T going down hill
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Topic author - Posts: 3907
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T going down hill
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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Re: T going down hill
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
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...
Luke.
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...
Luke.
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Re: T going down hill
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
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?
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
Maybe he's backing uphill!
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Re: T going down hill
"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.
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
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!!
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Re: T going down hill
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.)
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
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.
Norm
Norm
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Re: T going down hill
Not Lombard St. No flowers.
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Re: T going down hill
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
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.
Norm
Norm
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Re: T going down hill
I see brakes on the rear and a speedometer on the front along with the extra linkage mentioned.
Anybody recognize it?
When did I do that?
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Re: T going down hill
I looked more closely at the drivers hands. You can clearly see his fingers and knuckles are WHITE with fear!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Re: T going down hill
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
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.
Art Mirtes
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.
Art Mirtes
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Re: T going down hill
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
That is the correct position for the speedometer. Look very closely. The driver is on the left.
Norm
Norm
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Re: T going down hill
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
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
Norm
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Re: T going down hill
Looks like he has a Clymer or Fyrac through the windshield spotlight. Jim Patrick
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Re: T going down hill
That's a Silver Beam Jr. spotlight.
"The further a society drifts from truth, the more it will hate those who speak it." -George Orwell
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Re: T going down hill
Bryant
“Whether you think you can, or think you can’t-you’re right.”
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Re: T going down hill
"Wow! His route is downhill both ways!"
Yes, I passed him each morning going the other way on my way to school.
Yes, I passed him each morning going the other way on my way to school.
When did I do that?
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Re: T going down hill
OMG, that's awesome!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.
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Re: T going down hill
Actually, the road was level but the building tilted. Remember San Francisco is noted for earthquakes!
Norm
Norm
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Re: T going down hill
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
Art Mirtes