

Thank you for posting the top link www.montana500.com for the Montana 500 site. All the information is available from there.

Respectfully submitted,

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Ron, Your profile shows you are living in North Carolina if I read it correctly. If you are planning to drive in any hills or mountains you need to consider that also. For an excellent data supported article on Model T's and speed on the flat, speed on hill climbing and maximum grade you can climb, ...

John, Thank you for posting the photo and especially for posting the link where you found it. That will make finding additional information much easier for anyone that wants to look. I suspect the photo is staged. Today most people have a cell phone and can take a photo anytime or anywhere. But back...

For some additional photos and part numbers see the older posting at: http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/506218/525076.html

Respectfully submitted,

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For Morgan -- good news the Model T Ford Club International Judging Guidelines 7th edition does not say anything about a 1922 or for that matter they are not mentioned one way or the other for the 1915-1922 cars. OK I did a spot check and did not look at each year. And I did not check to see if that...

Hey y’all, Just a reminder, that the challenge grant is still going on. The match is not provided by the Wayne County Foundation as it has been in some previous years. Rather some dedicated Model T Folks are putting their own money up to match anything we contribute. There are many very worthwhile c...

When I changed my office calendar (Lang's) over to December, I was pleasantly surprised to see Keith Townsend's 1919 Touring as shown below.

Thanks Keith for all your support for so many years! And stay warm out there.

Respectfully submitted,

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Steve, You have some really great looking Model Ts! Larry & Steve, Hopefully this will be some help on your door latch discussion: Below is a 1913 style door latch from the article Larry Smith put together for Bruce McCalley when he was the editor of "The Vintage Ford" also on page 196 of Bruce McCa...

Steve, It looks like you have a great start on a T. As others have said, don’t rewood the body if you don’t need to. It looks like this is your first time posting on the forum or perhaps the first time you have posted as gorthy57. Either way, welcome! If you let us know a little more about your back...

Basil, Welcome to the forum and hobby! The information of above is great. One of the key things many of us have learned the hard way is: "It comes apart much faster than it goes back together." So the advice of fixing one area before taking the next area apart helps many us stay motivated and not ge...

William, The gas headlamps and gas (acetylene) generator were accessories on the Fords back then. It wasn't too long until Ford started selling all cars fully equipped (very early 1911 the Town Car was listed without headlamps and then soon after with headlamps.) From the 1908 Ford Catalog posted at...

Mack, The similarities are really there. I know that the Model T intake works OK on the NRS&SR engine. I believe they are a mirror images or very very close to a mirror image of the T. The NRS&SR have the manifolds on the left side of the engine and the steering wheel on the right while the T has th...

For Tom, I always enjoy your photos, thank you for posting them! For Leo, Yes, back in the 1920s the US military was trying to figure out what the automobiles & trucks could do and which was better the horse or the car. . Those photos show one of the “Aberdeen Cross-Country Fords". The US Army teste...

Katie,

Congratulations on getting the car sorted out. Sorry you had so many issues, but now you know those items are fixed correctly. And you and your family should have hours and hours making great memories! Have a blessed Thanks Giving!

Respectfully submitted,

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George you posted "I don't recall if they had USA serial numbers or not." All the Model T engines installed by an authorized Ford Branch assembly plant with the exception of those assembled with a Canadian engine, would have had a USA engine serial number. (And before May 1913 all the Canadian produ...

For Duane -- Yes, I'm 99% sure that your 7 17 393430 represents a Jul 1917 393430 body number. For Ryan -- Zooming in I agree that the first visible number is a 4 (see below). Some of the other numbers are hard to know for sure -- but not critical -- as so far none of them appear to be the date code...

Thanks Steve! I can't remember things like that -- the year sometimes but the actual date - not so much. Dawson Trotman often said, "The faintest of ink is better than the best of memories." And that has inspired me to write (or now days type) things. Of course sometimes I have to ask my wife if she...

Michael, Steve is correct that the digital version (available at the address on Steve's website https://dauntlessgeezer.com/DG80.html). Barbara now sells them on a Mini-USB drive (thumb drive). The price is still $50 + shipping and handling ($10 listed but I would guess that is for the USA?)). Minor...

Hey y'all, The South Carolina Model T Club is finally having an in-person meeting (yes, fortunately Covid slowed down but there was still this thing called hot humid South Carolina summer.) We will be meeting at 10 AM Saturday Sep 10 over in Lexington (right next to Columbia, the capital). So far we...

