MTFCA Forum

After spending a bit of time searching for photos of original pinstriping on unrestored parts or cars, or period photos that were of high enough quality (or even taken from the right angle) to see the original pinstriping, I decided to start this post to hopefully accomplish two things.

1. Try to come up with some better photos of striping for the early water pump T that I'm part of the restoration team for.
2. Make it a lot easier for the next person that is researching the topic for their restoration.

On the US production Model T's, pinstriping was used from the beginning of production until the early 1913 model year cars (possibly around the beginning of calendar year 1913). At first it was only on chassis parts, but it seams that striping on the bodies of the tourings started about when they went to Brewster Green in 1909.

It is clear that there is some variance from car to car in the striping. This was of course a hand operation and Joe did it a little different than Bill, but as I would expect of Ford, there was a fair amount of standardization on what was done at any given point in time.

I have included links below to other discussions on the early factory pinstriping that I was able to find. There is some very helpful information and photos in these links. If you know of more posts that apply, please let me know and I can add them to the list.


Production 1909 - 1910

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/82 ... 1527734824


1911

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/33 ... 1385052180

1912

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/17 ... 1317782328

https://www.mtfca.com/phpBB3/viewtopic. ... &view=next


Early 1913

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/59 ... 1483037884

https://www.mtfca.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=12170

https://www.mtfca.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=40942


Early wheel striping

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/11 ... 1262903960


So here is what I am personally looking for, for the pre-2500 T I'm working on.

(#1) First I am looking for better photos of the striping done on the tops of the front and rear springs.


The photo above is from Bruce McCalley's black bible page 29. Striping on the springs seams to have been either a double line going down the length of the spring, or double lines going across the spring (like Kim Dobbins unrestored 1910 in the first link above). My somewhat limited sampling so far suggests that earlier cars were more likely to have the double lines going down the length of the spring, like the photo above. If you know otherwise, please enlighten me. This is the type I am looking for better photos of, to see examples of were the striping started and ended.

(#2) The next thing I am looking for are examples of the decoration used in the middle of the front axle. I suspect this was something that varied quite a bit and was not consistently done on all the early cars. (again see the first link for photos of Kim's 1910 front axle for an example)

(#3) I am trying to figure out how common the double strips where on the rear brake drums. Looking for examples of this, as found on page 31 of Bruce's book.

(#4) I would like to find higher resolution photos of the following pictures, or any early Runabouts (or early Runabouts turned into pre-production Tourabouts). While you can't see the black striping on early red tourings, in black and white photos of the time, the black striping on the Pearl Gray Runabouts it visible.


I hope this posting stirs discussion of the factory pinstriping on any of the early cars, and that people will take a little time to post photos they have of pinstriping on original cars/parts in this year range. Also any period photos that show examples of striping during this period, would be of great help to someone looking for answers to how their car was possibly striped, and where.

Besides getting answers to some of my pinstriping questions, my hope is to make this post a good starting point for someone doing early pinstriping research in the future.

Tod

From Craig Beek's award winning collection. On his latest 1910

More images come visit in Moline and take close ups. I also copied all his "build" photos" of all his cars for him from CD's to hard disk
1909 Touring --
1912 Touring --
1912 Torpedo --
1913 Roadster --
1914

Frank, I appreciate that you took the time to post the above photos of some restored cars in Craig Beek's collection, but what I was looking for is more along the lines of period photos of T's when they were still new, photos of unrestored parts, or photos of complete unrestored cars. Restored cars, unfortunately, do not prove out how it was done at the factory.

First, I would be thrilled to have any of the cars shown in Craig Beek's collection in my garage, but since this post was partly put together to help others in identifying what pinstriping is correct for an early T, I feel I have to point out some ways that the pinstriping on these cars deviate from how it was done at the factory.

The first area that I need to address is the pinstriping on the hoods. I have not seen evidence of each hood panel being boxed out with pinstriping. This was also addressed in the second link under 1912 in my original post above. Below are photos of a 1911 and a 1912 that show the hood stripes fairly well.



