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Open car rear view mirrows

Posted: Sat Aug 31, 2019 5:21 pm
by John kuehn
Have the clamp on rear view mirrows for the open car windshield frames any better than they use to be? The one I bought for my 1919 Roadster isn’t stable. Sort of cheap made.
Snyder’s has come out with one recently that isn’t made of pressed sheet metal like the older repos and is made of solid tubular steel arms and parts. How about the adjustable that’s also avaliable.
Any responses will be appreciated. Thanks

Re: Open car rear view mirrows

Posted: Sat Aug 31, 2019 5:53 pm
by Mark Gregush
How about a link to the one you are asking about?

Re: Open car rear view mirrows

Posted: Sat Aug 31, 2019 6:07 pm
by Don D
To solve the problem I suggest the following. I purchased two of the round mirrors that are below the long 18 wheeler mirrors from a local truck stop. I heated, bent and drilled 1/2 inch strap iron to mount them to the windshield hinge screws.

Best of luck,
Dom
Model T Mirrors.png
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Re: Open car rear view mirrows

Posted: Sat Aug 31, 2019 6:16 pm
by Will_Vanderburg
This is the one I have. Langs owns owns it now. It used to be done by the guy named Frank who did the Anderson Timers I believe.

Langs is the only one who sells it.

https://www.modeltford.com/item/7853TEL.aspx

Re: Open car rear view mirrows

Posted: Sat Aug 31, 2019 6:21 pm
by John kuehn
www.snydersantiqueauto.com
T-7853-1522NA
T-7853-MHS
The arm and the mirrow are sold separately and are made from solid material.

The one that Will shows is adjustable and I wonder how ridged it is.

Re: Open car rear view mirrows

Posted: Sat Aug 31, 2019 7:08 pm
by DHort
If you can you want to try to find a mirror that has anti-vibration built it. Model T's are not the smoothest ride.

Re: Open car rear view mirrows

Posted: Sat Aug 31, 2019 8:12 pm
by Will_Vanderburg
Mine has been in the exact same spot for 10 years. Sure it vibrates with the car, but that’s ok

Re: Open car rear view mirrows

Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2019 6:53 pm
by nsbrassnut
Hi All

I bought and tried to fit one of the new heavy clamp on mirrors but it would not fit on the folding frame of my 15 in a satisfactory way. The other pressed brass clamp on shakes with the vibrations.

I used to have a plastic simple one that stuck on with a suction cup. The rubber mount greatly reduced the vibration and it worked quite well. Then I lost it.

I finally found a similar replacement recently at Wallmart. You can find this in they baby seat accessories section where you wouldn't normally look. The mirror is plastic with a metal mirror. It comes with two mounts, one that goes on with suction cups and the other a plastic spring loaded clamp.

You can move it around to the spot that works best for you. Best of all, it works and it cost under $10 tax included.

Jeff
Nova Scotia

Re: Open car rear view mirrows

Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2019 8:42 pm
by John kuehn
Thanks Jeff for the mirrow tip! Yes the idea is to find one that maybe , just maybe doesn’t vibrate as much as the common repo that I have. I was thinking the heavier made mirrows wouldnt vibarate as much as the lighter ones.
And yes T’s do vibarate and that’s the way it is. We’re going to Wal-Mart in the morning and I am going to check out the baby section.

Re: Open car rear view mirrows

Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2019 10:04 pm
by Duey_C
Watching this cool thread. Need one for a Runabout. :)

Re: Open car rear view mirrows

Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2019 9:15 am
by Dean Kiefer
I use the heavy brass mirrors made by Vintique on both sides. I had to grind the clamps to fit the 14 windshield frame and used inner tube rubber on the windshield frame to absorb the vibration. I really like them.

Re: Open car rear view mirrows

Posted: Wed Sep 11, 2019 1:21 pm
by John kuehn
Here’s an update on my 21 Touring open car rear view mirrow. I went ahead and bought the rear view arm and mirrow from Snyder’s. I have to say it has minimal vibration and very well made.
These mirrows are not a universal fit and are made for each paticular open car era.
The arm is made from a solid piece of steel which makes for less vibration. Or at least I think so.

