On a April of 1912 touring, what is the correct connection point for the top straps?
Should it have the eyelet holes that are part of the front fender irons? Or were they also using the older eyelets that connect to the radiator mounting stud at the same time?
My front fender irons do not have the eyelets but they could have been changed of course.
When did they make the change to the top straps going to the windshield hinge instead? I thought that was later in the year?
My late '12 has the straps running to eyelets from the radiator studs just like my '10. I think '13 was the first year for the short straps to the windshield.
My Dec 1911 chassis has the fender irons with the eyelets, after that Ford had the same irons not drilled, but only for a short while. Ford then introduced the windshield brackets. Elmer Fox's original torpedo no 129,XXX (May 12) had the windshield brackets. I think yours should too. By April, the 12 features were in place.
My 12 is engine number 1129XX if that is of any help in figuring this out.
The 1912 touring with slab sided body should use the straps that attach to the eyelets on the windshield. Here is an unrestored low mileage example showing the place your straps hook to.
Arthur Mullins' original 1912 tourer #109657 (owned since 1935) has the mudguard brackets cast but not drilled so the hood straps mount to the centre hinge of the windscreen.
So it looks like my top straps on the car are all wrong. The body is the straight sided design and does not have outside rear door handles. The straps currently go down to some home made eyelets bolted to the rear bolt on the front fender iron.
Does anyone have some close up photos of the correct eyelets on the windshield hinge, the mounting point on the top and the correct straps assemblies? There is a little too much glare, from the flash, in Royce's photo above to see the design of the eyelets well.
Are the eyelets brass or brass plated steel?
Thanks for all the input guys!
Any photos anyone?
I am also wondering if the strap hardware I have is right or not and if the mounting point on the top is correct?
The top strap to windshield pieces are stamped flat brass. You could easily make some from flat brass sheet, I think they are about .080" or perhaps .063" thick. Dimensionally I believe they are the same as the steel pieces used from 1913 - 22. Like these:
http://www.modeltford.com/item/3827X.aspx