24-27 C-cab Roof
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Topic author - Posts: 1710
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 12:23 pm
- First Name: Jeff
- Last Name: Humble
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 Canadian built coupe, 1924 TT C-cab, survivor 1924 roadster
- Location: Charlevoix, Mi
- MTFCA Number: 28034
- Board Member Since: 2006
24-27 C-cab Roof
I was at the Benson Ford Research Center last week to document the C-cab roof construction in advance of my upcoming TT restoration project. Was able to get copies of all the wood top pieces, side curtain assembly, and visor. One of the things I was interested in learning is what the actual process and materials were used on the top installation, but the drawing for the roof assembly was missing. The prevailing method today for a closed car top is a layer of drill with a layer of padding then the top material. Back in the 1970's I followed that process for my 26 coupe with the exception of adding a layer of chicken wire...not a Ford model T method, but made for a nice tight top that looks as good today as when I installed it. What do we know about Ford methods and materials for the C-cab top...was a layer of drill and padding used or did the top material go directly over the wood structure? None of the original C-cab photos I have seen show any outline of slats, or any starving horse appearance which makes me think there was drill and padding. Guesses I can make, anyone know?
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- Posts: 70
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 1:19 pm
- First Name: Justin
- Last Name: H
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1924 TT C cab
- Location: Western PA
Re: 24-27 C-cab Roof
Below are a couple of links to previous roof discussions. Keep in mind that there are two different C cab roofs. There are also two different side curtain designs. The early low roof with square window curtains are the minority.
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/50 ... 1440591089
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/50 ... 1438612852
My high roof C cab had minimal remnants of the original covering that consisted of burlap and the typical oil cloth. There were no signs of padding but with so little left I couldn't say for sure if there was padding or not. On my top I used a layer of black duck cloth followed by 1/8" of cotton with the Ford grain material on top. I also followed the original edge design where the back section was nailed and then folded over and held with tacks. The side and front used hidem welt. There seem to have been different methods when new for the top installation as some of the factory photos look to have metal side and front beads while others appear to have hidem.
The original windshield flap was also in my truck. It was made of the same material as the roof and had a layer of burlap sandwiched between the front and back oil cloth pieces. The flap is secured by tacks to the inside upper roof wood panel.
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/50 ... 1440591089
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/50 ... 1438612852
My high roof C cab had minimal remnants of the original covering that consisted of burlap and the typical oil cloth. There were no signs of padding but with so little left I couldn't say for sure if there was padding or not. On my top I used a layer of black duck cloth followed by 1/8" of cotton with the Ford grain material on top. I also followed the original edge design where the back section was nailed and then folded over and held with tacks. The side and front used hidem welt. There seem to have been different methods when new for the top installation as some of the factory photos look to have metal side and front beads while others appear to have hidem.
The original windshield flap was also in my truck. It was made of the same material as the roof and had a layer of burlap sandwiched between the front and back oil cloth pieces. The flap is secured by tacks to the inside upper roof wood panel.
Justin in Western PA
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- Posts: 70
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 1:19 pm
- First Name: Justin
- Last Name: H
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1924 TT C cab
- Location: Western PA
Re: 24-27 C-cab Roof
Also, the roof does show the roof slats but it is minor as long as the roof material is tight. I expect that they showed some originally too but don't show up well in period photos. They certainly did not have thick padding. An overstuffed roof on a C cab doesn't look good.
Justin in Western PA
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- Posts: 5259
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 7:21 pm
- First Name: Allan
- Last Name: Bennett
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1912 van, 1917 shooting brake, 1929 roadster buckboard, 1924 tourer, 1925 barn find buckboard, 1925 D &F wide body roadster, 1927LHD Tudor sedan.
- Location: Gawler, Australia
Re: 24-27 C-cab Roof
I have always laid one piece of natural coloured burlap/hessian over the timbers first. To reduce the imprint of the timbers a THIN sheet of padding is next. I use dacron sheeting because it hods together and is not effected if it gets wet. That comes from a shop stocking quilting supplies. it comes in various thicknesses and I use 1/4'. That is covered by the top material of your choice.
Hope this helps,
Allan from down under.
Hope this helps,
Allan from down under.
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- Posts: 2260
- Joined: Sat Mar 09, 2019 2:05 am
- First Name: Brent
- Last Name: Burger
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 TT closed cab flatbed
- Location: Spokane, Wa.
