MTFCA Forum

I see things posted for Battery Boxes but when did Ford build a 6 volt battery? At this time I cannot post a picture of the battery case I have but it is divided into 3 compartments for where the cores went. I imagine it is Bakelite. The top is not there but it has Ford in big letters on the side. It is possible it was made in the 30's or 40's. I have had it for 30 years and do not know what I will do with it, my wife would not appreciate it sitting on a table with flowers in it. Strange how they do not think much of these wonderful items.

First (Exide) battery in a 1919 Ford Service Bulletin
Second (Ford Script) battery in a 1921 Ford Service Bulletin.

My scanner has died so can't post what is in parts book, the Ford battery was available from a complete battery to some 20 parts, plates, caps, lead posts, rubber etc, so you could rebuild/ repair the battery.

I have a Ford Battery Manual. It is the same size and question and answer format as the Ford manual which came with the cars. Unfortunately, unlike the car manuals, it is not dated.
It must be early, as it shows the wooden battery case, the cells, the connecting components, and gives a comprehensive guide to diagnoses and repairs.
These even cover repairs to each individual plate in each cell.
There is no mention of the tin box into which the battery is placed when fitted to the car.

Allan from down under.

Allan, the September, 1921 Ford Service Bulletin I posted refers to the Ford Script Battery as “the new Ford battery”, so, I assume, from this, that the Ford Script battery with the three separated cell boxes in the Ford script battery box, was introduced in 1921 and sold by Ford dealers and Ford parts suppliers for $25.00. That as a lot of money. $1.00 in 1921 would be equivalent to $14.61 in 2021 dollars, making the cost of a $25.00 battery in 1921, equivalent to $365.34 in 2021. Jim Patrick

Jim. I found that price as well in a Sept1921 parts book, I do question that on being correct because other parts books later say $10.00 for a new Ford battery.

Kerry. With Ford’s reputation for keeping prices as low as possible for the common man, $10.00 sounds more realistic, but being as the new battery cost was listed as $25.00 in an official Ford Service Bulletin that was the official method of communication between Ford and the dealers, I have to assume that the price in 1921 was $25.00. However, the possiblilty exists that the price was eventually lowered to $10.00 as more efficient methods of manufacturing the batteries came into being as well as complaints that $25.00 was just too much for the new battery, because nobody could afford them at that price Jim Patrick

Agreed Jim, seems that Ford was playing funny buggers with batteries, no mention of a battery in pre Sept 21 parts books although all electricals are listed, maybe like the spare wheel, you get a rim but the tire cost you extra

I have three NOS battery cases. One wood, and two hard rubber. They make is easy for me to test a repro battery box. I bought one once, and it would fit. So, I had to have them made myself. Do you wonder why I dislike reproductions?

A empty battery case that is in good condition is worth several hundred dollars to some people.
https://www.vintagefordforum.com/forum/ ... ttery-case

Look at the non Ford supply catalogs like Western Auto or even Sears, tires and batteries were not cheap items until synthetic compounds came on the market. Rubber was not cheap and there was only so much of it.

Here are the Service Bulletin pages converted from PDF's.


September, 1921

May, 1919

The later all rubber case Ford battery came out in 1924, and there is a 1927 Service Bulletin on care and feeding. The wood box battery was earlier.

I'm using one of my repro battery box bottoms, that an original will fit into. Because the lids use the battery for support, I had to fabricate two special brackets to take the place of the Ford battery handles. They work great with a modern 6 volt battery. In my post above I mentioned an original battery would fit in a repro. They will not! Sorry for the error. I should learn to proof read. I also had to use two pieces of 1/4" plywood to keep the battery from moving around inside the box.

I have posted this before, but it may help others. I used a modern battery in a tin box made as per the originals. The battery was fitted in the box, [with a loop of plastic packing strap left in place for lifting it out] and I cut two wood spacer blocks to sit on the top edge. The battery box lid sits on the blocks. When the hold down clamps are fitted they load the lid, the lid loads the blocks and the blocks load the battery. The nett effect is there is no need for a spacer under the battery, no packing needed on the sides and the battery is held down as it is in modern cars.
Any battery that will go into the tin box can be used.

Allan from down under.