MTFCA Forum

How can I get drawings from the Henry Ford? Would it be best to go there? You can pm me or send email if you do not want to post here. Thanks, Dan

I have done it two ways, over the phone, and in person. The best way was in person. To find a drawing you need the factory number, not the part number. Part numbers and factory numbers are both listed in the engine and chassis parts manual, the body parts manual has only factory numbers. Each factory number may have a dozen or so drawings with different release dates. Some parts are an assembly with each sub part having its own drawing and date changes. Actually finding the right drawing takes some time and detective work, something that is better suited to doing it in person.
When you identify the factory number you want to see you fill out a form and give it to the docent who then goes into a back room and comes back wheeling a cart with a box about 2'x2' of hundreds of microfiche in individual envelopes in numerical order and by release date. The drawings are on microfiche about 1.5"x2.5" that you can use a light box and magnifying glass to read.When you find the drawing you want to copy you put the microfiche on a microfiche reader. The full size drawing may by 3'x3.5' but the microfiche printer will only print on 8.5x11 paper, not the entire drawing on one piece of paper, you have to move the microfiche stylist around to capture the entire drawing in overlapping patchwork quilt pieces that you piece together. Each drawing printed yourself costs $3, not per sheet, per drawing. In comparison, if you order a drawing over the phone they will print the entire drawing on an 11x18 sheet, more convenient but not a full size drawing. their print is $35 per drawing plus postage. So if you have a lot of drawings to search through and print, in person is the only way to do it. I think its great fun. Entrance to the Benson Ford Research Center is free, parking is free, and viewing the drawings are free. The only cost is to print. The research center is located between the museum and the village.

Dan,

Some additional items you may want to consider:

Unless you work at the Benson Ford Archives or have some special relationship with them, they will not allow someone to wander through the actual archive warehouse area. Some folks volunteer there and do have the permission to go “into the warehouse.” For a glimpse of what is back there please see Trent Boggess’ article “A Visit to the Stacks” at: http://oz.plymouth.edu/~trentb/HFMGVStacks/Stacks.html Note also at the time he wrote that article the complex was NOT called the Henry Ford as it is today. And the Archives were not called the Benson Ford Archives yet.

While you will not be allowed to go back into the stacks, you will be able to request the archive staff member to bring you certain items from the warehouse for you to read and review. You can give them a list of items you specifically want to see. Or if you are not certain what you want to see you can give them a request to bring you information about x,y,z etc. and they will do their best to find you something related to that topic or let you know that they did not find anything.

Recommend you see http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/29/41405.html
Especially John Regan’s and Trent’s posting further down in the thread. A great explanation of the accuracy of the archives as well as somethings are possibly not documented (lost drawing etc.) .

Recommend you see http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/33 ... 1388428168 the posting by Thomas Mullin where he mentions the Record of Changes (Ford Form 512 ) and the Change Record (Ford Form 123). Both add additional information that may not be included on the drawing or may expand on what is on the drawing.

There was an excellent posting on the MTFCI site titled “Releases: A Description and How They Can Be Used To Date Changes In The Model T Ford” by Trent Boggess. But that link has been dead since Jun 28, 2010. Again, information about the Record of Changes etc. But the article is still available for down load by clicking on the link: http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/11 ... 147841.doc That with the factory drawings can provide you some excellent information.


Good luck with your research.