I've been asked to give a talk to a HS auto-shop class...uh-oh...

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2012: I've been asked to give a talk to a HS auto-shop class...uh-oh...
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Danial - Veneta OR US Earth Solar System on Monday, August 13, 2012 - 10:59 am:

I took my T to her first car show this weekend and met a lot of great folks, young and old. It was a real hoot and more fun than I had anticipated.

One of the folks I met was the principal of one of the local high schools. He has asked if I would come to their school's auto-shop class and give a one hour talk on the model T.

Seems like a few of you have done this before. I have a few of my own ideas but still being a bit of a newbie, would certainly be open to ideas.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By George Harrison,Norco Ca on Monday, August 13, 2012 - 11:54 am:

What did you do? Why is he punishing you?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Semprez-Templeton, CA on Monday, August 13, 2012 - 11:57 am:

Just one hour?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Danial - Veneta OR US Earth Solar System on Monday, August 13, 2012 - 12:10 pm:

hahaha....the way I figure it, it'll be a chance to turn on a few of the newest generation to the T and also learn more about it in the process.

John, he said an hour but then after we talked, he thought maybe if I was open to it, I'd go longer and include a few demo laps around the school track.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Cassara Long Island, NY on Monday, August 13, 2012 - 12:12 pm:

Wow they still have an Auto Shop Class. Would have expected the liability insurance would have put an end to them all. The local school system had dropped the shop class years ago......


Give them some basics, don't expect too many questions ........


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Erich Bruckner, Vancouver, WA on Monday, August 13, 2012 - 12:16 pm:

Notice he didn't ask your friend with the corvette.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Jelf, Parkerfield KS on Monday, August 13, 2012 - 12:20 pm:

If you can find Stan Howe's excellent summary of how the Model T changed the country, especially the West, it would be a good resource for you. If a search doesn't turn it up, maybe Stan would email it to you.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Keith Gumbinger, Kenosha, WI on Monday, August 13, 2012 - 12:28 pm:

Danial - You might want to contact Gator Gould. He is the MTFCA Youth Coordinator and has done several, if not more, school presentations about Model T's. I think he also has lesson plans done, but I'm not sure what student level they're for.

His contact information is in The Vintage Ford magazine and probably on the home page for this site.

Keith


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Fred Dimock, Newfields NH, USA on Monday, August 13, 2012 - 12:39 pm:

My 2 cents worth!

I would start with a short history of the T- remembering that most kids think that anything over 20 years old is ancient so I’d attempt to put it in terms they would understand - like their great grandfather might have been a kid when he saw the first Model T and he might have owned a new one. I’d cover the different body styles and how some chassis were fitted with bodies made by former carriage manufacturers.

Since they are gear heads, I would quickly get to the technical stuff. I’d talk about the simplicity of a T – Lubrication without an oil pump, Cooling without a water pump, Stopping without brakes :-) , (OK I’d wait and cover that when I discussed the wonders of the transmission.) , the magneto, how to start it, and how to drive it. Adjusting the timing and carb on the fly will blow their minds!

Since I do a lot of technical presentations at conferences and shows, I’d make a PowerPoint presentation with pictures, charts, drawings of the motor and transmission, and a video of a T running. (I would not be afraid to "borrow" something from You Tube.) I might even offer to have the vehicle available after school so they could see me start it and see some of the stuff first hand.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ricks - Surf City on Monday, August 13, 2012 - 12:42 pm:

You might want to show this pic of one of the earliest Ts in Lane County.





You might even take a T ride to Wendling, where this was taken. You'll see remnants of the old mill race. Wendling was a big mill town in the early T era.

Dan Treace posted these pix originally, and you may be able to persuade him to make better copies, in the interest of the youth.

rdr


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Seth from NC on Monday, August 13, 2012 - 01:02 pm:

That's too cool. I'd have a blast doing something like that. If they are gear heads then they probably fall into one of two camps: either they like old school muscle cars or they like new imports with a zillion bells and whistles. Either way they want to make stuff go fast. I'd talk about how the T is where it all started. Both the evolution of the car, how the timer gave way to the distributor and that sort of thing, but how even back in the day guys were tweaking the car to make it run faster. There's a great youtube video of the guy in England who has that brass-bodied 1911 speedster. I'd give them a decent history of the car but get way into what folks used to do to the car to get more out of it: tons of different carbs, body kits, rear-end gear ratios, overhead valve kits, exhaust, you name it. Let us know how it goes.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By CharlesHebert on Monday, August 13, 2012 - 01:08 pm:

You may want to drive your T to the campus so the kids fully appreciate and understand the nuances of the T. I have done this before and even had them hand crank it with the key off and the battery killed just so they get a feel of what our ancestors went through.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Chris Brancaccio - Calgary Alberta on Monday, August 13, 2012 - 01:25 pm:

One of the big messages about the T is that it put America on wheels. A lot of this was to do with the price and affordability of the T.

Here is some info I have used in the past on prices and how they came down with volume.

Price - numbers

Prices - graph

Excel spreadsheet if you would like to make your own.

application/vnd.ms-excelExcel
Model T Prices.xls (27.1 k)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Seth from NC on Monday, August 13, 2012 - 01:42 pm:

Yeah, and then do a fat line through all of that to show what the average American family income for each year.

I found it on the internet, so take it with a grain of salt, but some cool facts to give them an example of how different the world was over 100 years ago.

