MTFCA Forum

Is there a source for plans to build a 14-22 pickup box? Seems like there were plans for sale from a vendor to build a wood box with steel hardware for a while. It was a copy of a popular accessory box that was available for the Runabouts. The vendors have them in a kit but was wondering about plans for one. Thanks

Here is some information.
       

Thanks for that! Been thinking on building one or something similar for my 19 Runabout. The kits that are avaliable have oak as the wood that’s used. But I have have a feeling that other types of wood might have been used. Or what people had that was avaliable.

I have several originals -- or at least from the time when they would have been new or fairly new. I have not seen one of those that used oak.
I'm not sure what these are but they look like Fir or Poplar to me.
Oak was expensive even then.
One had some nice commercially made irons, especially the back ones for stabilizing the sides when the tailgate was open.
They will be going on my box I'm building to go in my 27 coupe in place of the year panel and trunk lid.
I also have, I think, two or three sets of box braces from wagons of that era. I had a set of fancy ones made from 1/2 x
1/2 square stock that had been twisted but a guy talked me out of them.

I think a lot of those t boxes were cut down from wagons that the running gear was worn out but the box was still good enough to provide what they needed to build a little t box.

Good information. I’m thinking for the period the T boxes would use square head nuts and bolts or maybe carriage bolts with square nuts. I’ll try to make it authentic as much as I can.
Thanks for the help.

I had a set of actual period irons for a bed and made one using these with elm wood. A little stain and varathane finish and the result looks very good.

I looked at pictures for a guide to make all my iron work and I do have a bed from a 26-7 that I looked at to.
I used oak for appearance and because I like it.
I wouldn't use sweet gum or something of that sort as it would warp.
Back in the T days you have to remember there was PLENTY of good timber out there.100 year old yellow pine that would have lasted for years on a truck bed.and would be really nice to look at if real close grain with little to no knots in it.

Coach bolts and square nuts, if you can find them, are the correct fasteners, with slotted head screws for floorboards.Just remember the head of a coach bolt goes to the timber, and the nuts outside. I had to make the sideboards for Henrietta's tray and used rusty iron from my scrap heap. Our farm fences used to be built with wooden post about a chain apart and two or three flat "droppers" of 1.25 x 1/4" flat steel to keep the plain wires spaced. These old irons are ideal for the hinges.

Hope this helps.
Allan from down under.

You might check with Witmer Coach Shop in New Holland, PA for hard-to-get hardware and fasteners. I don't believe they have an online catalog however. Try a Google search.

I do have some 1x12 yellow pine boards that I’ve been saving from an old barn that my father built in the early 50’s. They have very few if any knots. They were on the inside walls that was a feed room and not in the weather.
Have some old iron too from some old wagons also.
Again thanks for the information.

John, if you have old boards you are way out in front. New timber is generally thinner than old material, and getting lumber of the same early dimensions is difficult. Re old waggon irons, many are far heavier than that needed for a T pickup box, and look a bit out of scale. They do show how they are made, so if lighter materials an be dug up from a scrap pile, you ave a valuable guide.
Enjoy you project.
Allan from down under.

I don’t have a roadster but like to have one with a box like this. If I build the box u guys will talk my wife into the rest?

John, I also have a bed like the one in the drawings. (The rear braces appear to be the only difference). My bed was complete but very loose and rotten in some places. I was able to find some old wood from a re-claimer locally to replace some of the boards in the floor. Luckily the pieces I found were weathered similarly so they don't look out of place.

Originally the bed was nailed together then the hardware attached. Well 100 years later those nails did not quite do the job. I dissembled the entire thing, counter sunk some good wood screws in place of the nails and re- assembled the unit. I had to heat all of the nuts to get them off but is was worth saving them since finding matches is a bit of a chore.

Hope these photos are of some help.

Thanks for the pictures of your original pickup bed. What’s interesting is the small toolbox thats on the passenger side. Was it already on the box? I do have a tool box almost like yours that I think came off a 9n Ford tractor. Neat add on.
Also there is a manufactures no. on the hook latch for the box tailgate. All the iron looks fairly simple to make going by the plans copy and your pics. Lots of good info out there. Thanks