MTFCA Forum

I have been a reader (learker?) of this forum for many years but have not kept up with it regularly. One think I asked about several years ago is still something I am not completely clear about. I am under the impression that the first jack appeared in a Model T toolkit in 1914. Some have argued that another "Ford" jack was used before that, such as this one: I have been led to believe the first jack was the Buckeye "No: 00" with Ford in block letters--like this one: Was the jack with the Ford block letters used for the entire year of 1914 or replaced along the way? What about the Buckeye No. 00 jack that is identical, except there is no block letter Ford? Was that one used in late 1914, or 1915, or what? And what jack was used in 1916 and beyond?

Another thing is this ad from the "Automobile Trade Journal" in 1913. It lists a Buckeye jack number 000 that is 17.5 inches tall. It also lists a number 00 that is 16.5 tall. So, were these jacks without the block letter "Ford" sold only directly from the Buckeye company--and not Ford?

Here is another photo of the early Buckeye Ford "Detroit" jack, the 1914 Buckeye block letter Ford jack, and on top is the steel handle that fits both of them:

When I got my very original 1910 touring in 1986, it came with a jack. It's a triumph brand jack with a wooden handle. I can't say that it was supplied with the car in 1910 or that it was purchased separately in 1910. All I know is this is a real original car and the jack was with it in 1968. I bought a 1912 in Hershey a few years ago and it had this badly deteriorated list of tool, no jack was listed. Another list of tools from March 1913 lists a jack and handle.

Pics of Jack and tool lists.

moozark wrote: ↑

Sun May 11, 2025 6:12 pm

I have been a reader (learker?) of this forum for many years but have not kept up with it regularly. One think I asked about several years ago is still something I am not completely clear about. I am under the impression that the first jack appeared in a Model T toolkit in 1914.

Here is advance news article on the 1913 Ford line, noting changes for the new model year 1913, with top boot (hood) and jack.


Could be the 1913 tool kit used the Buckeye #3 style jack with detachable handle, with an advertised shipping weight of 5 lbs.

But perhaps, if records could ever be obtained, by 1914 the tool kit jack became what is the common exposed ratchet jack, T-2343, with integral handle, shipping weight 4 1/4 lbs.

I have been perplexed by the jack question for a long time.
The Buckeye company was advertising a jack like the block letter FORD DETROIT ONE as easy as 1908. At that time they were in Louisville Ohio. On January 1st 1910 they relocated to Alliance Ohio. The FORD DETROIT jack exists marked with both cities (Kim Dobbins is Louisville, mine is Alliance). They are an "03". These were also advertised in early Ford Times magizines.

The Ford 00 jack, which is much more common than the 03, is lighter and smaller, and all I have seen were from Alliance Ohio. It is my belief that this is more likely to be the "jack and handle" that Ford started to supply with the 1913 Model Year. It has been reported that a letter exists the was sent to the dealers in fall of 1912 advising that a jack would be supplied, as well as a top boot, for the 1913 cars. I have tried to find a copy of that letter but have been unsuccesful to date. The closest I have come is the newspaper article that Dan uploaded.

At some point between 1914-1917 the ubiquitous Ford jack with handle replaced the Buckeye is my working theory.

Dan, I have several Buckeye jacks with "Ford" on them. One of them has the numbers cast into each part of the jack, but nowhere is Buckeye cast into it leading me to believe these were made for Ford motor company. Why else would a company leave their company name off their product if it was only for sale in the after market. Darryl

Jack number 3 is the one I refer to.

That’s a very interesting observation. I checked mine and I have an unmarked one as well-out of 5 total.

By the way, what did you paint yours with?

Charles, I used Nason automotive urethane base coat, but no clear. It gave a nice silver color without to much gloss. Darryl

Thank you!

There are two different lengths of Buckeye handles. Short and long. There is a guy at Hershey that sells the long one.

When you are jacking the rear of the car, I think a more accurate description of the two different handles might be short and shorter. I'm almost past using the jack at the rear. I had a flat on our last Annual Run, and gladly let others do the job.

Allan from down under.