1915 Brass Radiator

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
George Mills
Posts: 619
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 12:32 pm
First Name: George
Last Name: Mills
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1915 Roadster, 1919 Hack, 1925 Fordor
Location: Cherry Hill NJ/Anona Largo FL
Board Member Since: 1999

1915 Brass Radiator

Post by George Mills » Wed May 11, 2022 4:54 pm

My youngest son (38) recently got re-interested in T's and decided to steward the '15, from and at his place.

Crazy question but worth asking...

This car has almost no miles on it judging from non-existent wear and tear when things get opened up...we know it doesn't have more than 1000 mies total since 1961, and believe it went into storage sometime in the early 20's...as it was in a Bell Tel warehouse when found in 1961 by family.

Anyway, I just kept the visible brass polished during my stewardship, never worried about the tank part that was under the hood.

The son decided to polish it up full and here is what he found. Anybody have any idea if the insides were this sloppy? I'm open that it was a repair early on...but my son raised the question so figured I'd ask...
Attachments
brass rad.jpg


Wayne Sheldon
Posts: 4249
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 3:13 pm
First Name: Wayne
Last Name: Sheldon
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1915 Runabout 1913 Speedster
Location: Grass Valley California, USA
Board Member Since: 2005

Re: 1915 Brass Radiator

Post by Wayne Sheldon » Wed May 11, 2022 5:09 pm

Looks pretty typical to me.
I am not enough of an expert on radiators to tell from that photo if it is a real 1915 radiator? Or a 1950s/'60s reproduction. There were several garage/shops making very nice reproductions in those days. In the 1970s, FoMoCo clamped down on the trademark infringement and put most of those guys out of business. But some of those reproduction radiators from the earlier days of the hobby were and are as good or better than what we can buy today! Today, most people cannot tell the difference between a real 1915 and one of those sixty year old reproductions. I know one fellow that really knows them!
I have repaired several brass radiators myself over the years. All of them were a bit sloppy in the soldering in that area.


John kuehn
Posts: 4433
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

Re: 1915 Brass Radiator

Post by John kuehn » Wed May 11, 2022 5:35 pm

Does it leak or get hot? If it cools and doesn’t leak use it as it is unless you want to make it a show car.


Colin Mavins
Posts: 367
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 1:36 pm
First Name: Colin
Last Name: Mavins
Location: Winnipeg Canada

Re: 1915 Brass Radiator

Post by Colin Mavins » Wed May 11, 2022 5:56 pm

My 12 rad is like that but you dont see it because that part of the rad is painted black


Original Smith
Posts: 3699
Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2019 10:43 am
First Name: Larry
Last Name: Smith
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 13 Touring, 13 Roadster, 17 Coupelet, 25 Roadster P/U
Location: Lomita, California
MTFCA Life Member: YES

Re: 1915 Brass Radiator

Post by Original Smith » Wed May 11, 2022 6:39 pm

Looks like an original to me. You need more photos though. Some '15 radiators I've seen have the priming wire hole in a different place.

User avatar

Topic author
George Mills
Posts: 619
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 12:32 pm
First Name: George
Last Name: Mills
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1915 Roadster, 1919 Hack, 1925 Fordor
Location: Cherry Hill NJ/Anona Largo FL
Board Member Since: 1999

Re: 1915 Brass Radiator

Post by George Mills » Thu May 12, 2022 5:45 pm

Thanks all….I forwarded responses to my son.

Post Reply Previous topicNext topic