The second thing that I question is the beading on the green 1910 being painted black. I believe the cars body and sheet metal should be all green with the red pinstriping. If I am incorrect on this and some of the green 1910 tourings had the beading painted black, I hope someone will set me straight and show something to prove it out. The photo below is from Kim Dobbin's unrestored 1910 showing the striping on the fender without the bead painted black. Check out the first link in my post above under Production 1909 - 1910 for more photos from this unrestored car.


I really didn't want to have to point these things out on these cars, but if this thread is being used by someone doing research on the topic, I didn't want them coming away with inaccurate information because of me.

Tod.

Hi Tod. Please see the image attached of #354XX produced January 1911. The image is a scan of an original glass negative. This image appeared in an old Model T Times. If you look closely you can see the body, hood, fenders and wheels are striped. If you can find an original copy of the Model T Times you will see images of the restored car too with striping the owner applied to the chassis because he was in the possession of the original glass negative including a front shot. Hope this helps, Tom Helf

Tod, hope you can use these. The picture of all the early gray roadsters was taken at the Seattle branch.

When did they stop pinstripes on model Ts?

Tod,

The 1909 runabouts that Kim posted appear to have a fine center stripe flanked by broader edge stripes around the brake drums. This looks pretty ordinary for the period.

It's interesting that the 1909 runabouts do not have visible stripes on the body and fenders apart from the black trim. The lack of striping on these cars, even on the hood and fenders, might typical of the early 1909 production.

There its striping on the wheels and apparently parts of the running gear. Dart-shaped stripes appear on the runabout spokes, radiating out from the hub.

Vince,

Striping on model T's was phased out between 1913 and 1914, first on the bodies, then the wheels.

After that, closed cars had a single pinstripe, at the belt line. This continued to the end of production.

There are existing, all original open cars that were made near the end of Model T production that have visible, factory done pinstriping on the body.
Photos of these cars have been posted on this forum.

Here are some original pictures...mostly of 1912's.
I find on some restorations the pin striping is wider than
original pictures suggest. Too wide of stripes and they look
a little like circus vehicles. Non perfect hand painted stripes
look authentic.

Tod Wirth, WI wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 06, 2024 11:03 pm

The first area that I need to address is the pinstriping on the hoods. I have not seen evidence of each hood panel being boxed out with pinstriping. This was also addressed in the second link under 1912 in my original post above. Below are photos of a 1911 and a 1912 that show the hood stripes fairly well.

I couldn't agree with you more Tod. Because there isn't a picture I've seen where the hood meets the wood hood shelf I had the chap who pin striped my '12 take the stripes down the bottom of the hood and not across the bottom below the handles.

I laid out on the '12 drawings below how I wanted my car pin striped. I did them wide just to illustrate the layout. My cars body is painted red which probably isn't correct for a '12 and had the pin striping done in a gold colored paint to match the brass.


...and this is the result!

Thought it might help to colorize a photo to show pin striping better than BW. Not this one
Artist renderings aren't always representative of a product.

WOW Amazing!! Could we see the back of the car. Does the stipe continue straight over the top of the hood at the hinge?
What width stripe did you use? I've been wanting to do my Torpedo.

Thanks for posting!!

Here is the back of a 1912 car:
Note these in no pinstripe on the seat riser below the seat back.
Notice on the photos of the open cars, there is no pinstripe on the heel panel either.

Here is the back of the front seat on an unrestored late 1911:
Most of the pinstriping on my 1911 are about 3/4" away from the bead.
Hope these help.

Keith

: ^ )

hull 433 wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 07, 2024 4:55 pm

Vince,

Striping on model T's was phased out between 1913 and 1914, first on the bodies, then the wheels.

After that, closed cars had a single pinstripe, at the belt line. This continued to the end of production.

Was this optional or std?