Re: Open car rear view mirrows

Posted: Wed Sep 11, 2019 1:23 pm
by John kuehn
Sorry abt the sideways post! But I think you can get an idea.

Re: Open car rear view mirrows

Posted: Wed Sep 11, 2019 2:02 pm
by RustyFords
I looked for a couple years for a mirror that clamps onto the middle of the windshield frame and finally found one missing the glass. I wanted an old one...made of substantial stuff.

Then I ordered a replacement mirror from Lang's.

I'm still on the hunt for a side rearview mirror. Since my car is sporting a weathered look, I don't want a new, shiny one.

Re: Open car rear view mirrows

Posted: Wed Sep 11, 2019 2:57 pm
by otrcman
RustyFords said: "I'm still on the hunt for a side rearview mirror. Since my car is sporting a weathered look, I don't want a new, shiny one."


Heck, Don, you are in Houston. Just buy a new one and let it sit outside for a week. It'll look like it's a hundred years old in seven days.


Dick

Re: Open car rear view mirrows

Posted: Wed Sep 11, 2019 5:31 pm
by RustyFords
otrcman wrote:
Wed Sep 11, 2019 2:57 pm
RustyFords said: "I'm still on the hunt for a side rearview mirror. Since my car is sporting a weathered look, I don't want a new, shiny one."


Heck, Don, you are in Houston. Just buy a new one and let it sit outside for a week. It'll look like it's a hundred years old in seven days.


Dick
Touche' ;)

Re: Open car rear view mirrows

Posted: Wed Sep 11, 2019 5:41 pm
by R.V.Anderson
I use and like the one made by Antique Motor Sports. Here is a link to their ebay store:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Model-T-Ford-r ... SwTO9aFFGC

I use the polished brass version, which is otherwise identical to the one shown here, on my '14.

Re: Open car rear view mirrows

Posted: Wed Sep 11, 2019 9:06 pm
by John kuehn
R.V. I have a question that you would know about. Was there a open car side mirrow made in the T era? If there was I dont think I’ve seen one and I don’t think Ford made one. I certainly could be wrong. Maybe one for the top of the windshield but not for the side.

Re: Open car rear view mirrows

Posted: Wed Sep 11, 2019 10:07 pm
by Mark Gregush
If you want to call 1920 Model T era ;) , yes there were a number of clamp on mirrors sold for the side view. Western Auto Supply sold several different ones, and in a later catalog, a cop spotter. :lol: (That's the type that mounted top center of windshield.) By around 1926 Ford sold the top of windshield or header mounted rear view mirror for open and closed cars.
The history of the rear view mirror can be traced back to 1911 when Ray Harroun famously equipped his Marmon race car with a mirror at the Indianapolis 500—kicking out the riding mechanic from the passenger seat.
While this shows the first patent give in 1921, being listed in a 1920 WA catalog predates that;
The first patent for the car mirror was given to Elmer Berger in 1921—so he is commonly considered the inventor of the device. (By the way, Berger marketed the mirror as a “cop spotter.”(my OP, this is the inside mirror because that is how Western Auto listed it) During that era, when most of America’s so-called highways were just two lanes, the need for mirrors was minimal. As a result, they were considered a luxury. Side mirrors were often mounted to the front fenders and side mounted spare tires or even the top of the driver’s door frame. Now they are most often positioned near a car’s A pillar.

Re: Open car rear view mirrows

Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2019 2:21 am
by Jem
There was a pioneering early lady motorist in the 1900s who used her makeup mirror to check for cars behind. Can't remember her name right now, but she usually gets the credit for the rear view mirror. She also carried a pistol for protection, so maybe she also invented the drive-by shooting :)

Re: Open car rear view mirrows

Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2019 3:31 am
by Allan
On our Australian built bodies, most builders fitted a 3-4" wide board inside the front of the first bow. This usually carried the top hold down fittings which attached to the top of the windscreen pillars. This makes an ideal mounting spot for a side mirror. It is a solid mounting point,and is up out of the way so is not often bumped our of adjustment. 4 of my T's have these. If I want to fold the top, a grub screw releases them from the bow, and the mirror is stowed,

Allan from down under.

