MTFCA Forum

I picked up this brass radiator and what intrigued me was the lower brass valance with the notch for the crank handle. Were they originally made that way and now the new ones are just narrow and straight? It also says Made in Canada. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

Adam

In my experience with Canadian cars, I have never seen the likes. It is quite neat, better than factory but likely someone's later dress up item.

Allan from down under.

Never seen one like it. Not USA for sure, and I am almost certain not standard for Canadian production either.

Would the number stamped on the radiator also be the vin number for the car?

Would the number stamped on the radiator also be the vin number for the car?

The engine serial number (stamped on the side of the engine) is the VIN.

I think he meant, “Is the number on the radiator the same as the VIN number of the car it was originally installed on at the factory?”

Yes that is what I meant. Thank you

With that tag shown in the first picture I would have thought it had to be a factory radiator. How else could it be explained? Tag removed from the original and soldered onto an aftermarket replacement? Why would anyone do that?

I love a mystery!

Paul

In the early days of the model T, most model Ts had a few serial numbers. Bodies were built by outside suppliers and had supplier accounting (serial) numbers on them. There was a "car" number, initially on the front seat kick board, then moved onto the firewall patent plate. Ford stopped stamping the "car" number on the patent plate early in 1915, although the patent plate continued to have the space for the number for nearly two more years.
Not all states required registration in those days, however Ford was adamant that it was the engine's serial number that was the "official" serial number. The engine's serial number was also supposed to be used in customer's correspondence with the factory.
The radiators had their own story. In the early days of the model T, local radiator manufacturers at that time could not keep up with Ford's needs, so several local companies were used to supply radiators. Most of the companies had some sort of serial number on the radiator, which was only useful for their correspondence with Ford. Around 1910, the radiator's numbers settled in to a somewhat standardized numbering, and while radiator's numbers went up as the car's serial numbers went up, they were never meant to match.

To me it looks like a trim piece added after the fact to close in the gap between the bottom of the radiator and front crossmember.

Thank you for the responses. I thought it was cool and have never seen one like it.

jawa wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 14, 2024 11:35 am

Thank you for the responses. I thought it was cool and have never seen one like it.

Yours is neat looking, with that curved apron added. This old photo shows perhaps an accessory radiator , with a wide apron.

According to the Story of the Ford in Canada publication, circa 1912, a picture of the Radiator department where the radiators are made, employed 200 people. For what I have seen in Australia with the numbers on the radiators had no match to the engine or body plate numbers, but those numbers did match for the brass era Canadian T's. Our parts books list every part to build or repair the radiator, even a colonial version with a larger top tank for Australia and Africa. I've seen many of the brass radiators over the years as my brother is one of the last men standing to rebuild them but never have seen that particular bottom face plate.

Thank you for the responses. The tanks and lower apron are in very good shape so I might just have to get it recored and use it. Would make a neat conversation piece on my T.