Are These Irons Restorable?

Discuss all things Model T related.
Forum rules
If you need help logging in, or have question about how something works, use the Support forum located here Support Forum
Complete set of Forum Rules Forum Rules
User avatar

Topic author
GEmering
Posts: 339
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 3:47 pm
First Name: Gene
Last Name: Emering
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1913 Touring and 1924 Touring
Location: Newton, New Jersey
MTFCA Number: 49671
Board Member Since: 2018

Are These Irons Restorable?

Post by GEmering » Mon Oct 05, 2020 11:51 pm

Are these 1913 Touring irons worth restoring?
Have members here restored worse?
Any advice appreciated.
Attachments
C43C8162-EA15-4073-A48A-24E4874832D2.jpeg
E7FACC4C-E76B-4239-8269-72BB0B73E99D.jpeg
0588B511-6D15-4B06-AF2E-402450ABE115.jpeg
20F6B344-A4DC-4E52-87C0-E69F39FFDCFE.jpeg
CD3C7476-F07B-406F-B5A7-87FB546AB697.jpeg
Gene Emering
Newton, New Jersey

User avatar

Mark Gregush
Posts: 4957
Joined: Sat Jan 05, 2019 1:57 pm
First Name: Mark
Last Name: Gregush
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1925 cutdown PU, 1920 Dodge touring, 1948 F2 Ford flat head 6 pickup 3 speed
Location: Portland Or
MTFCA Number: 52564
Board Member Since: 1999

Re: Are These Irons Restorable?

Post by Mark Gregush » Tue Oct 06, 2020 1:54 am

I know the voices aren't real but damn they have some good ideas! :shock:

1925 Cut down pickup
1920 Dodge touring
1948 Ford F2 pickup


Allan
Posts: 5205
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: Are These Irons Restorable?

Post by Allan » Tue Oct 06, 2020 3:44 am

I would say no, unless you can source new tubes to fit to your cast fixings. The top irons are the foundation for perhaps the most visible part of the car. There is nothing worse than spending heaps of time patching up rusty tubes and the having that same rust break out a couple of years down the track and the top assembly being weakened by recurring rust problems. I consider the cost of new irons an investment in peace of mind, knowing the job has been done as well as possible.

Others will differ.
Allan from down under.


Herb Iffrig
Posts: 1513
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:47 am
First Name: Herb
Last Name: Iffrig
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1911 Torpedo, 1918 TT Hucksters
Location: St. Peters, MO

Re: Are These Irons Restorable?

Post by Herb Iffrig » Tue Oct 06, 2020 9:13 am

I would seem Richard Eagle would Just make new tubes:

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/25 ... 1327113904


Norman Kling
Posts: 4072
Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2019 1:39 pm
First Name: Norman
Last Name: Kling
Location: Alpine California

Re: Are These Irons Restorable?

Post by Norman Kling » Tue Oct 06, 2020 11:29 am

They might be available reproductions for a high price, or maybe find them at a swap meet. I would say at best you might be able to remove the wood and fashion out of sheet metal a part to slide inside and braze in place. You don't want to be driving along in the wind and have the top collapse on you! If you have a low garage door or use an open trailer it is necessary to lower the top, and continual raising and lowering the top, those bows get a lot of twisting force. I would, if it were mine, look for a better set.
Norm


John kuehn
Posts: 3907
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 8:00 pm
First Name: John
Last Name: Kuehn
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 19 Roadster, 21 Touring, 24 Coupe
Location: Texas
MTFCA Number: 28924

Re: Are These Irons Restorable?

Post by John kuehn » Tue Oct 06, 2020 11:33 am

I have to say to each his own on this one.
There was a time when you could find decent bows and irons at swap meets and maybe you still can but the ones that are being reproduced now are pretty good. The later irons around 1919 and up seem to have survived longer than the earlier oval ones.
If you can repair yours that’s fine but for me I would buy some new ones. This sort of falls in the category of whether to try to repair or replace an original T radiator.

User avatar

Rich Eagle
Posts: 6796
Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 10:51 am
First Name: Richard
Last Name: Eagle
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1909 TR 1914 TR 1915 Rd 1920 Spdstr 1922 Coupe 1925 Tudor
Location: Idaho Falls, ID
MTFCA Number: 1219
Contact:

Re: Are These Irons Restorable?

Post by Rich Eagle » Tue Oct 06, 2020 1:04 pm

Thanks for mentioning it Herb. This show the 1914 irons:
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/70 ... 1509727571
I would suspect from the photos that there isn't much salvageable sheet metal there. However the ends and fitting are certainly good enough to use. Many good looking irons are rusted badly inside and fail after restoration. The early sockets made in two layers are terrible moisture traps.
When did I do that?

