Base Model 1909

[Scott Rosenthal]

Early photos show Base Model Touring likely came without a buggy rail. Hard to tell in those photos whether the carbide gas line was a standard hardware item. Any early enthusiasts care to opine as to whether, and why or why not?

[Steve Jelf]

I haven't looked, but it wouldn't surprise me if a list of 1909 options could be found in the complete Encyclopedia package. I'm referring to the flash drive version, not the abridged one online. I do remember that the windshield was optional.

[DanTreace]

Bruce's info from Ford archives:

The early 1909 were avail without top, windshield or lamps, except the oil lamps were std.

1909 MAR 1 Ford Times
Ford Roadster at $975 in Canada, $825 U.S. described.
No top, windshield, headlamps or speedometer, but with oil lamps and horn.

1909 OCT 1 Ford Times
Gas lamps, top, windshield and speedometer now
standard equipment on the Touring, Tourabout and Runabout. Closed cars still supplied less the gas lamps. “Unequipped” open cars available on special order.

This runabout is likely early, and likely prior to JUNE 1909, as the paint is gray, the nice Dove gray. Note the body does have the black painted carriage bolts securing the bracket for a buggy rail, as those brackets are part of the body, under the upholstery, but the buggy rail for the top fitting is missing.
And fitted with oil lamps, (side and tail).

buggy rail forum.jpg (55.52 KiB) Viewed 1222 times

[Scott Rosenthal]

Buggy rail, standard equipment or purchased as accessory with optional top?
Carbide line, standard equipment or to be purchased and installed along with optional headlights? My 09 build sheet shows a generator was purchased but no mention of the gas line or headlamps.

[DanTreace]

Scott

According to info from Bruce, the factory accessories were extra cost on the early cars. Base equipment is noted at the bottom of this list, which are the one tool kit, one pair of headlamp brackets, tail and two side oil lamps, and one horn.

As for your build sheet, could be items left off or hard to read as these were microfiche, only faint initials show for the brands of accessories, you might inspect it closely, seems odd to have gas generator and not have brand of gas lamps listed. But if generator was fitted, seems logical that gas lines were piped to the standard head lamp brackets for later install of head lamps. Typical initials below:


BODIES: P=Pontiac (Beaudett)
W=Wilson H=Hayes HA=Hayes American HB=Hayes Briggs
WINDSHIELDS: D=Diamond M=Mezger (Automatic) R=Rands T=Troy VG=Vanguard
LAMPS: BRN=Brown AC=Atwood-Castle M&E=? E&J=Edmond&Jones ##=Supplied with Prestolite tank
SPEEDOMETERS: ST=Stewart
COILS: H=Heinze ST=Stewart JB=Jacobsen-Brandow CARBURETORS: B=Buffalo K=Kingston H=Holley RADIATOR: B=Briscoe Det=Detroit McC=McCord


Here is a decked out with accessories early runabout, has all the factory supplied, plus the buggy rail and top (which is part of top equipment) and has the optional painted top irons to match the body, speedometer, has gas lamps, and the generator is likely on the drivers side unseen in this pic.