Model-T fun

[crw]

Going to post a few from this past weekend, where our family reunion led us to meet Don, who restores Model-Ts as a hobby.

Going for a ride, in the back seat of a 1912. Don is at the wheel:

 

[crw]

The 1912:



The lubrication poster:

 

[crw]

My family, posing with the 1922 buckboard pickup:



The taillight on the 1912:

 

[crw]

Don also works on a 1924 Touring, and a Roadster (can't remember the year). I know he has completed one and sold it to his son to keep it in the family. In another barn he as at least three other cars that are true projects. In the barn I got to examine a planetary gear set (the transmission) which is actually very similar to a modern automatic transmission. The roots of automatic transmissions can be found in the Model-T. All sorts of things were disassembled for inspection, engines, the magneto (electricity source, before alternators or even generators)... Good stuff.

 

[TallPaul]

A truly beautiful machine, and it has a planetary gear transmission.

 

[crw]

BTW, the red is a (possible) color in 1912. Until about 1914, Ford needed to compete with horse drawn carriages, so colors were available. Once the car no longer competed with carriages, Henry gave the "all black" mandate, which remained until about 1925, when competition again brought colors to the consumers.

 

[eljefino]

Wow, those front spindles sure are spindly! Look like they should be on a lawnmower.

Of course the car doesn't weigh much or need front brakes...

 

[crw]

Yeah, those spindles are wood, just in case anyone doesn't know. Don has stacks of them in the shop. It would seem to be yet another regular maintenance item to rebuild the wheels.