- Board Member Since: 2014
Re: 24-27 C-cab Roof
My box cab has a very unmolested looking top overlay that has burlap as the material
laid directly over the wood slats.
Whenever rolling a fabric covering, such as the top fabric, always do the install in hot
conditions, to make the fabric as expanded and relaxed/pliable as possible. When the
vehicle is moved to cooler environs, the top will be that much tighter. Done the other
way, when the vehicle get out into a warm situation, the top will be loose and look poorly
laid/fit.
laid directly over the wood slats.
Whenever rolling a fabric covering, such as the top fabric, always do the install in hot
conditions, to make the fabric as expanded and relaxed/pliable as possible. When the
vehicle is moved to cooler environs, the top will be that much tighter. Done the other
way, when the vehicle get out into a warm situation, the top will be loose and look poorly
laid/fit.
More people are doing it today than ever before !
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Topic author - Posts: 1710
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 12:23 pm
- First Name: Jeff
- Last Name: Humble
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 Canadian built coupe, 1924 TT C-cab, survivor 1924 roadster
- Location: Charlevoix, Mi
- MTFCA Number: 28034
- Board Member Since: 2006
Re: 24-27 C-cab Roof
Thanks for the responses. I have not seen some of those older threads, thanks Justin for the threads and pictures.
Still not clear what the Ford method was for installing the top with or without underlayment. Looking at my 1928 Western Auto Catalog, the closed car top kits do not list an underlayment. The closed car top kit includes top material, binding, and tacks. Individual supplies for open cars include ready made tops, top material, top quarter pads, webbing, straps, bow covering, glass and celluloid windows, hide the tack tape, tacks, fasteners, but closed car tops list only top material and top kit. No underlayment or padding. Makes me think our typical modern method top install of a base muslin, padding then top material is not what Ford did for model T's. Having seen what I believe was an original model A closed car top, underlayment including chicken wire and padding were standard practice for the later cars.
I would still like to hear from anyone who has first hand knowledge of an original C-cab roof or has seen the drawing as to what was done in the day.
Still not clear what the Ford method was for installing the top with or without underlayment. Looking at my 1928 Western Auto Catalog, the closed car top kits do not list an underlayment. The closed car top kit includes top material, binding, and tacks. Individual supplies for open cars include ready made tops, top material, top quarter pads, webbing, straps, bow covering, glass and celluloid windows, hide the tack tape, tacks, fasteners, but closed car tops list only top material and top kit. No underlayment or padding. Makes me think our typical modern method top install of a base muslin, padding then top material is not what Ford did for model T's. Having seen what I believe was an original model A closed car top, underlayment including chicken wire and padding were standard practice for the later cars.
I would still like to hear from anyone who has first hand knowledge of an original C-cab roof or has seen the drawing as to what was done in the day.
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- Posts: 4359
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 12:18 pm
- First Name: Steve
- Last Name: Tomaso
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1914 Touring, 1919 Centerdoor, 1924 TT C-Cab Express, 1925 Racer
- Location: Longbranch, WA
- MTFCA Number: 14972
- MTFCI Number: 15411
- Board Member Since: 2001
Re: 24-27 C-cab Roof
I have my Gramps' '24 C-Cab he purchased new - I'll look inside the cab as it has all it's original wood & top material and since my Gramps' couldn't fit the TT in their garage, it sat outside it's entire career but he did have the forsight to cover the entire top assembly (cab & covered express) with sheet tin.
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- Posts: 70
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 1:19 pm
- First Name: Justin
- Last Name: H
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1924 TT C cab
- Location: Western PA
Re: 24-27 C-cab Roof
They are the top, center bolt for the rear curtain brackets. The other two lower ones are wood screws.
Justin in Western PA
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- Posts: 596
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 6:10 pm
- First Name: Brad
- Last Name: Kirtner
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1924 Touring Car, 1927 Closed Cab TT, 1927 Coupe
- Location: Salem, Virginia
- MTFCA Number: 50618
- Board Member Since: 2018
Re: 24-27 C-cab Roof
My TT is a closed cab but the process of installing the top is generally the same. I took a bunch of pictures when I did it. Here’s the link to my thread.
https://www.mtfca.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=7960
https://www.mtfca.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=7960