MTFCA Forum

This is the earliest announcement-article I’ve seen of the impending Model N. While many things are incorrect (wheelbase, opposed cylinders, $400 price, etc.), many are spot on (cylinders cast in pairs, horsepower per pair-8, etc.).

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It is with great sadness that I report that Geoff King, EFR Member and Newsletter Editor passed away on Wednesday 19th March with his family around him.

Geoff was a friend to many of us and was a popular member of the EFR. The quality of his newsletters and his friendly, helpful manner will be sorely missed.

His daughter Emma is a Director of...

120 years ago today:
July 3rd, 1905, the city of Port Huron Michigan, just north of Detroit, announced Fourth of July boat and automobile races in local newspapers.
Charles Grant, Ford Motor Co. Detroit Branch Manager was listed as the driver of a Ford four cylinder racer. As events unfolded, Henry Ford would drive the Ford in the city’s first...

I am looking for a tail light for a NRS restored car. Ideally a Dietz Dainty to match the sidelights on this car. Please set me know by private message or call me if you know me. Thanks! Mike

Ford Motor Co. was an immediate success financially. Within months of their first sale, the company issued stock dividends to investors. In many cases, the dividend actually paid a portion of some investors commitment (agree to stock purchase), as several had not paid actual cash, or their full commitment, but issued notes (loans) to pay in...

Screen shots from the FB link:

Or what would it take to use Model T parts to make a chain drive car?

Thank you.

Continuing with key events in Ford Motor Co. history from 1905:

This is the first public comment/article I've seen regarding the upcoming Model N. The new model is reported to be priced at $400 (came in at $500). While the two horizontal double opposed cylinders rated at 8 horsepower, was off, there are many tidbits here that do make it to the...

118 years ago tonight, at 10 pm, Frank Kulick set off in a Ford Six (Model K) on a 24 hour race. He and Ford were not the headliners or favorites. In 24 hours they would turn the motor racing world upside down.

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118 years ago tonight, June 22, 1907, Ford race car drivers Frank Kulick and L. B. Lorimer completed a grueling 24 hour race, begun the night before at 10 pm. They drove a Ford Six (Model K, like the one seen on my FB page) to a world record victory.
By 1907, the 24 hour race, held at various one mile dirt tracks around the country, had become...

Attached are excerpts from the Ford Motor Co. (FMC) Board of Directors (BOD) minutes between April 2, 1904 and May 16, 1905. We see in April 1904, while less than one year since incorporation (June 1903), FMC is taking bids for wheels on their next model (Model B was addressed in earlier meetings).

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At the August 22, 1904 meeting,...

Ford Motor Co., and Henry Ford experienced many strategic events during the first years of the company’s existence. 1903 saw company formation. 1904 saw continued growth, still selling the venerable Model A. 1905, arguably saw unparalleled growth, with the advent of three models, the first four cylinder model, and two 100% dividends paid to...

Complete NRS Heinze coil box. I have not tested the coils, Real nice condition. Lid is new, the box probably should be re wired. $750.00. Kdmks AT att.net. Plus shipping.

Hello all.
This is my first post, and marks a return to the hobby after 50 years. Looking for a small, relatively straightforward restoration project, I bought Model S #1454 from Kim Dobbins. The car appears entirely original, very complete, and free of rust or rot, kept safe, dry, and unbutchered for 117 years! It is exactly as represented....

I’m continually amazed by the speed Ford Motor Co. established a dealer network, parts/components supply and delivery network. This thread helps demonstrate how quickly Ford was able to supply cars, and deliver them to a new owner. The thread also demonstrates how period news sources dovetail with existing Ford Motor Co. documents to paint a...

For years I’ve been curious, why did Henry Ford and his designers develop the Model K with individual jugs, when the Model N motor was cast in pairs? It seems that pairs were the natural wave of the future, leading toward the future Model T mono-block.

Then I read this May 1906 “Horseless Age” article.

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The article mistakenly...

I’m looking for the weight of both the 16 inch (primarily 10 hp A) and 20 inch (8 hp) flywheel. If anyone has a n A motor apart I would appreciate the weight and measurement of the flywheel. If the crank is still attached, the weight of both is good too.

