The nut behind the steering wheel

[Rich P. Bingham]

Prominently visible, it engendered more than one model T joke (e. g. "If you're so dang smart, here - YOU drive !") I'm sure there were a number of variations through production, yet another tiny detail that may indicate year of manufacture ?

The top one is from an original 1914 column and appears to be machined from billet stock.

The bottom one is from my 1913 runabout as restored, and appears to be a casting, as well as being quite a different profile from the 1914 item. Reproduction, perhaps ?

Question for purists - was the brass nut polished or painted ? It was painted on the original 1914 column, but then, so was the gear case and quadrant, indicating the owner had probably painted all the brass on his car to "keep up with the times". And, did brass nuts give way to cast iron or steel in 1917 ?

[DanTreace]

The Part # T-3511, the 5/8" x 16 thrd. steering wheel nut was all brass '09-'12. Then changed to steel late '12-'27.

[Rich P. Bingham]

My 'pologies Dan. I didn't make it clear that the one off the original '14 column is brass.