MTFCA Forum

My gas tank I believe is original to my 1913 Runabout. The plating is original, and the inside is as clean as the day it mas made. What I noticed yesterday, is there is a nub on the bottom I haven't noticed before. It appears to look like the head on a 6# nail, and only sticks down about 1/32". It is obviously original to the tank, but why is it there? It is almost centered on the bottom.

Drip of zinc from the hot dip galvanizing?

Do those tanks have an internal baffle of any kind?

Yes, this one does. I have no idea how many.

Suspect that nail head blob is from the soldering done on the tank seams. The tanks were formed with galvanized sheet metal, rolled and seams rolled on the end caps.

That blob might be result of this operator, looks crosseyed to me.



And, yes, splash baffles are soldered in the tanks prior to end caps.


Pics from Ford Methods and the Ford Shops1913-14

Original Smith wrote: ↑

Sun Sep 07, 2025 10:26 am

Yes, this one does. I have no idea how many.

Two

Maybe the splash plates have rivets through the shell to secure them, or maybe a dimple in the shell for the same purpose.

Soldered in these two beads.