MTFCA Forum

As of August 1st, the contract was signed and now Bill and Shawna are here today getting ready to load all the reproduction parts and machines to its new home, they will have the toll-free phone number 1-888 MODELT1
Also, they will continue making a lot of new reproduction parts, there is a new website they will open very soon; it has been a pleasure working with all of you

I will still have the store but only selling original parts
we will keep buying n.o.s. and used items and selling original T parts also as many of you have been here I will also be selling a lot of my vintage toys as well, if anyone is thinking of selling parts collections or their cars let me know, we also help folks sell their Model T Fords
our phone number is 815-633-7244 and
815-633-7287
thank you, Bob

….. ….. …….

Bob,

Will you have a website showing the original parts for sale?

Yes I have someone working on it and when its up will be adding daily as it comes in, Bob

Hi Bob, I agree, THANK YOU for all of your service to our hobby. especially for having those hard to find parts reproduced. I'm glad to see that you're still selling original parts, we need them too!

Keith

The 3rd day of loading and still lots more to go, thank you for the kind comments, Bob

As I understand it the have purchased new repro inventory and some machines. So when the dust settles they have taken their haul, open your doors and let us pick through the racks of the old parts for recycling / reconditioning. Earlier this year when I was there I bought 5 items I wasn't looking for and left many more that I didn't no if I needed.

My shelves runith over....

Yes they pulled out yesterday morning, three days of loading a 53' semi and their van to the top, he will need to make one more trip as they ran out of room, they have a big job ahead of them unloading, yes once I get organized will still be open, please call 1st before you make the trip
looking forward to going through tons of boxes of original parts to sort out, then will also start listing them when the new web site becomes active, thanks to all
Bob

Thanks Bob. Glad to see a smooth transition, and to know you are still in the old car/T business too.
Best,
Rob

As Steve Jelf said, above, "Thanks for your many decades of service". You have always been an asset and hope you can continue in whatever way for more years. Your Dad was an asset, too. My first parts that I bought back in the mid to late 1960's were from your Dad.

Bob-

Thank you for your years of service. Thank you to your Dad, too. I started buying from him back in the 1970's.
I'm glad the transition is going well and glad that you will still have a role selling original parts!

: ^ )

Keith

Thank you Bob for the years of service to the Model T hobby. Even though shipping costs were high to ship larger parts to me in California because of the distance, I always knew that the parts would be first rate quality. Best wishes on your health and your new business of selling your original Model T parts. Kevin M in Ca.

Great News ! Now, if Birdhaven could only manufacture all the parts they advertise and keep them in stock !

ModelTWoods wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 14, 2022 11:26 pm

Great News ! Now, if Birdhaven could only manufacture all the parts they advertise and keep them in stock !

Don't hold your breath...

pron022020 wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 15, 2022 8:32 am

ModelTWoods wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 14, 2022 11:26 pm

Great News ! Now, if Birdhaven could only manufacture all the parts they advertise and keep them in stock !

Don't hold your breath...

Ummmmm. Where does Birdhaven advertise? They only have the Texas T site https://www.texastparts.com/mm5/merchant.mvc
with limited parts. Never got the catalog I requested.

Texas is where Model T parts & products go to die.

Isn't Birdhaven located in Iowa? Regardless, I hope they get everything up and running.

TXGOAT2 wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 15, 2022 2:35 pm

Isn't Birdhaven located in Iowa? Regardless, I hope they get everything up and running.

Yes Birdhaven is located in Colfax Iowa East of Des Moines just off I-80. I understand that they may be setting up another location. The current location is off the beaten path in several Barns, but nice.

Maybe things will be different, but there's a lot of stuff they've taken over that's never seen the light of day again.

All the acquired manufacturing tooling for various T parts are being carefully stored in a warehouse until they can be unearthed and manufactured once again. Here is a link of the process of storing the various part manufacturing tooling.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TASlXWbMZyU

ThreePedalTapDancer wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 15, 2022 7:03 pm

All the acquired manufacturing tooling for various T parts are being carefully stored in a warehouse until they can be unearthed and manufactured once again. Here is a link of the process of storing the various part manufacturing tooling.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TASlXWbMZyU

LOL

Personally I’m glad Bill and Shauna have stepped up to keep these products available. In the last several years there have been several suppliers go out of business because of the lack of individuals willing to commit funds and time to purchase them and continue the business. Not only did they have to invest a lot of capital, they have to relocate the business, then find cost effective suppliers and deal with parts shortage issues. After that they still have to find employees willing work in a world with an entitlement attitude.
I have never had a bad experience with Birdhaven. Fair prices, friendly staff, and candy to boot!
Thank you Bill and family for all you do.

I have found that without exception, our suppliers are lovely folks with the best of intentions. I have also found that in business, past performance is a strong predictor of future performance.

From finding new machine shops, to expanded inventory control, to cost analysis regarding new pricing, to trying to hire energized staff willing to work in a family business, ad infinitum, any one of these or other issues can stop production and sales from occurring... Good intentions notwithstanding. I wish them the best but wishing is not the same as executing.

speedytinc wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 15, 2022 1:59 pm

Texas is where Model T parts & products go to die.

Gotta be my favorite quote on the forums so far...

Will_Vanderburg wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 15, 2022 3:14 pm

Maybe things will be different, but there's a lot of stuff they've taken over that's never seen the light of day again.

Will, that's the best reason I can think of for a new vendor not "biting off more than he can chew". Buying tooling for posterity is fine, but it doesn't provide the marketable product to the consumer.

speedytinc wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 15, 2022 1:59 pm

Texas is where Model T parts & products go to die.

TEXAS isn't where T parts go to die, but Texas T parts, owned by Birdhaven has seen its share. When Birdhaven bought Texas T Parts from Ben Hardeman, it was with the stipulation that the Texas T Parts logo transfer so people would see continuity in the part's design and manufacturer, thus that is the only connection Texas has with Birdhaven.

Junk poor wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 15, 2022 9:00 pm

Personally I’m glad Bill and Shauna have stepped up to keep these products available. In the last several years there have been several suppliers go out of business because of the lack of individuals willing to commit funds and time to purchase them and continue the business. Not only did they have to invest a lot of capital, they have to relocate the business, then find cost effective suppliers and deal with parts shortage issues. After that they still have to find employees willing work in a world with an entitlement attitude.
I have never had a bad experience with Birdhaven. Fair prices, friendly staff, and candy to boot!
Thank you Bill and family for all you do.

Try ordering one of the accessory foot accelerators for a 26-27 T from them. A year or two ago, I ordered one in March and they put it on back order. I called a couple of times during the summer and the excuse was they were waiting for the parts to come back from powdercoating, etc. When Fall came and the excuse was the same, I gave up and cancelled the back order. I haven't checked, since, but its likely they never got them back in stock. Are there so few powdercoaters in Iowa or nearby states that they can't find one that provides a reasonably quick turn around? I never had any problem getting parts that Texas T Parts manufactured when Ben Hardeman owned the Texas T Parts business. At the time I cancelled my order, I posted of my experience on this Forum and the response I got wasn't in my favor, but in Birdhaven's. From the comments generated so far on this post, it looks like a lot of T owners have had a similar experience to mine and have changed their mind.