MTFCA Forum

I need to date the 12 Ford Model Ts in this photo. They appear to be identical, probably brand new, delivered to Kroft Ford dealer in Louisville, OH. The photo is supposed to be attached--first time I have used this site.

I believe it became Kroft in 1921. (It was a hyphenated name before that, but I didn't note it.) It changed to Kroft-Muncie in 1924. I'm anticipating that the Model Ts are 1921, perhaps even the initial stock for Kroft. Since the name is not on the front of the building, I wonder if this was just after Kroft occupied it.

If delivery records for Model Ts still exist, the delivery date can perhaps be established even closer than the model year.

The cars have no fenders or windshields; were these dealer installed items?

Now, additional info. I'm trying to assign dates to some photos of early Louisville. This one is Kroft Motors at 500 N Chapel St. The Church in the background is St. Louis Catholic Church, completed in 1875. The bodies in the St. Louis cemetery were later moved to another cemetery south of town--by village ordinance.

Thanks for your help.

Without the windshield or top up, it's a bit hard to I.D.

The features I can make out include a low radiator, 2-man top, demountable rim wheels. For your date range of 1921-1924, they would be 1921 or 1922.

Appears to be last two letters of the KROFT name on the second floor side of the building ?
Ron Patterson

They appear to be low radiator cars. When enlarging the photo you can see that the first car doesn’t have the lower radiator shield on it. You can just see daylight on the right side under the radiator.

I would agree with Jeff. I can also make out stamped, rather than cast, running board brackets

In those days, most new automobiles were shipped from the factory to dealers in standard rail freight cars. They would be tilted, rolled, or stacked in any way to squeeze as many automobiles into a freight car as possible. Tops, windshields, and fenders were usually left off at the factory, and shipped separately alongside the automobiles. This would minimize the space required by each automobile so that one more could be squeezed into a rail car, as well as minimize the shipping damage that would need to be repaired by the dealers. In turn, the dealers had to complete the final assembly after the automobiles arrived and were unloaded.

Tim-
Cars were shipped in rail cars and stacked like cordwood. Looks like two car loads. Fenders, top, windshield and lights were bolted on at the dealership, or sometimes the receiving dock.
1913 1915 1920's 1925

I agree with the year narrowing 1921-1922

: ^ )

Keith

Thanks to all for the help.
Now an addition to the question: Do delivery records exist that would show delivery of a dozen cars to Louisville, OH, all in one (probably) shipment?

No, those records do not exist.