MTFCA Forum

I appreciate the good input I've gotten from the forum in the past. I have what may seem a dumb question, but just can't make it out from old (or new) pictures.
I bought my '17 Touring Car a few years ago without a top. The time has come to put one on. Step one, I'm cleaning up some old oval irons.
The question is; where the front irons attach to the brackets, kinda near the driver's and front passenger's outside elbows, does the pin in the irons insert from the inside out, or the outside in? Once in place, does the clip insert on the outside or the inside?
I've attached two pictures.
Thanks in advance.

1917 was a change over year from oval to rectangular top sockets. I am not sure if the position of the mounts are the same between the two.
Here is a top dimension drawing with measurements.

1917 model year top sockets are oval and the same as 1915 and 1916. On a touring, the first bow and second bow pivot pins face outward. The retainer pins are similar to a cotter key and are attached to leather straps that are screwed into the sockets.

Evidence:
- My unrestored May 1917 roadster - known history since new
- The unrestored June 1917 "Rip Van Winkle" touring
- My father's July 1917 touring which he purchased in unrestored/original condition from the original owner's estate in 1949

Note that the 1917 model year was August 1, 1916 through July 1917.

1918-22 model year top sockets are square. On a touring, the first bow pivot pins face inward. The second bow pivot pins face outward. The retainer pins are looped wire clips that can be slid up and down the socket.