What is the correct lower rod bracket for a 1912 Touring? Should it be made of brass or steel?
Could you describe what bracket you are referring to? Top support rod bracket?
Steve,
This is the bracket, it holds the brass support rod that goes from the windshield hinge assembly down to the front end where you see it(the bracket) in this photo.
It should be steel. Painted black might be correct, but I suspect they might have had a raven finish originally, a Ford name for what we know as gun blue. Looks like the one in your picture is correct and original.
Also the original rods are as the one in your picture. They have a steel inner tube with a thin outer brass sleeve. You can just see the inner steel tube in your photo.
The spring is interesting. Looks like a 1916.
The spring is most definitely the 1916 type. The windshield stay rod lower bracket was brass plated steel through early 1911 but changed to black steel by mid to late 1911. My March 28 1911 Touring car had brass plated ones on it but my May 8, 1911 open runabout had black painted ones on it as did my early 1912 Delivery Car (December 1911).
Royce,
Were there ever rods without the sleeves? I have the sleeves on the rods of my Feb 1912 car but no sleeves on my two august 1912's.