MTFCA Forum

I'm looking for a period correct wiper for my Australian assembled 26. Looking at the U.S. literature we see this common Trico vacuum wiper as being the available accessory: But, looking at the Australian accessories for 1927 is a different kind of wiper: At first I wondered if it was a Folberth: But then I was looking through the classifieds and found this Apco (alas, too late!):
Was it one of these?
So my question is, who made this accessory that was available for Australian cars?

John , having owned several originals, they are made by Trico, but not common at all. One of the very hardest to find late model T accessories. They are close to the regular Trico wiper, but just about nothing is interchangeable, other than the wiper arm. The actual ford supplied units have a round etched disc with the Ford logo on it. Two different models, one for open cars and one for closed cars. They were made from bad potmetal, so very hard to find one that isn’t warped and cracked. The arms for them are made as a perfect reproduction by A & L . They supply mostly model A very high quality reproduction parts, wholesale only. Hope this is some help. Good luck on the search, that is half the fun.

I have that export catalog and I believe those are folberth.

John, my 26 has an electric one made by Bosch, I don't know if it left the dealership with it. The oldest photo I've got of the T is 1964 and it was on it then.

Forget vacuum, Unless you just want to look at it, that bOSCH that Kerry has would be my first choice. Likely period correct, too.

Tim, pot metal with old Trico wipers has been in the back of my mind. Interesting to know the parts are not compatible with other models. Plus all the intricate bits one might have to remanufacture to get one going. I like vacuum wipers from a nostalgic point of view and because they're obsolete technology, but in reality I need a wiper that works - and with the throttle fully open. So, I'm starting to lean towards electric.

Kerry, your Bosch is very elegant and certainly looks period correct. I'm curious about the the wire, since none of the advertisements I've seen for old wipers show how to route this (or the vacuum hose). I presume it's just clipped to the windscreen frame and run under the dash. What kind of clips were used and are they just screwed under the existing side curtain clips?

John, I can talk with some knowledge of the Ford Trico. I bought a pair that were NOS. One was for an open car , the other for a closed car. They came to me with some slight swelling and even some cratering in the delicate potmetal. I remember some cratering in the vacuum chamber which was really pissy to fix. The leather paddle needs to have a smooth surface. I had heard on the internet, probably here ( so it must be true) that they were the same as the very early Trico Jr. . I’ll admit they look very much alike. I sought and bought several on eBay, and thought I was in good shape. Not so, as side by side they are very close, but definitely not the same. There may have been some small internals that would work ( I forget) but the main body and other parts definitely were not interchangeable. To this day , it amazes me that Trico would do up a special Ford model , but indeed they did. Just trying to share info and keep someone else from making my same mistake. I did get both mine up and running, but it was a labor of love and a challenge. Other than a show car, I’d go electric. There are others than bOSCH, as the very early model As used electrics, also. AND , a lot of other cars were made during the late model T days and the accessory market was offering good stuff. Hope this helps some.