MTFCA Forum

Can anyone help me identify if this is the correct steering column for a 1912 tourabout? I’ve never seen a rectangular plate through the dashboard on any other vehicle. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

NO. Its off a 26-7
Look @ your coupe. Its square IF its the correct one for the coupe.
If that's supposed to be a 12, Thats not the only incorrect item. Pedals, coil box. It's a bitsa T.
Get the McCally book & do your home work.

Thanks for your help on this. I reccognise that my T may be a bit of a Franken-T. I inherited the T from my father and am at the begining of the restoration process. I know that the engine is from a '23 so the pedals and coil box probably are too. I didn't know that the steering column was interchangable with a later model T. I need to find out more information. I'll look at the book to see what else I will need to source and change-out.

You are @ the beginning of a tedious & expensive $$$$$$$$$$ project to make an original/correct 12 out of that.
Motor, frame, rear end, etc, etc..... Original 12 parts are very scarse & valuable.
Is there any 12 here, other than maybe repo fenders?

Maybe you consider cleaning it up & enjoying it for what it is.
You can enjoy its use without worrying about the many thousands you put in it.

uk2lax wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 26, 2025 6:34 pm

Can anyone help me identify if this is the correct steering column for a 1912 tourabout? I’ve never seen a rectangular plate through the dashboard on any other vehicle. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

The 1926-27 Model T steering column had the square base & the steering case had the 5:1 ratio gears. The steering bracket on the frame was to match the bolt holes for matching it necessarily to match the column. Suggest you start to take some pictures if you need to ID the tourabout's parts

Ford did not offer a tourabout body in 1912. I agree with advice you already received, forget about making it correct, fix it up as is and enjoy it.

Humblej wrote: ↑

Fri Jun 27, 2025 8:10 pm

Ford did not offer a tourabout body in 1912. I agree with advice you already received, forget about making it correct, fix it up as is and enjoy it.

Absolutely TRUE! However, a few were likely put together after-market by replacing the mother-in-law seat on the rear of the roadster with an acquired regular roadster front seat. Removing the top would then make it a practical four passenger car. I did see an era photo of one some years ago, but do not think I have a copy of it.

uk2lax wrote: ↑

Fri Jun 27, 2025 5:42 pm

Thanks for your help on this. I didn't know that the steering column was interchangable with a later model T. I need to find out more information.

Here is a correct 1912 steering column on the sawhorse. Gear cluster is two piece all brass, riveted. Spark and Throttle levers are long taper ended. Round mounting plate is forged and has round holes to mount to wood firewall with slotted machine screws.

While some columns can interchange, the dependent feature is the year body and chassis. Many columns have different angles due to the frame to steering post brackets, as they have various angles. Mount bolts may be slotted machine screw or carriage bolt depending. Most times the column year has to match the body and chassis year.



The Improved Car '26-'27 column has the square mounting plate, using carriage bolts to attachment brackets on the cowl (firewall).

As your Tourabout is made with a fabricated wood firewall that is mated to the '26-'27 column, it may have the correct '26-'27 frame to steering post bracket. Changing out to another column may require more changes.

'26-'27 cowl bracket for mounting the square plate on the '26-'27 column.

Here is a shot of the car. As you can see the front suspension is the same as the 1912 also pictured. So my Franken-T continues to reveal it's secrets.

They both have the wrong under axle wishbone & motor mount. You cant believe internet pix.
The truth lies in places like Bruce McCally's book.
That said, its a neat looking T. Clean it up & enjoy it.

1912 Touring Front axle
Brass twist oilers, Two hole perches, over the axle radius rod (wishbone), double u-bolt front axle clip, straight spindle arms (left one holed for speedometer gear), "Mae West" shackles, tapered leaf spring, spindle body.
STEERING CONNECTING ROD (“Drag Link”) Factory Number T-289
7-29-12 Riveted rod adopted. Brazing pin holes at various angles.
11-4-12 Pin holes now drilled in the same direction.
Front Axle 1911-1912
1911 -On January 31 (#36,972) the new axle with the two-piece spindles appeared. The tie rod now was below the wishbone. The steering drag link was threaded at the column end with a coarse thread (13 T.P.I.). Brass oilers on all joints except the drag link.
1911-1912 - Same as later 1911. The steering arm with the hole for the speedometer, introduced in August 1911, was standard. Radius rod and drag link caps changed to forged type sometime during this era.
Same as later 1911. The steering arm with the hole for the speedometer, introduced in August 1911, was standard. Radius rod and drag link caps changed to forged type sometime during this era. --
https://www.cimorelli.com/mtdl/1912/default.htm --
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