User avatar

Topic author
GEmering
Posts: 339
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 3:47 pm
First Name: Gene
Last Name: Emering
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1913 Touring and 1924 Touring
Location: Newton, New Jersey
MTFCA Number: 49671
Board Member Since: 2018

Re: Are These Irons Restorable?

Post by GEmering » Tue Oct 06, 2020 1:25 pm

Rich,
Incredible work!
I wish I had your skill and experience.

I contacted Lang's.
They have a set listed for $675.
I was told that there is a six-year wait on them.

Are there other vendors I should try or individuals who would make a set?

Gene
Gene Emering
Newton, New Jersey

User avatar

Rich Eagle
Posts: 6796
Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 10:51 am
First Name: Richard
Last Name: Eagle
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1909 TR 1914 TR 1915 Rd 1920 Spdstr 1922 Coupe 1925 Tudor
Location: Idaho Falls, ID
MTFCA Number: 1219
Contact:

Re: Are These Irons Restorable?

Post by Rich Eagle » Tue Oct 06, 2020 1:35 pm

Thanks Gene. If you get new ones someone might be interested in the old stuff. Don't throw them away.
Best of luck.
Rich
When did I do that?


John kuehn
Posts: 3907
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 8:00 pm
First Name: John
Last Name: Kuehn
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 19 Roadster, 21 Touring, 24 Coupe
Location: Texas
MTFCA Number: 28924

Re: Are These Irons Restorable?

Post by John kuehn » Tue Oct 06, 2020 1:40 pm

Check out the suppliers under the resources section of this website. There is listed a gentleman in CA. that makes them. Don’t know if this is the supplier that Lang’s uses but I would call him ask see if he has what you need. His phone number is listed. Check the other parts suppliers first before giving up on acquiring some.

User avatar

Fordwright
Posts: 245
Joined: Tue Oct 29, 2019 4:14 pm
First Name: Greg
Last Name: Popove
Location: Olds AB

Re: Are These Irons Restorable?

Post by Fordwright » Tue Oct 06, 2020 2:21 pm

Anything is restorable, if you have unlimited time and money,
but what else is new?

User avatar

Topic author
GEmering
Posts: 339
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 3:47 pm
First Name: Gene
Last Name: Emering
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1913 Touring and 1924 Touring
Location: Newton, New Jersey
MTFCA Number: 49671
Board Member Since: 2018

Re: Are These Irons Restorable?

Post by GEmering » Tue Oct 06, 2020 2:33 pm

And the machinery and skill.

Gene
Gene Emering
Newton, New Jersey

User avatar

Rich Eagle
Posts: 6796
Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 10:51 am
First Name: Richard
Last Name: Eagle
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1909 TR 1914 TR 1915 Rd 1920 Spdstr 1922 Coupe 1925 Tudor
Location: Idaho Falls, ID
MTFCA Number: 1219
Contact:

Re: Are These Irons Restorable?

Post by Rich Eagle » Tue Oct 06, 2020 3:07 pm

As for "unlimited time and money" I should mention that I opted to spend $880 for my 1909 irons rather than make them. After spending the better part of six months making the irons and bows for my Yellowstone Bus I was pleased the '09 stuff was available. I was ready to tackle the 1914 irons as a fun project. The time they took was not worth the savings. Sometimes we make these things look easier than they are. Unless you enjoy fiddling around with problems like repairing or building top bows it's hard to beat the value of the new ones.
When I make parts it only increases my appreciation for the fabricators and vendors we have in this hobby.
When did I do that?

User avatar

RustyFords
Posts: 1554
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:16 am
First Name: Don
Last Name: Allen
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1924 Touring
Location: Houston, TX
MTFCA Number: 50001

Re: Are These Irons Restorable?

Post by RustyFords » Wed Oct 07, 2020 2:19 pm

After trying several times to repair a bad set, I gave up and spent a decent amount for a set that Dave Hanson's dad put away many decades ago.

They have some minor (but very nicely done) repairs that look to be more than 50 years old and have a gorgeous patina that matches my car perfectly.
Last edited by RustyFords on Wed Oct 07, 2020 2:30 pm, edited 1 time in total.
1924 Touring

User avatar

Rich Eagle
Posts: 6796
Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 10:51 am
First Name: Richard
Last Name: Eagle
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1909 TR 1914 TR 1915 Rd 1920 Spdstr 1922 Coupe 1925 Tudor
Location: Idaho Falls, ID
MTFCA Number: 1219
Contact:

Re: Are These Irons Restorable?

Post by Rich Eagle » Wed Oct 07, 2020 2:22 pm

We should all be so lucky Don. Patina is hard to come by sometimes.
Rich
When did I do that?

