MTFCA Forum

My question is has anyone ever seen this style of top strap before? They were original to my Canadian 1912 touring.
Even the restorer didn't think they were an original style until I came up with proof. Surely someone else must
have them on an open car from the 1912 era. Rather than being the usual short leather straps, they are a leather
covered braided cable with a cast hook on one end (that attaches to the windshield hinge top buckle loop) and a cast
loop on the other end that a short adjustable leather strap goes through. That strap goes over the front top iron and
is held in place with a footman loop.


Here's my proof....and it's a great proof. This is a picture I'm certain most of you are familiar with.


This is a blow up of top strap on the car that Henry Ford is behind the wheel in.

Here's another picture showing the unique top straps.


Again a blowup of the straps.


This is my '12 showing the straps. Note: the door handles have been properly put vertical after
this picture was taken.

Another piece of Model T history I didn't know. I love the 1912 year models. They have so many unique things about them.

Those were unique to to 1912. The late Ken Jones had the factory drawing for them and was over the moon when he found an original pair at Bakersfield.

I'm wondering about the buckle. Aside from not being brass plated, it appears to be the same one used on the '13 rear bow straps?

The original buckles (which I have) are smaller and steel painted black as are
the original footman loops. I'm guilty of liking brass! . The leather straps
were in too bad of condition to reuse. Did I mention I like brass??

Actually I am pretty honored to have my top straps authenticated as being proper albeit probably rare.

It sure is nice to see a 1912 with doors! Most everyone in this area have removed them for some reason.

Call me Original Heaman...lol! I like the look of a slab side better with the fore-doors on (if you have them of course). I believe the thought is with the fore-doors removed the touring looks more 'old fashioned', especially if you use the long style top straps. And of course they are easier to get in and out of. 1912 was truly a transition year still having full brass in early production. I have tried to keep my '12 very original except for the body color. Being a Canadian production car it has the differences from US production such as the operating driver's door, double beaded fenders, 30" x 3 1/2" tires all around, carbide generator being centred over the running board 'Ford' script, the windshield hinges and the small brass clip that holds the horn tubing from getting caught on the driver's door. Feel free to correct me if something isn't right in my description. I'll post a few more detail pictures of the Canadian production T below.

I'm not trying to hijack this thread but I'd like to know more about the picture of the car with Henry Ford at the wheel. I have never seen that picture before. Specifically, who are the other two people? Who is the passenger and who is the young woman with the baby?

Here's another picture you may or may not have seen.

Just wondering if someone would enlighten Rich J and myself who is in the picture with Henry Ford.
I'll repost the picture below.

RichJ wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 11, 2020 8:28 pm

I'm not trying to hijack this thread but I'd like to know more about the picture of the car with Henry Ford at the wheel. I have never seen that picture before. Specifically, who are the other two people? Who is the passenger and who is the young woman with the baby?

It appears to be a man besides Ford - Father?

I don't think that's Henry's wife and Edsel because Edsel was born in 1893 which would of made him 19 in 1912.
I also think that is a man in the passenger seat beside Henry.

John,
I'm glad to see you brought this back up. It would probably be better if you started a new post, with a better subject line, as it would be seen by more people. I'd do it but I'm not very techy. Most everything I do has to be spell checked by my wife and sometimes she can be difficult

RichJ....I just submitted a new post to enquire about the people in the photo with Henry.
It's titled.....Please identify the passenger, lady and the baby!