Question re 1912 top straps

[RGould1910]

I am completing a 1912 commercial roadster that has a build date of Dec 1911. Im getting ready to have a top installed and need to know about the straps that hold the front top bow to either the windshield or front
fender irons.

My fender irons have integral holes for connecting the top straps suggesting the long fender straps were used, but Im not sure that fully answers the question. It well could be Ford switched over to the windshield straps before the supply of earlier style fender irons was used up.

I cant find any informstion on when the changeover to windshield straps was made and would appreciate any information.

[KWTownsend]

Richard,
My November-ish 1911 has the same fender brackets with top strap loop s/n 855xx.

I have seen some pictures of this style of fender iron with the loop not open.

I have no idea about s/n.

: ^ )

-Keith

[Chris Instness]

I am not sure when the change in top straps occurred, but I suspect it coincided with the change to the one piece firewall. The straps to the fender irons were obviously designed that way due to early windshield-less Model Ts. As firewall extensions and windshields were added they still continued to use the fender iron straps through 1911 models. When the firewall became one piece for 1912 I think the idea of the windshield became more permanent and therefore, it would make sense to strap the top to the windshield. The photo of the one piece firewall roadster shows a top loop on the windshield hinge where as the 1911s with a two piece firewall strapped to to fender iron. I suspect that your early 1912 with a 2 piece firewall and the loops on the fender irons would have had fender iron straps.

[Loftfield]

The true joy of the 1912. Almost anything is correct or incorrect and no real way to make the determination. Hood straps? Front doors? Which coil box and coils? Which carburetor? Leather or faux? .........

[TWrenn]

I am completing a 1912 commercial roadster that has a build date of Dec 1911. Im getting ready to have a top installed and need to know about the straps that hold the front top bow to either the windshield or front
fender irons.

My fender irons have integral holes for connecting the top straps suggesting the long fender straps were used, but Im not sure that fully answers the question. It well could be Ford switched over to the windshield straps before the supply of earlier style fender irons was used up.

I cant find any informstion on when the changeover to windshield straps was made and would appreciate any information.

20240320_162950.jpg

Your straps definitely will go down to the holes in the fender iron. I love the looks of those straps like that. Had an '11 and two '12s over the years set up that way. They're awesome.

[KWTownsend]

Chris,
I agree: one-piece firewall = top strap to windshield.

Thomas,
I disagree: Fore-doors were standard on 1912 production. I'm painting with a broad brush... there may have been a step-side body or two that were in the back of the body inventory room that was open front, but certainly, EVERY smooth side 1912 came out of the factory with front doors.


: ^ )

Keith

[Jones in Aiken SC]

Richard, as we have discussed my 12 Roadster is a late 11 build serial number 86XXX so similar to yours. I have the same question as you about which straps to use, as my fender irons have the loop for straps. I have the two piece fire wall. It seems the consensus is that a two piece firewall would LIKELY have continued the front straps and then sometime in 12 the system was changed to the windshield hook straps.

Totally unrelated to your question, the previous owner of my car, Ken Jones, was ecstatic when he found the straps shown in the attached photo that are attached to the front bow using a footman loop and then hook to the windshield frame. They were apparently used during a brief transitional period in 1912. Ken was pretty anal about accuracy and he planned to use them, but I have nothing to back up whether his decision was correct or not. There is a picture out there somewhere, it gets posted fairly regularly, of Henry Ford and his family sitting in a 12 Touring and it shows these straps being used on that car.

As I said, this is unrelated to your question and doesn't help you in gettng a definitive answer, but thought that you and others messing with 1912's might find this of interest.

[WayneJ]

Richard:
You have a beautiful Model T.

[RGould1910]

Thank you Wayne. Its been a journey.