User avatar

RustyFords
Posts: 1554
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:16 am
First Name: Don
Last Name: Allen
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1924 Touring
Location: Houston, TX
MTFCA Number: 50001

Re: Are These Irons Restorable?

Post by RustyFords » Wed Oct 07, 2020 2:37 pm

Rich Eagle wrote:
Wed Oct 07, 2020 2:22 pm
We should all be so lucky Don. Patina is hard to come by sometimes.
Rich
Dave was very kind, and probably let these go for less than he could've gotten elsewhere. They have some gorgeous old repairs and general patina that only come with time and cannot be duplicated.
Attachments
IMG_6665.jpg
1924 Touring

User avatar

Fordwright
Posts: 245
Joined: Tue Oct 29, 2019 4:14 pm
First Name: Greg
Last Name: Popove
Location: Olds AB

Re: Are These Irons Restorable?

Post by Fordwright » Wed Oct 07, 2020 3:03 pm

I don't know anyone who restores old things for profit. It's the joy of taking something that appears to be too far gone, and bringing it back to a useable condition. There's no accounting for the time and money you spend doing that.


Allan
Posts: 5205
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: Are These Irons Restorable?

Post by Allan » Wed Oct 07, 2020 4:34 pm

Greg is right. If you enjoy a challenge and the satisfaction in rescuing such, have a go. My experience is the damage you an see is bad enough, but there is more you can't see and get at to satisfactorily stop the rot. There's nothing quite so disappointing as putting heaps of effort into something, only to have it come back to bite you in quick time.

Allan from down under.

User avatar

Topic author
GEmering
Posts: 339
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 3:47 pm
First Name: Gene
Last Name: Emering
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1913 Touring and 1924 Touring
Location: Newton, New Jersey
MTFCA Number: 49671
Board Member Since: 2018

Re: Are These Irons Restorable?

Post by GEmering » Thu Oct 08, 2020 8:51 am

Thank you for all of the replies and information.
I am hopefully going to have a new set of oval tubes made using my old hardware.
Time to start saving up.

Gene
Gene Emering
Newton, New Jersey


Allan
Posts: 5205
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: Are These Irons Restorable?

Post by Allan » Thu Oct 08, 2020 8:09 pm

Gene, that's the best solution yet. You can tell everyone you had your original irons rebuilt.

Allan from down under.

User avatar

Topic author
GEmering
Posts: 339
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 3:47 pm
First Name: Gene
Last Name: Emering
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1913 Touring and 1924 Touring
Location: Newton, New Jersey
MTFCA Number: 49671
Board Member Since: 2018

Re: Are These Irons Restorable?

Post by GEmering » Thu Oct 08, 2020 8:17 pm

Allan,

I agree.
It's nice to bring as much of the car as possible through time.

Gene
Gene Emering
Newton, New Jersey


Art Wilson
Posts: 32
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 8:53 pm
First Name: Art
Last Name: Wilson
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1911 Touring
Location: San Diego

Re: Are These Irons Restorable?

Post by Art Wilson » Thu Oct 08, 2020 10:54 pm

Gene,
I had John Boorinakis make new top sockets for my T about 10 years ago. I think he is still making them. He can make complete sets or use your original ends and pieces and attach new sockets on them. He fills the sockets with Epoxy or something similar to keep them from rusting inside. I am very happy with them.

John Boorinakis
530-885-4956
He is located in Auburn Calif.

Art

User avatar

Topic author
GEmering
Posts: 339
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 3:47 pm
First Name: Gene
Last Name: Emering
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1913 Touring and 1924 Touring
Location: Newton, New Jersey
MTFCA Number: 49671
Board Member Since: 2018

Re: Are These Irons Restorable?

Post by GEmering » Fri Oct 09, 2020 5:09 pm

Thank you Art!
I have contacted John and he will use my ends to make a new set.
I appreciate everyone's help with this.

Travel safely!
Gene
Gene Emering
Newton, New Jersey


Art Wilson
Posts: 32
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 8:53 pm
First Name: Art
Last Name: Wilson
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1911 Touring
Location: San Diego

Re: Are These Irons Restorable?

Post by Art Wilson » Sun Oct 11, 2020 1:47 am

Gene,

Glad to hear John is still making top socket sets.

A belt sander can make fitting the top bows in the sockets go much faster.
As you are fitting the bows in the sockets, install the assemblies on the car in the folded position to make sure they align with each other, and that the sockets fit together in the retainers. Also check that there is about 1 inch of clearance between the sockets and each side of the body in the folded position.

Feel free to contact me with any questions.

Art

Post Reply Previous topicNext topic