1915 open Car Front Window Hinge

[ModelTMark]

Does anyone know which of the two pairs of front window hinges in the picture are correct for a 15 roadster? The difference between them appears to be just the offset of the hinge point, whereas, one is more centerline and the other is more offset. I took one set off my 15 roadster with the riveted window frame when I started the restoration, but over time ended up with two sets and now I can't remember which came from which car. Since I disassembled them at different time I didn't notice the difference between the two. Could be neither are correct. Who said Model T's were all the same....hahahaha

R/Mark

[Wayne Sheldon]

They are all messed up! IF I am seeing what I think I am seeing? You have all top halves in one pair, and all bottom halves in the other pair! The offsets for 1915 and later hinges are supposed to hold the upper glass forward of the lower glass. All yours are lined up straight like a 1914 hinge. Poor lighting, but it appears you have mostly 1915 pieces, not 1914 hinges.

[MWalker]

Wayne is correct. The "legs" of the hinges should not align with each other. They offset the top half of the windshield to the front of the lower half.

[ModelTMark]

Guy's,

Thank you, I think you gave me the answer to the puzzle. Most of my T's are late models where the two halves are in alignment so logically I though that's way it should be on the 15, clearly my logic was flawed. hahaha

R/Mark

[Steve Jelf]

The top glass should overlap the bottom glass by about half an inch.

[Wayne Sheldon]

There are four main pieces to those hinges. and each one is unique. There is a right upper, a right lower, a left upper, and a left lower. They MUST be all used in their proper locations! The later 1917 through 1922 hinges are easier to sort out because the two lower pieces are obviously longer, whereas the 1915 into 1917 hinge pieces all look a bit more alike.
What make them even more confusing, is that there is also an "inner" and an "outer" hinge on each side, and the inner and outer pieces swap upper and lower from one side to the other! There is only ONE right way these go together. A bit counter-intuitive, but easy once you know what it is.

Additional extra information. The later hinges can be altered to function and look close to right for a 1915 to 1917 windshield. However, there are some minor detail differences that aren't easy to fake. There are a few cars out there with altered later hinges. And surprisingly, a LOT of 1915s with just plain WRONG hinges which can often be seen in even poor photographs.
If I were working on a so-so restoration of a 1915/'16 and needed to make do with wrong hinges, I would at least make them look close to right. Fortunately for my 1915, I had real 1915 hinges in bad shape, which I made look very nice. (Then of course later I managed to find a really nice pair of 1915/'16 original hinges, but I am keeping the ones I restored anyway!)

[Hap_Tucker]

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

Respectfully submitted,

Hap l9l5 cut off