Dating our TT

[haydonr]

We bought our TT a couple of years ago basically as it is. We know most of it's history including that it was restored in 1978 after being "rediscovered" following a long rest in a shed after spending time on a couple of farms. The person who restored it has since passed away, so we can't ask him any questions now.

When it was put back on the road in 1978, it was officially registered as a 1919 model, but the engine number (Canadian) C102,XXX suggests 1917. I believe 1917 was the start of TT's, so am now wondering whether it's actually a very early TT that was registered incorrectly, or whether it has had a replacement engine at some stage and is actually a 1919 model.

So my question is, are there easy ways to differentiate between 1917 and 1919 TT's in terms of chassis, axles, wheels, brackets etc to see if the majority of parts are earlier or later? Happy to take pictures of particular areas of interest if it helps.
Thanks in advance.

[Steve Jelf]

The total number of truck chassis produced in 1917 is three. It's very unlikely that your TT is one of them. There is a serious shortage of information on early TT features and changes, so I'll leave that to somebody better informed than I am.

[kmatt2]

The first production year of the Ford TT chassis was 1918 and those trucks had solid rubber rear wheels and 30” x 3” non-demountable front wheels. In your picture it looks like your truck may have the early type rear axel with the half round reinforcement bead on the worm housings used into early 1920. The 1919 trucks continued on with non-starter engines, solid tire rear wheels, non-demountable front wheels. As 1919 went forward the TT chassis could be bought with 23” demountable rims with 6 lugs in the rear and 4 lugs in the front, and by later 1919 even with electric start. Most all TT trucks, even those made in later 1918, came with the under axel front wishbone. Your truck being licensed as a 1919 is most likely the correct year for it judging from the picture. You have a very nice TT truck with a very interesting after market radiator.

[kmatt2]

A interesting note for me regarding early TT trucks is that back in 1972 I went to a old walnut farm in Armona California USA to look at a TT for sale by a farmer who had bought the farm from the original farmer who had planted the walnut trees during World War One. The original farmer used the TT he bought new in January 1920 to take the walnuts to market up until around 1968 when he sold the farm.
That TT had duel hard rubber non-demountable rear wheels , 30”non-demountable front wheels, and a non-generator no starter type engine with a January 1920 engine casting date and number. That truck also had the early beaded worm rear axel housings, so it is even possible that your truck is from early 1920.

[haydonr]

Thanks Steve and Kevin for your input. Sounds like it's probably correct at 1919 then. We know who the original owners were, and that it was sold new about 15 miles from where it currently lives in my shed, and was used locally as a mail/paper delivery truck along with general goods. The body was built locally, and the cab was made wide enough to accommodate paying passengers (4 people can sit across it). Unfortunately, searching the old newspapers of the time, I can't find any mention of the new delivery truck to help date it.

One thing I wasn't sure about, is whether Canadian production matched that from the United States in terms of dates and details. For instance, I'm not sure that we ever had 30x3 front wheels on our cars even, so some of those details may be different I guess. But also to make it less clear, I know the restorer "upgraded" some things later like adding the "high speed" diff for example, so other minor details may have been changed also.
Anyway, I'm happy to call it 1919, just wanted to be sure that's what it is.
Thanks again.

[DanTreace]

The heavy duty radiator on your nice TT is likley aftermarket G&O brand.

[haydonr]

Hi Dan,

The radiator is an A.R.M.Co, as discussed here
viewtopic.php?t=42279

Cheers
Haydon

[kmatt2]

Your point about 1918 Canadian Model T cars having 30” x 3 1/2” non-demountable front wheels is correct, so the Canadian 1918 produced TT trucks would have used them also. Using the 30” x 3” non-demountable front wheels was a Ford USA Model T production choice to save money with the large production numbers of USA cars.