Re: Open car rear view mirrows

Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2019 6:56 am
by Wayne Sheldon
The Marmon Wasp story is famous, however, Ray Harroun was not the first person to use a rear view mirror. I don't have a link to it, but a couple years ago there was a discussion on this forum and information of a catalog offering outside mirrors to chauffeurs was shared (I don't recall by whom). The idea was that the large rear body with tiny rear windows of early limousines was tough to see behind to pull out from the curb.
I have seen catalogs from about 1915 showing side view mirrors that clamped onto the windshield frame. So they were available at least that early. And I have seen a few era photographs showing side-view mirrors on mid-'10s automobiles, including a few on brass model Ts. However, those pictures are quite unusual. For every '10s car I see with a side-view mirror? I probably see a hundred cars that do not have one. So, they were available, but seldom bought or used in those days.

I did get lucky quite a few years ago. I got an original brass backed round mirror made for an automobile, on a steel windshield mount arm. My intention was to modify it and use it on the '16 center-door sedan I had about 25 years ago. However, I ended up selling the car soon after and never used it. That mirror now awaits with other pieces for my '15 runabout to begin final assembly! I have seen several original brass era mirrors on restored cars over the years. But in over forty years of looking, I think I have only seen a handful for sale.

Re: Open car rear view mirrows

Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2019 8:40 am
by DanTreace
Wayne

You're correct on the use of 'looking-back' , 'diminishing', or 'hind-view' mirrors as they were known then instead of the modern 'rear-view' moniker.

Many turn of turn-of-the- century city carriages and city autos had these affixed to aid the driver. Ray Harroun, likely was first 'race' driver to use one, but rear-view mirrors were common well prior to 1911.

1906 mention, but there are many earlier others, if you search using the older names for use of these mirrors.
IMG_2160 (700x393).jpg
IMG_2164 (700x393).jpg
And some from the early teens to use on autos:
IMG_5395 (433x700).jpg
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Re: Open car rear view mirrows

Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2019 9:51 am
by John kuehn
Thanks for all the replies to get me up to speed on rear view mirrows! Always learning. Guess I wasn’t looking specifically for hind view or rear view mirrows but I can’t ever recall having seen any of the originals at the swap meets I have been to after 50-60 years or so. Saw a few of the repo clamp ones but not any original T era types.

Re: Open car rear view mirrows

Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2019 9:57 am
by R.V.Anderson
Of course, all this hoopla may be entirely superfluous: to paraphrase E.B. White: The Model T driver seldom bothered with a rear-view mirror. He wasn't concerned about what was behind him because he'd soon enough see it out in front.

Re: Open car rear view mirrows

Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2019 11:51 am
by Dellpound
[image][/image]

Re: Open car rear view mirrows

Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2019 11:52 am
by Dellpound
I used metal electrical conduit.

Re: Open car rear view mirrows

Posted: Fri Sep 13, 2019 5:39 am
by Wayne Sheldon
Dan T, I am always amazed by the way you can find and post so many wonderful advertisements for accessories from the model T era! I am sure you must have quite the collection scanned into your computer, but how you can find them and post them so well is beyond my skills.
I always look forward to your contributions. Thank you.

Re: Open car rear view mirrows

Posted: Fri Sep 13, 2019 9:30 am
by DanTreace
Wayne

Thanks :D

Actually have always enjoyed primary research, back then you had the library, and that took hours :shock: Even with Dewey Decimal.

Now with the world wide web, and many sites with scanned old publications from newspapers to magazines from the start of the last century, it's as simple as clicking your mouse! Trick is getting close on key words for search.

And do have a rather full home library, Model T related, collected over the years, a good set of Ford Owner Dealer mags, so much so, will soon mail off a box of duplicate issues to MTFCA museum for the research room there. If you haven't visited, while special clearance (polite asking and why you want to enter), the museum reading room is rather nice ;)