MTFCA Forum

I'm working on the front bow of an unrestored 1914 open car. I've always had 1913's with no problems. This car has footman loops that are 1 3/4" hole to hole, and are too narrow to put a screw straight in. I believe 1 11/16" would do it, but am unaware of that size. The footman loops did not fit the hole pattern in the bow, and were held in with two #8 RH wood screws that would not fit the holes in the bow. Each footman loop had a screw that went in at an angle, a bad job indeed. Anyone else run into a situation like this? The bow has the original Ford material still wrapped, and doesn't appear to have been altered.

Don't know if this is any help but the factory drawing for the 1915 straps that go down to the hinge area to be hooked into the hinge loop are called out as #9 oval head slotted screws. Those straps remained as leather into 1917 even though the rear top straps changed for 1915 to the later flat non leather material. Some judging standards have this wrong in that they claim the change to the new material was done at both places at the same time. My sons unrestored original 1916 roadster has leather strap at the front and cloth material at the rear bow as stated in the archival drawings.

Hope this helps.

Thanks John.

Larry, you need to verify the exact date of manufacture for your car. If it was a Friday or Monday car, that could explain the disparity. If it was assembled after a major holiday,....well that would have definitely contributed to the problem. Or maybe it was just meant to be.....
Its only original once.....
Don