The Model C flywheel should be the same as the 10 hp A, but if anyone has the “C” flywheel by...

Many Model T owners might be surprised to learn that Ford Motor Co. had already dove headfirst into vanadium steel production by the summer of 1907. For anyone seeking in depth study of vanadium at that time, a few links:

This recap appeared in the ALAM magazine (Selden Patent opponents).

Along the lines of the similar topic in the T area of the forum, share what you've done with your A,B,C,F,K,N,R,S,SR Ford this year. Personally, I have done nothing, :( , so let's depend on you all to contribute!

Thanks!!

Paul B. Hanks was a successful young entrepreneur at the turn of the last century. He owned an insurance agency, as well as oil and coal interests. Born in 1873, he was ten years younger than Henry Ford. His photo was included in this 1906 article, regarding oil interests in Indian Territory (soon to be the state of Oklahoma):

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As...

I have 3 gear drums, one has 3 cracks through the pin holes, $175.00. one has a weld repair in the face, $300.00. one is a brand new Floyd J reproduction, $1100.00. One brake drum with a bad gear, $175. One reverse drum, $250. All plus shipping. Kdmks AT att.net.

Two Paducah Kentucky businessmen owned Ford Model K touring cars. One Sunday, they were busted…

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Ford Motor Company began describing their projected 1908 lineup in late 1907. Sales ledgers indicate at least 3 Model T were sold in late 1907 and early 1908. This advertisement appeared in the New York Sun newspaper in November 1907.
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I need to replace the hand crank on my 1906 Ford model N. None are available thru the suppliers. Hoping some one has an extra hand crank for an NRS they would be willing to sell. Thanks MTFCA !

Ford’s Model K, in addition to being the number one six cylinder car in production numbers in the world for both 1906 and 1907, had other unique features. One was a magneto invented by Ed Huff (who later invented the Model T low tension magneto).
Huff studied Nikola Tesla’s patented theory and invented the world’s first working CDI, or...

My 1905 (model year) B was produced at the end of 1904, and just recently approved for the London to Brighton run. I plan to make the run this fall. It’s one of only 2 Model B surviving that are eligible, and the first Ford Model B approved.
However, it’s not the first Model B to prowl the streets of London. In 1905 at least 15 Model B were...

About 25% of early Ford sales information survived in the Accounts Receivable ledger books at The Henry Ford, Benson Library. Trent Boggess tirelessly entered the data by hand (thousands of records) into a database included with Carl Pate’s (RIP) Early Ford book.

However, reviewing the actual ledger pages and entries provide additional...

This is a very nice Kingston Coil Box with key and coils for a two cylinder car. Should be a nice addition to any two cylinder Ford, Maxwell, or other. $600.00 plus shipping.

Contact Info
Jonathan Bodine
jethro10101@AOL.com
1-406-498-3946

I am looking for a NRS engine oil drain. It is a pepcock with a standpipe attached. Please contact me if you have an extra one - the engine has a pipe plug in the drain hole! I will buy two if I can find them. Thanks MTFCA !

Ford Motor Co. began selling cars in July 1903. The company experienced immediate success, and sold almost 200 cars by the start of their first full fiscal year, beginning October 1, 1903. The Electric Vehicle Co. wasted little time initiating a law suit. This author indicates the suit is expected to last for years. He was right.

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Illusionist and escape artist Harry Houdini purchased a Ford Model K touring car in 1907 for the purpose of transporting it to Europe for use while performing. IMG_6145.jpeg

The world famous Thomas Flyer made it to Oakland in March 1908, escorted in by a parade of motorists. At least one Ford was in the mix.

Fords are rare in early photos of the Tonopah rush, but here’s one.

What if this wagon had landed slightly differently during a tornado near Dearborn?

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Looking for a Model N exhaust manifold. Cleaned mine up and found several cracks.

Thanks!

Todd

The narrative by a Detroit Free Press writer in 1905 about Henry Ford, Cadillac and Henry Leland and their interactions is a bit different from historians writings decades later.

