T going down hill

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John kuehn
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T going down hill

Post by John kuehn » Thu Jan 26, 2023 1:45 pm

Here’s a T center door going down a San Francisco hill around 21-22. It looks like the gas lever is all the way up. Was he coasting and using any braking or?? It looks like the T is new or close to it.
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TWrenn
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Re: T going down hill

Post by TWrenn » Thu Jan 26, 2023 1:54 pm

Hard to say but probly is coasting and using the brake, I hope judiciously. He coulda also retarded the timing fully, acting a wee bit like a Jake-brake. It also looks like it may have Rockies..but the pic isn't clear enough. Those would do the trick, even then up to a point. All depends on how hot they get.


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Re: T going down hill

Post by Luke » Thu Jan 26, 2023 2:11 pm

I suggest the vehicle isn't necessarily in motion. It's quite a clear photo which, for the time and the various angles involved, would be difficult to obtain were they travelling downhill at any speed.

The social commentary is interesting .. the hats are of course a giveaway, not sure the cues would be that obvious in a similar situation today?

Also, for the nerds amongst us, I've measured the inclination of the road using the building lines and the axle centres; it's 16 degrees...

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Re: T going down hill

Post by Erik Barrett » Thu Jan 26, 2023 2:19 pm

If the throttle is not closed that model T will soon be stacked up in an ugly pile at the bottom of the hill.


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Re: T going down hill

Post by John kuehn » Thu Jan 26, 2023 2:29 pm

It very well could be a staged photo just looking at it. If it was staged would a wheel or two have a block or chock under it? I think the hand brake would hold it. If it were me getting in that T in 1920 and all that was keeping it stopped was the hand brake I still would be kind of careful!

But looking at it again is that some kind of block or something under the drivers side wheel?


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Re: T going down hill

Post by apfau » Thu Jan 26, 2023 2:45 pm

Maybe he's backing uphill! :lol:

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Re: T going down hill

Post by Rich Eagle » Thu Jan 26, 2023 2:50 pm

"A Ford Model T is descending a hill in San Francisco, circa 1921."
Underwood Archives/Getty Images. They called it a "Tudor" elsewhere.
"The building in the background of this very steep street appears to be a jail house. Wonder where it was?"
Model T Ford Fix.
When did I do that?

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Re: T going down hill

Post by TWrenn » Thu Jan 26, 2023 3:05 pm

John, this time I looked at the pic from the computer which gives better resolution than my phone. Doesn't look like any sort of block as I expand the pic. I just see the unevenness of the bricks and resulting shadows as well as "daylight". It does now look a lot more like there's RM's on them there rear wheels tho! And yep, it coulda been staged, but remember the car had to GET THERE in the first place as well as stop!! :lol:


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Re: T going down hill

Post by Jerry VanOoteghem » Thu Jan 26, 2023 3:55 pm

Whether or not it's "staged", is kind of pointless. The fact is/was, the car is on a hill which it apparently was driven to, and at some point, was driven down the hill, (since it's probably not still sitting there :) ).

I would use low gear, while intermittently applying the brake. (If anyone is thinking of using reverse, I'd only do it to save a life.)


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Re: T going down hill

Post by Norman Kling » Thu Jan 26, 2023 4:19 pm

If that is San Francisco, most of the hills are one block with a cross street which is level, so I think the car would go down the hill in low gear and pump the brake while going. It would go very slowly so as not to use too much brake. we have hills about that steep which I go down in Ruckstell and low pedal. Hardly need the brake at all.
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Re: T going down hill

Post by DHort » Thu Jan 26, 2023 4:22 pm

Not Lombard St. No flowers.

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Re: T going down hill

Post by Humblej » Thu Jan 26, 2023 4:58 pm

Hard to tell, but there is a lot of extra hardware and possibly 2 rods or cables on the front axle. Advert for 4 wheel brakes?


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Re: T going down hill

Post by Norman Kling » Thu Jan 26, 2023 6:06 pm

Right front wheel looks like a speedometer cable. It is too crooked for a brake rod and no evidence of drums on the front wheels.
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Re: T going down hill

Post by Rich Eagle » Thu Jan 26, 2023 6:11 pm

I see brakes on the rear and a speedometer on the front along with the extra linkage mentioned.
SanFranBrakz.jpg
Anybody recognize it?
SanFranBrak2.jpg
When did I do that?


