What does the "D" stand for on this original 1913 brass steering column quadrant?

[NorthSouth]

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This is a original brass quadrant from a 1913 steering column. Does anyone know why the "D" is stamped on it?

[Tbird]

Dodge Brothers? You do have the Dodge Brothers stamping on the other side. Never seen one with a D stamping.

[Allan]

Duh?
Allan from down under.

[Jem]

Inspector's stamp?

[Dan Hatch]

Just a guess, but since your stamp on the other side looks like a Dodge Bros stamp missing the Dodge. Someone at Dodge or at Ford added the D to id the maker. Dan

[Original Smith]

I have seen another, on a 1914.

[TrentB]

Up until the summer of 1914 Dodge Brothers supplied the entire steering column assembly. After the breakup between Ford and Dodge, Ford began making the steering column assembly themselves, and in so doing began to modify some of the steering column parts. The most noticeable changes were the steering gear box (the change from the two-piece to one-piece designs) and the spark and throttle rod quadrants. Ford wanted to replace the cast brass quadrant with a pressed steel design. During the late summer of 1914 a series of different quadrant designs were tried beginning with a pressed steel design that resembles the cast brass quadrant. A little later another design was tried which is more like the later flat steel quadrants, but created the notches by pressing the notches from both the top and bottom sides. The notches resemble “Ruffles” potato chips. That design was in turn replaced with more traditional designs that varied in size. All pressed steel quadrants used through 1916 were brass plated.

The steering column design changes are clearly identified by examining the “Record of Change” cards and part drawing for the various components in the steering column assembly. This information is in the Collections of the Benson Ford Research Center at The Henry Ford.

I know of several instances where the owners of late 1914 cars have changed steering columns because their steering columns did not match the designs specified in the various authenticity guides. Sadly, we lose some authenticity in the attempts by these cars owners to make their cars more authentic.

[Wayne Sheldon]

Trent B,
Unfortunately, that has been a problem within the hobby for a very long time! Way too many details have been 'corrected' on model Ts because restorers wanted to make their car 'right'. Not many 1914 style open cars are left with their original early 1915 engines as they were installed while Ford resolved production difficulties that delayed the 1915 style. I remember when I began in this hobby more than fifty years ago hearing about so many people that changed the engine in their cars to make it 'correct' for 1914. Too many late 1915s and early 1916 model Ts were given brass trim on the lamps. And there is the "fender without a year", the late 1914 and early1915 fender that had the 1915 style and bill, but the four rivet bracket. I used to see those at swap meets, people couldn't give them away (I know for a fact that dozens of them were sent to scrap!). Now I wish I could get a good pair for my February/March '15 runabout.
And it isn't just brass era Ts. How many 1925 fordor sedans had their squared off side aprons changed to the rounded earlier style just because people believed that the squared off ones were for 1926 and 1927 only?

I know that in the grand scheme of the universe, these are minor things. But the details of reality are important. And historic automobiles should be restored with their nearly infinite variations intact for all to see. And, people need to understand that not everything in life fits into their nice neat 'tied-with-a-bow' vision.

Thank you for all the research that you do! I for one really appreciate it, and always look forward to reading whatever you have to say about our beloved model Ts.