MTFCA Forum

The rain today didn't stop the delivery of a rare piece of Model T history to the Museum. High on our 'wish list' has been a pan straightening bench.

Thanks to the perseverance of Sam Mendenhall from Alabama, the Model T Museum Vintage Garage now has one! Sam found the bench in Pensacola, Florida where a gentleman had acquired it more than 50 years ago from an original Ford agency.

Thank you to Sam, who not only acquired and donated it to the Museum, but he also transported it to Richmond. Jerry Kramer and Ron Lecklider were on hand to unload it -- no small feat! We are thrilled with this new addition and are most grateful to Sam, Richard Ward who owned the bench, as well as Jerry and Ron. Another exciting addition!

That's a super addition to the vintage garage.

What a great donation! Thanks for your devotion

Fantastic addition! It will keep all on the straight and narrow!!

Fantastic addition! It will keep all on the straight and narrow!!

Is there going to be a pan straightening service at this years Homecoming? I'd be willing to pay for a pan check.

We need to find or make the fixtures that are needed to use it. Many thanks to Sam for this great addition.

Hope you find all the attachments for the jig. They are scarce!

I think Langs had the castings available for the pan jig in the past.

Dan, I will check with Lang’s tomorrow. Without the rest of the fixtures, what we have is just a static display. Once we get them the table can be used. I don’t see the museum getting into the business of using any of the items or tools that we have for profit. There seem to be many very able machinists, engine builders etc. that can take care of our needs. HOWEVER, I do envision a member wanting to learn how to do a repair or actually doing one for themselves using our equipment for that purpose. I’m sure that we will be having a pan straightening seminar in the near future. Anyone ready to volunteer to lead this? I would like to learn how it’s done.

Susan, sent you a e-mail..

Yes the pan fixtures/attachments are almost non existant. The few that survive are usually with a pan jig. Langs does have the rough castings. they will need total machining to work, but at least they are available.

The 1-1/4 inch tail shaft is available thru McMaster Carr. look for linear motion shaft material
The 10 small locating pins are also available thru McMaster Carr.
The pan ear bar is 3/4" thick x 1-1/4" wide x 24 inches long, also available thru McMaster Carr
There are two different versions of the front crank bearing test plate. There is a single bolt and a four bolt style. It appears your table has the four bolt style .. Either style is made from 1/2 inch plate big enough to use the style mounting bolts on the front of the table, and the plate has a 3/4 inch hole drilled in it that is centered on the top surface of the table and the centerline of the table based off the 10 locating pins ..

If a set of original fixture/attachments are found, they are not just a bolt on thing. They must be calibrated to the table. The locating dowel pins were drilled "after" the fixtures/attachments were calibrated at the factory. The dowel pins are probably not in the same location table to table. They may be close, but not always true.

I am almost done with the restoration of my KR Wilson pan jig. So I have just went thru the learning and finding part of the project. If you need any help finding the parts to make the fixtures/attachments with, please contact me ....


have fun and be safe ...