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Re: T going down hill

Post by Tom VanMeeteren » Thu Jan 26, 2023 6:19 pm

I looked more closely at the drivers hands. You can clearly see his fingers and knuckles are WHITE with fear!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :shock:


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Re: T going down hill

Post by TXGOAT2 » Thu Jan 26, 2023 6:32 pm

I wonder if an area Ford dealer staged that to demonstrate the safety of Ford's dual brake system.


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Re: T going down hill

Post by Art M » Thu Jan 26, 2023 7:19 pm

The natural slope of Lombard street is about 16 degrees. The curves were added in 1922 to decrease the effective slope. This was because most cars at that time could not handle that steep of slope.

This picture could have been taken on Lombad street before the street was modified. My estimate of the slope in the photo is 16 degrees, which correlates with Luke.

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Re: T going down hill

Post by Poppie » Fri Jan 27, 2023 5:35 am

To me it looks to be a right hand drive vehicle< Drivers hands, speedo drive on RHS front wheel or could the photo be reversed???.....n


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Re: T going down hill

Post by Norman Kling » Fri Jan 27, 2023 11:02 am

That is the correct position for the speedometer. Look very closely. The driver is on the left.
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Re: T going down hill

Post by Jerry VanOoteghem » Fri Jan 27, 2023 11:37 am

Odd that the rear wheels have the 6 hub bolts installed with the nuts on the outside.


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Re: T going down hill

Post by Norman Kling » Fri Jan 27, 2023 2:21 pm

Perhaps the bolts or nuts were scraping something on the inside so they were turned outside? This is not the usual position of the bolts and nuts on either front or rear wheels with stock wheels.
Norm


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Re: T going down hill

Post by jiminbartow » Fri Jan 27, 2023 2:44 pm

Looks like he has a Clymer or Fyrac through the windshield spotlight. Jim Patrick

8E310915-06F2-4EAA-9453-2134205EBCD2.jpeg
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Re: T going down hill

Post by Dan Haynes » Fri Jan 27, 2023 10:11 pm

That's a Silver Beam Jr. spotlight.
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Re: T going down hill

Post by Bryant » Sat Jan 28, 2023 10:01 am

7CDA84F2-9970-4E62-BEDA-F43D6E615C47.jpeg
Here its reversed. Now it looks like a different driver. Discuss
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Re: T going down hill

Post by Jerry VanOoteghem » Sat Jan 28, 2023 1:33 pm

Bryant wrote:
Sat Jan 28, 2023 10:01 am
7CDA84F2-9970-4E62-BEDA-F43D6E615C47.jpeg
Here its reversed. Now it looks like a different driver. Discuss
Bryant
Wow! His route is downhill both ways!

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Re: T going down hill

Post by Rich Eagle » Sat Jan 28, 2023 1:43 pm

"Wow! His route is downhill both ways!"
Yes, I passed him each morning going the other way on my way to school. :lol:
When did I do that?


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Re: T going down hill

Post by Jerry VanOoteghem » Sat Jan 28, 2023 2:18 pm

Rich Eagle wrote:
Sat Jan 28, 2023 1:43 pm
"Wow! His route is downhill both ways!"
Yes, I passed him each morning going the other way on my way to school. :lol:
OMG, that's awesome! :lol: :lol:


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Re: T going down hill

Post by Norman Kling » Sat Jan 28, 2023 4:02 pm

Actually, the road was level but the building tilted. Remember San Francisco is noted for earthquakes! :lol: :lol: :lol:
Norm


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Re: T going down hill

Post by Bryant » Sat Jan 28, 2023 5:24 pm

7E29349D-90A5-4990-9C13-D4918C0C0789.jpeg
After the quake :lol:
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Re: T going down hill

Post by Art M » Sat Jan 28, 2023 7:02 pm

Lombard street runs pne way from west to east starting at the high end. Looking at the shadow, I think the photo was taken in the morning, which makes sense for taking a picture of a black car.

Art Mirtes

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