I need some detailed pictures of a "correct" set of 1915/1916 roadster top irons. I know they are oval shaped but need to be able to identify a correct set when I find them. If anybody has a set, I am most interested in finding an original set of them for my son's T. I don't care about the wood bows - just the socket irons that attached to the body irons/. These irons are what the wood bows insert into.
Hi John
I can get you some pictures tomorrow. Leon
Great! Thanks Leon.
I would like to see the photos also. I may be able to forward some other photos in several days.
Yesterday, I went to look at some of the cars on a tour I could not attend due to family reasons and there was a nice older restoration 1915 runabout there. I had never seen the car before, and did not see the owner. But I took a few close-up photos of it, including the top irons. But I need "assistance" getting the photos out of the camera as it was not "my" camera. I cannot really vouch for their correctness, but they looked right to me. Not everything on the car was right. But the front spindles were.
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2
I'm definitely a non-expert on tops, but some other things on this 1915 are correct, so maybe the top is too.
Oval Roadster Sockets
Perfect! Thanks guys.
Yes, the top bows on my 1917 are just like that. I don't think the sockets or bows differed at all from 1915 - 1917.
Royce:
Thanks for that input. I heard rumors to that effect but your picture confirms it to be true. Now were 14 roadster irons the same too or was it a 1915-1917 version only. The major difference I think (please confirm) is that these 15-17 sockets used wood steam bent bows for wooden curvature only above the top of the sockets unlike the later bows that allow more or less straight top wood pieces. Anybody got a 1914 roadster that has correct irons to confirm if they are same as 1915-1917?
John,
The 1913 - 14 roadster sockets are the same too. The front bow is different for '14, and all the wood bows are slightly wider (I think 1/2" maybe) for '13. And of course Ford used more than one supplier so there are more than one style of socket with nuances in the nails, rivets and stow pin / sockets.
I think I remember an article in the Model T Times (other T club magazine) about top sockets and their differences. It was maybe 20 years ago or so?
I get confused at the terminology some people use! To me top irons are the irons that are screwed to the body under the upholstery. Top sockets are what is placed in them. As far as I know, the last year they used oval top sockets is 1917 just like Royces pictures show. Also, most '17s still had the same rear window as the '13-16s.
Here is a neat photo of a 17 touring.
Larry:
The three window rear window was introduced in the 1917 model year.
That photo of the 1917 touring that you posted with a "tombstone" style rear window indicates that it is a very early '17, probably built in August or September of 1916.