MTFCA Forum

I have this brass windshield and am not exactly sure what it is off of. Can anyone tell me anything about it? I don’t see any markings on it.

Dimensions of both halves, please

Bottom frame is 41 5/8” X 14 3/4”
Upper frame is 41 5/8” X 10 3/4”

Anybody have any idea if this was for a T Model?

Not on any early Model T I've seen or worked on.

That is a " Troy " windshield . They made several models , and are usually found on more expensive cars .

Hello Pete Eastwood - I am very curious as to how you are able to identify the windshield as a TROY windshield. In addition to our 1914 T, I have a 1912 MICHIGAN automobile with an unmarked windshield that I believe is a TROY. I would really like to positively identify it. Can you help? Thanks Craig Correll in Carlsbad CA

Have read in Bruce's book that the 'Troy' was wooden framed, and used on the '09s-'10s.

The adv. from 1909 shows the 'new' style, folding. These do have wooden frames. Another photo shows a rigid wooden frame, maybe the older version of a Troy?

Hello Dan -
Nope, our frame is nickel plated brass - not wood. There are wood plugs in the brass side frames where the hinge attaches - not anywhere else. The defining characteristic that leads me to believe it is a TROY is the construction of the multi-position hinge lock mechanism. It is two disks compressed together. One disk has a bump or ridge and the other disk has 2 grooves or valleys. They are held in position by an external spring that holds the angle of the hinge at a fixed position when the ridge is rotated into the groove. The ease or difficulty of changing the position is controlled by compressing or decompressing the external spring. I've attached a portion of a 1911 article from pages 62 to 66 of the January 26, 1911 edition of Motor Age and a photo of my mystery windshield's locking mechanism which seems to match the design of the TROY. Any other thoughts?

Here are some other photos of our MICHIGAN's windshield.

Craig

Good info, as with other mfg., many made design changes for newer versions. Makes sense. Should be a Troy alright.

Here is another, don't know mfg., but sketch was in Automobile in the early 'teens m, article on type of 'automatic' folding windshields, and shows a similar disc method, but with leather for friction.

Mine has the spring on the outside of the hinge. I am not sure what locks the windshield into position. I will have to take it apart and see what’s inside. Whether or not it has the tongue and groove.

Well, here are some more pictures on the hinges on the windshield in question. From the drawings posted above, the tongue and groove pieces look identical to the Troy. It’s probably safe to say it it a Troy. It has to be fairly early, it has the studs for the windshield braces. I am pretty sure this came off of an early T or at least it was on one at one time whether it belonged there or not.
Has anyone else seen one of these attached to a car before?

Hello Tourabout -
Yes, the windshield position locking system looks very much like the maybe a Troy windshield that I think I have. I also notice that the way the glass channel between the windshield halve connects to the sides of the frame is very similar. On my windshield there are two screws that hold the channel-piano hinge piece to each frame section. They screw into a wooden plug in the frame ends. Your windshield looks like it has one screw that does the same thing - although you dont have a piano hinge between the two glass pieces. My guess is that your windshield is earlier - than mine or has some other feature that makes this hinging and positioning more complex than my windshield. I've got essentially 2 fixed positions and one folded position. The panes of glass simply hinge. They cannot do any other tricks or zigzags or center vents or whatever. I'm still wondering how Pete Eastwood recognized your windshield at TROY. I'd love to find a TROY catalog or other sales literature that could help us identify these windshields. Thanks, Craig In Carlsbad CA