Olivier, Thank you for sharing the information. For anyone who didn't find the English version of the book it is at: https://www.amazon.com/Charles-Montier-French-racing-Fords/dp/B0B6L3Q5TW/ref=sr_1_2?crid=9JKM1D1RD6F4&keywords=Charles+Montier%3A&qid=1662403346&sprefix=charles+montier+%2Caps%2C75&sr...

Bob – thank you for the kind words and your kind help years ago loading Ghost (a 1915 Centerdooor). I hope all is well with you. I’m getting over Covid and I’m thankful most of that is behind me. George -- I always enjoy E. B. White’s article in the May 16, 1936 issue of “The New Yorker” “Farewell, ...

Kerry, The 1930 USA Ford Price List of Parts has that same new Motor Assembly less starter for $125. And page after page of parts for the T. The 1927 cars were only 3 years old at that point. There are 54 pages of all sorts of parts for the T in the 1930 parts list. Page 536 of Bruce McCalley (R.I.P...

Betschart, Welcome to the forum and to the Model T Hobby. You have a great looking touring car! You asked: “Therefore my question: Is it possible to narrow down to which countries Ford T made in Canada were delivered at that time? Australia is clear to me. But then the steering wheel would not be on...

Tom,

We will be praying that you and your wife recover quickly.

Thank you so much for the photos and your many years of support to our hobby.

Respectfully submitted,

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If you have or know of someone with young kids – there is a cute video titled “Learning About Old Cars and Trucks at the Model T Museum.” Yes – that’s our club’s museum! It’s on youtube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQEnNhXYtLM Or if you are older and want to see many of the T’s in the museum ...

Andy, "IF" repeat "IF" the seat spring you show is for a 1915-25 Model T touring, it is the bottom spring that you sit (called cushion in the Lang's catalog). But just looking at the photo I cannot tell if it is a front or back seat bottom spring or what year range it fits. It might even be a seat s...

John, Good question "Where would the carbide generator be mounted?" Normally I recall seeing them on the left side running board of the USA produced Model Ts in the old photos I have seen. And when they have an acetylene tank instead of the carbide generator, that also is often seen on the left side...

Norrie,

Thank you for posting the link. There are more excellent photos at the auction site than photos that were published in the article in "The Model T Times" when it was covered. Lots of details are shown and a beautiful T.

Respectfully submitted,

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John, Hopefully the top of the T will be low enough that you can safely drive the car through the current opening. But if not, depending on how long you plan to live in the new home and how often you have to raise and lower the top -- you may want to consider having the door opening made a little hi...

John, Murphy's law says you will find that the opening is likely to be a 7 foot garage door (that is what our 1990's house has). But checking the internet at: https://a1garage.com/garage-doors-come-standard-sizes/ they say the current standards available are 7 feet or 8 feet in height. And as you po...

Russ, I'm so glad your wife's heart issue has improved! That is great to hear. And be sure not to try to have her do too much too quickly until she is fully recovered. If you have any questions -- have her ask her doctor. I am so thankful we live when we do. A few years ago, I had a friend who passe...

Bryan -- great job on your T! Yes, anyone can look up the date their engine number was entered on the Ford Engine assembly section log for many of the Ts (1915 or so onward are listed on pages 510 to 537 of Bruce McCalleys' "Model T Ford" which is out of print -- but you can find copies and you can ...

The day has come for our short introductory and first steps meeting of the South Carolina T group. We will meet on Zoom Today - Sunday Jan 30, 2022 at 4 PM EST. For anyone interested in finding out more or to help start a South Carolina chapter – please join us then. You will need the zoom meeting l...

Darin, George & Kathy, Thank you all for the support and we look forward seeing you Sun Jan 30 at the Zoom meeting! If anyone know of someone in South Carolina with and interest in Model T's please let them know to contact Robert Burton or me to have the Zoom mtg information sent to you. Spring is c...

Great news for anyone interested in finding out more about a new start or restart of the Model T Ford Club in South Carolina. Robert Burton has set up a short introduction/ first steps meeting for us using Zoom. It starts the last Sunday of the month - Jan 30th at 4 PM EST. We would love to have you...

Mark, Congratulations! Looks like a great car! You probably already know that the earlier 1913 bodies had a manufacture's fix provided to the customer at no cost. Note the Beaudett body did not appear to need this fix as often and the same is true for cars produced after Mar 6, 1913. But if you have...

