Early Model T-Old photo

[Herb Iffrig]

[KWTownsend]

1909. I wonder if it is a two lever?

[Wayne Sheldon]

I am certainly not the 1909s expert. However, what I thought, and what I found looking through a bunch of early model T era photos on my computer, is that while most 1909s and 1910s do appear to have billed front fenders, most of the earliest ones did not. In fact, every one of the clearly two lever model Ts I found photos of had the short squared no-bill front fenders! I even found a couple not really clearly but appear to be one lever fords with the square no-bill front fenders.

So I would speculate that this car is likely not early enough to be a two lever car.

It amazes me how few early era photos actually show both the number of levers and which style of fender they had.

Below, an early two lever with squared no-bill front fenders.

[Rich P. Bingham]

Thanks for that detail Wayne. Is the running board linoleum over wood ? I've read detail on the changes in stamped metal patterns that only hinted the earliest ones were wood.

[Wayne Sheldon]

I do what I can Rich B. I don't know just when the switch to steel running boards was made, sometime during 1909 is what I know. I caught some detail in a comment by Kim D that apparently there was a shortly used interim steel running board before the more common late 1909 and 1910 ribbed running boards. I think he had had a pair of those interim steel boards for sale, but I don't think there was a photo of them, and no mention of exactly when they were used.
One of the things I love about the photo I reposted is how well the screws into the side of the wooden running boards show up holding the metal trim piece in place. A lot of times in era photos of the earliest Ts, due to lighting or angle of photos, only a couple or few screws can be seen at all to identify the running board as an earliest style. This photo shows pretty much the whole run of evenly spaced screw heads.
I believe and have heard or read a dozen times at least that the surface material on these earliest T running boards was in fact gray linoleum (perhaps by any name?). In point of fact, the word originally was a brand name like "Kleenex" or "Caterpillar". However, by the time Henry was designing automobiles for manufacturing, the term was being used to describe any of a number of similar materials produced by many companies in sheets and used as floor and step coverings.
I have never seen an original early 1909 model T running board to see what the material was really like.
Me, still trying to learn more.

[Rich Eagle]

I can't see anything in the first photo that would pin down the date. These photos appeared on fordfix from the Gilmore Museum along with this info:

"In the loft of one of the many buildings at the Gilmore is Model T Ford serial number 131. This is a two lever, water pump equipped Model T, one of the earliest known to exist today. The tires are covered by some silly looking vinyl covers intended to reduce the graying effect of sunlight on the tires. This loft is bathed in sunlight from several directions making photography challenging. Note the linoleum covered wooden running boards with brass edge trim, a feature discontinued after the first 2499 Model T’s."
It is as good as anything I have heard. I would have guessed gray, burlap backed linoleum much like Tony Lauria sells. That brown was used in some cars. I have no idea if it has been redone for that car.
This is #220 and has brass trim but a black looking covering:
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/708324/788014.jpg
Just adding to the inquisition.
Rich
P.S. This shows 220 with gray on the running board.
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/506218/553500.jpg
from this discussion of it.
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/50 ... 1439509779