Radiator Cap Ornament

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Oldav8tor
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Radiator Cap Ornament

Post by Oldav8tor » Mon Aug 18, 2025 3:56 pm

At last year's MTFCI International Tour in Cadillac I saw a couple of radiator caps with little anemometers on them. The cups spin as you go down the road (or it's windy.) Does anyone know who might be making and selling them? I have a Berg's radiator and have learned the hard way I can't put anything too heavy on the filler neck or the neck comes loose.
Thanks in advance!

Anemometer - you get the idea :D
cups.jpeg
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Allan
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Re: Radiator Cap Ornament

Post by Allan » Mon Aug 18, 2025 8:11 pm

I have an original one made by the Wiggler Company Buffalo, New York and patented in Dec 1925. It has red, green and blue jewels in the cups. A mate has one which has a motometer in place of the ball that is on mine.
20250819_093356.jpg
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Fire_chief
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Re: Radiator Cap Ornament

Post by Fire_chief » Tue Aug 19, 2025 2:24 am

The one you saw at Cadillac was the one I bought for my daughter's 12 touring. I bought it 2 or 3 years ago at Luray. I don't think they are available at the moment.
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Re: Radiator Cap Ornament

Post by Oldav8tor » Tue Aug 19, 2025 4:56 am

Thanks Charlie.... Did you by any chance take a photo of it?
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Re: Radiator Cap Ornament

Post by DanTreace » Tue Aug 19, 2025 1:32 pm

Here's one that I took pic of a T on a tour somewhere. And an old advert.

The Wiggler company made these RotoScopes. I have vague remembrance that Bob Scherzer (RIP) may have made repops. I got one of his Air Ford radiator cap toppers from him.


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Re: Radiator Cap Ornament

Post by Fire_chief » Tue Aug 19, 2025 2:09 pm

Don't know how to post a picture, but it is the one like Allen posted.
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Re: Radiator Cap Ornament

Post by speedytinc » Tue Aug 19, 2025 2:22 pm

Very hard to find.
One just went off on TBAY. $499 + shipping. No jewels. (they came both ways)
There was A guy reproducing them. I bit. Repop uses a sealed bearing. Need a strong wind to turn.
The original ones are a jeweled movement? takes very little to turn.
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Re: Radiator Cap Ornament

Post by WillyR » Tue Aug 19, 2025 2:24 pm

speedytinc wrote: ↑
Tue Aug 19, 2025 2:22 pm
 Very hard to find.
One just went off on TBAY. $499 + shipping. No jewels. (they came both ways)
There was A guy reproducing them. I bit. Repop uses a sealed bearing. Need a strong wind to turn.
The original ones are a jeweled movement? takes very little to turn.
as much as I like gadgets, I don't think I'd spend more than $50 for one....

still want one...
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Re: Radiator Cap Ornament

Post by speedytinc » Tue Aug 19, 2025 2:37 pm

You would have to be lottery lucky to find one @ that price.

I had considered making one. All you need is 4 melon ballers.
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Re: Radiator Cap Ornament

Post by Daisy Mae » Tue Aug 19, 2025 2:48 pm

Never seen the cup spinners before, but have seen one of the airplanes....have always wanted one of the plane spinners...
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Re: Radiator Cap Ornament

Post by TRDxB2 » Tue Aug 19, 2025 2:54 pm

Someones collection https://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/4 ... 1401935234
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Re: Radiator Cap Ornament

Post by WillyR » Tue Aug 19, 2025 3:19 pm

speedytinc wrote: ↑
Tue Aug 19, 2025 2:37 pm
 You would have to be lottery lucky to find one @ that price.

I had considered making one. All you need is 4 melon ballers.
challenge accepted....

$6.55 initial investment...

https://www.amazon.com/Double-Headed-St ... 9hdGY&th=1

ohh $6.59 for 1,510 jewels...

https://www.amazon.com/Stickers-1510pcs ... =8-23&th=1
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Re: Radiator Cap Ornament

Post by Steve Jelf » Tue Aug 19, 2025 5:07 pm

IMG_3469 copy.JPG
I can stand this, but I drive country roads a lot.
I don't need extra weight bouncing on the neck. :D
The inevitable often happens.
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Re: Radiator Cap Ornament

Post by Rich P. Bingham » Tue Aug 19, 2025 5:23 pm

The Dauntless Geezer speaks practical truth (as always)

Not on a T (obviously) but if you like accessory radiator caps, how about this one ?? I’m hoping the bagpipes play when the car overheats, and there’s a head of steam in the top tank !
IMG_3025.jpeg
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Re: Radiator Cap Ornament

Post by DanTreace » Tue Aug 19, 2025 5:45 pm

For that steaming Ford, this cap releases the excess :D


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The best way is always the simplest. The attics of the world are cluttered up with complicated failures. Henry Ford
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