Black, Bowen, White and Murphy, Detroit financiers, had capitalized a company years before Detroit Automobile Co., and attempted to build an electric auto. Ford was...

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This Wanamaker advertisement included a photo of the four travelers:
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Just want to thank MTFCA for creating this forum for pre T Fords.

In this article Henry Ford reports in August 1906 (the Model N has finally reached the market at this point, Henry Ford has purchased A.Y. Malcomson's 1/4 shares, John Gray has passed, and Ford was about to become President of the Board of Directors. In the article Ford reports it used to take three weeks to test cars, and with the Model N the...

Colorized photo of the Ford Piquette plant, probably in 1905. The grounds are still quite undeveloped with the 1/4 mile test track still in use.
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On the right three men are testing a Model B (front engine crank is visible), with several cars near the center of the plant, apparently with bodies.

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Theodore Mallon was a Ford six cylinder tester. His recorded experiences included attending the 1907 twenty four hour race held at the Michigan State Fairgrounds in which the Model K set a world record, testing Model K, and witnessing the last sale of Model K in 1909. Below he describes Henry Ford and Frank Kulick finding him and two other testers...

Cleveland Ohio Oct 30 - 1902
Dear Mr. Ford,
I was very sorry I did not leave the letters for the News & Journal as agreed but wish to assure you it was not intentional on my part. Mr. Couzens tells me Mr. Wills is getting around and I was glad to hear it, hope you will get everything running in good shape at the Shop, so that the work can he...

It’s interesting to attempt to understand the relationships and dynamics of the men who created Ford Motor Co. Other than Henry Ford himself and maybe CFO James Couzens, none on the board were more critical to the initial success of the company than the Dodge brothers and Alexander Malcomson. Malcomson along with Ford held the majority of...

James Couzens letter to John Dodge requesting Model A, C & F parts FMC was in need of, dated April 21, 1906. Ford was just sending out the first production Model K, (April 15, 1906) and still several months (July) from the first Model N production.

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Courtesy The Henry Ford, all rights apply.

July 1908 Ford T taxicab article:

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Several years ago the EFR commissioned new floor mats (original design) for NRS Fords. They were not cheap but GREAT quality and very authentic. I am hoping someone with an extra will consider selling it to be put in service in a restored car. Or perhaps we can start a list to make another run of new NRS floormats. Please email me thru the forum....

Did anyone happen to save some of the members photos from the old EFR site?
I used to look at them quite a lot, to reference and research how other people had their cars set up. I wish I could still go there.

Would like to trade for 09 front spindles, 09 radiator, or 466 brass head lights.

Here are some actual early photos from my collection. Feel free to screen grab 🙂
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Lake St. Clair, MI January 1904 - Henry Fords revamped racer Arrow (often referred to as its twin, 999) at one mile world record run. This is the first U.S. built world mile record holder racer.
Left to right, John Dodge, A. Y. Malcomson, John Anderson, Henry Ford, James Couzens and Horace Dodge.

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Photo courtesy of The Henry...

Here is a 1907 Model R that just went on the auction block for those that are interested.

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Enhanced:

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Holley carburetor for 1907, asking $1800.

Here’s one for every early Ford enthusiast to consider. What if …….. ?
Following his election to the Presidency in November 1908, President Elect Taft began preparing to take office. At the time, the Office of President did not have a motor pool, or own automobiles for Presidential use.
In his book William Howard Taft and the First Motoring...

In 1906 this article appeared in newspapers across the nation about Henry Ford “dodging” storms with his six cylinder Ford Model K.
The photos below the story are of Henry Ford speaking with a farmer at Ford’s farm (he built the house in the background years earlier as a young farmer for his new bride Clara), and his 1906 Ford Model K....

I thought this article one of the best I’ve read laying out who the original FMC investors were, how much cash they put up (compared with promissory notes), and how much they received when they sold their shares.

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Transcript:
(Times Tribune District Bureau)
Detroit, Jan. 24, 1927 - The Who's Who of the original stockholders of...

Hello All,
On the General Forum, I have just posted a topic that is probably very related to pre-Model T! It is called PRE-PRODUCTION MODEL T!
Thank you - John