James, Google does have some of the early magazines and books. And they are continuting to add more of them. Below screen shots are from and/or about Google Books: Google books search 1.jpg Google books search 2.jpg Below is from https://www.google.com/books/edition/Motor_West/Guc_AQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbp...

Vernon, Thank you so much for posting your "do-it-yourself wood kit" illustrations. I'm sure they will be helpful to others in the future. And it kept your project moving forward. That is also one of the advantages of the 1926-27 "steel bodied" cars -- you can use the body as the guide for lining up...

Robert, If your 1926 is closer to being on the road, I would encourage you to get it running first. Having one that drives is a big encouragement to most of us. (And one that also stops.) Although it sounds like you may have another one that is driveable? And if so then you have one to help keep you...

Dan, All of this is for USA Ford Production: The 1915 into the early 1917 USA produced cars had the push pull light switch located to the right of the coil box. Those with the electric horn (some 1915s and supposedly all 1916s and early 1917s had the electric horn) the horn button was mounted on the...

Robert, It can be fun trying to figure out what previous owners have done with a T and even more fun to try and figure out why they did it. If you have not already checked into joining the “Southern Peach T’s” located there in GA, I would suggest you get in touch with them. The link to their informa...

Richard, We will be praying for a safe and speedy recovery. As was mentioned many times above don't go past the doctor's recommendations for lifting weight. It is probably time to drive or ride more in the T rather than time to start a chassis restoration. Of course rebuilding a carburetor etc. is a...

Great looking Model A Ford! I think you will enjoy it a lot along with your T. One of the things I like best about having a T and also an A is it is easier to see and understand how the Fords and for that matter cars in general developed over time. Similar to the T, many of the parts on the A are in...

Kurt, Remember to keep the metal valve stem -- it can be reused or if you don't want to use it, someone else would probably want to use it. And that's a great idea to contact the folks. They probably just want to get the "junk" moved out and you might help save some "good stuff!" Respectfully submit...

Merry Christmas! In warmer parts of the world -- including South Carolian today -- often a great afternoon to take a ride in the T. For the colder parts -- maybe a time to just walk by the T and turn the switch over to battery and hear the coils sing. Thank you to all who make the message board so h...

I watched a very special short video story about a Chevy at: https://youtu.be/c4-oyBnknHk It brought back a flood of memories of times gone by when my parents and grandparents were all still with us. Sweet memories of walking barefoot on the sandy dirt road that ran by grandma’s house. Going for rid...

Terry, I could view your attachment that is a PDF format and I made some "snippets" to show what it looked like. They are posted below: Torpedo - part 1 - Terry Wood.JPG Torpedo - part 2- Terry Wood.JPG Torpedo - part 3 - Terry Wood.JPG What year/years did FoMoCo of CANADA make a Torpedo Runabout as...

Bruce, I believe Scott is partially correct -- that was holding a rubber piece to help the door not rattle etc. But I suspect that was likely installed by a modern owner. But looking at the photo the screw looks like a modern cadmium (?) plated sheet metal screw and not a screw from 1927. Also below...

Terry, (Note it is late and I am having troubles getting the photos to post where I want them to post. Therefore -- you will need to sort of read the text and put the correct photo with the correct text. I appologize for that but I need to stop.) You mentioned: Strangely, I don't find the year menti...

David, If 3084 survived into the 1950s as a running fairly original car -- it most likely is still around barring some major disaster such as a garage fire etc. An early May 1909 car would have been very disirable then as well as now. Note if the only thing with the 3084 number on it was a reproduct...

(continued)

: Harold Lloyd's T speedster RR.JPG (22.26 KiB) Viewed 2979 times

: Harold Lloyd's T speedster front - 3.JPG (32.21 KiB) Viewed 2979 times

Additional photos of Donnie’s speedster are located at: http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/70 ... 1487043839

Respectfully submitted,

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Summary: Below is a photo of Donnie Brown’s speedster project: Donnie Brown Speedster.jpg (Thanks you Frank Brandi for posting that photo at: https://mtfca.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=18209&p=138680&hilit=dobro1956#p138680 ) Below is photo taken of a silent movie star named Harold Lloyd who drove...

George John, While there is a lot less information, the serial numbers and where they were shipped (normally dealer/agency or branch plant) is available for 1909 to around Dec 1914 or maybe Jan 1915 in the accounts receivable records. They are listed by the Ford Agency (i.e. dealership) or Branch. T...

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