1912 engine serial number placement
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Topic author - Posts: 363
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 8:51 pm
- First Name: Don
- Last Name: Ellis
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1911,1917,23,27
- Location: Julian nc
- MTFCA Number: 17946
- MTFCI Number: 15366
1912 engine serial number placement
how common are the engines with the number behind the water neck? I'm looking at one with a cast date of 2-8-12. I haven't personally seen another one.
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- Posts: 3672
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 3:13 pm
- First Name: Wayne
- Last Name: Sheldon
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1915 Runabout 1913 Speedster
- Location: Grass Valley California, USA
- Board Member Since: 2005
Re: 1912 engine serial number placement
1912 was a very interesting year, engine block wise. In the course of less than one year, the serial number was located in four different places! The earlier production (mostly late calendar 1911 '12 models) had the serial number located below the front of the valve chambers next to the timing gear, just as most 1909 through 1911 had used. I don't know the timelines for all the changes, but I am sure that there was considerable crossover time on all of them as old casting molds were used up and replaced with new versions. I would be surprised if it were found out that at least three variants were not all used at one time at least.
Very early in the 1912 model year, likely still calendar 1911, the embossment was dropped from below the valve chamber, and the serial number moved to the other side of the engine block up on the water jacket. For a short while, that casting date was placed above the water inlet, and the serial number above that, on the bare side of the block, no embossment. For a short time, the serial number was placed behind the water inlet, also no embossment. Along about mid-model-year, the embossment was added above the water inlet for the serial number, where it remained until the end of model T production in 1927. The casting date was moved to behind the water inlet where it remined on USA cars until about 1921 when the casting date was dropped on USA cars (Canadian built model Ts continued to use the casting dates until almost the end of production. The size and shape of the serial number embossment was changed several times over the years.
Your variation is not common, as it was used for only a few months at most. But it is an interesting tidbit of history to share in the parking lot 'bull sessions' of major tours.
Very early in the 1912 model year, likely still calendar 1911, the embossment was dropped from below the valve chamber, and the serial number moved to the other side of the engine block up on the water jacket. For a short while, that casting date was placed above the water inlet, and the serial number above that, on the bare side of the block, no embossment. For a short time, the serial number was placed behind the water inlet, also no embossment. Along about mid-model-year, the embossment was added above the water inlet for the serial number, where it remained until the end of model T production in 1927. The casting date was moved to behind the water inlet where it remined on USA cars until about 1921 when the casting date was dropped on USA cars (Canadian built model Ts continued to use the casting dates until almost the end of production. The size and shape of the serial number embossment was changed several times over the years.
Your variation is not common, as it was used for only a few months at most. But it is an interesting tidbit of history to share in the parking lot 'bull sessions' of major tours.