"Here are some statistics for the Year 1909:

The average life expectancy was 47 years.
Only 14 percent of the homes had a bathtub.
Only 8 percent of the homes had a telephone.
There were only 8,000 cars and only 144 miles of paved roads.
The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph.
The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower !
The average wage in 1909 was 22 cents per hour.
The average worker made between $200 and $400 per year.
A competent accountant could expect to earn $2000 per year, a dentist $2,500 per year, a veterinarian between $1,500 and $4,000 per year, and a mechanical engineer about $5,000 per year.
More than 95 percent of all births took place at HOME.
Ninety percent of all doctors had NO COLLEGE EDUCATION!
Instead, they attended so-called medical schools, many of which were condemned in the press AND the government as ‘substandard.’
Sugar cost four cents a pound.
Eggs were fourteen cents a dozen.
Coffee was fifteen cents a pound.
Most women only washed their hair once a month, and used Borax or egg yolks for shampoo.
Canada passed a law that prohibited poor people from entering into their country for any reason.
Five leading causes of death were:

Pneumonia and influenza
Tuberculosis
Diarrhea
Heart disease
Stroke
Facts.

The American flag had 45 stars.
The population of Las Vegas, Nevada, was only 30!!!
Crossword puzzles, canned beer, and ice tea hadn’t been invented yet.
There was no Mother’s Day or Father’s day.
Two out of every 10 adults couldn’t read or write.
Only 6 percent of all Americans had graduated from high school.
Marijuana, heroin, and morphine were all available over the counter at the local corner drugstores. Back then pharmacists said, ‘Heroin clears the complexion, gives buoyancy to the mind, regulates the stomach and bowels, and is, in fact, a perfect guardian of health.’
Eighteen percent of households had at least one full-time servant of domestic help.
There were about 230 reported murders in the ENTIRE! U.S.A.!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Craig Anderson, central Wisconsin on Monday, August 13, 2012 - 03:14 pm:

Speaking for an HOUR is a long talk.......I bet if you actually spoke for 15 minutes the rest of the time would easily be used up answering questions...... :-)
Kind of letting them write your talk for you.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Thomas Mullin on Monday, August 13, 2012 - 03:17 pm:

Seth.

I would avoid using any of the "facts" from that old Internet piece.

For example:

The 45 stars on the Flag. Oklahoma, No. 46 was admitted on November 16, 1907.

Only 8,000 automobiles. Check this more trustworthy link. It reports there were 13,824 automobiles on the road at the end of 1900 - nine years earlier!

Most of the rest are probably also spurious.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Harold Schwendeman - Sumner,WA on Monday, August 13, 2012 - 03:23 pm:

Danial - Boy, you've certainly received a lot of good ideas from the "T" guys so far. I really think this is a good thread you've started, because I think it will help all of us to do a better job of answering some of the questions we all get, and, in a case like yours, in making some type of "presentation" to a group. I'm the worst "public speaker" in the world, but I've been asked several times to speak to some sort of group about my Model T Fords. I should add that I have not done this yet, however, it is probably negligence on my part as we should all do whatever we can to promote our hobby. Anyway, considering that I (so far) have not "practiced what I preach", I have an idea or two, for what it's worth:

I think one "key" to success in speaking to a group like the group in your case,....is to right away, try to get them in the right frame of mind to appreciate the value in preserving our Model T Fords. It's hard for an old guy like me to try to think like a kid for a moment, but I think that's the "key". The natural thing for a kid is to immediately compare our old fashioned, inefficient and ABOVE ALL,....slow, slow, slow Model "T's to modern cars and of course, the "muscle cars" that young people are usually so infatuated with nowadays.

I'd try to get those young guys to forget the muscle cars for a moment, and get them to realize what a huge, huge improvement the automobile was to "farmer Brown".

I'd explain that a Model T Ford salesman had to get the prospective customer to realize that the Model T only burned fuel when it was being used, as compared to the horse that pulled the family wagon into town just once in awhile, but kept eating expensive hay and oats every single day, when doing no work at all, just "hang'n out in the barn doing nothing all day long, every day, especially in the winter.

Then of course, there is the fact that a Model T salesman sometimes had to actually teach the farmer how to drive a car, because all he'd ever experienced is horses!

Anyway, my point is that if those kids in your high school group can VISUALIZE how that farmer felt about those "new-fangled gas buggies" instead of dwelling upon how inferior those old Model T's are compared to modern cars (which is all those kids have ever known) it will then be easier to get them to appreciate Fords good engineering, assembly line, cheapest car available and how and why the Model T Ford is truly what put America on wheels!

Again, I don't think I could do a very good job of what I'm "preaching" but I'll bet you can Danial. And if you get "stuck", just open it up to questions and I'm betting that an hour won't be long enough!

Hope my "rambling" helps at least a little,.....harold


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dick Lodge - St Louis MO on Monday, August 13, 2012 - 04:04 pm:

Yes, that "life in 1909" thing has been floating around the internet for some time. My guess is that some of the items are true, but since the production of Ford Motor Company alone from 1903-1908 was over 18,000 cars, it seems unlikely that 10,000 of them would have bitten the dust in such a short time - plus all the other manufacturers' products, of course. Still, it was indeed a different time. I went to the library microfilm room and looked up newspapers from 1924 - the year of my car. I copied a bunch of ads and made a display.

It might be interesting to figure out the cost back then of a horse and buggy or horse and wagon (purchase and maintenance) and performance figures compared to a Model T.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Walker, NW AR on Monday, August 13, 2012 - 04:10 pm:

In reference to the price chart posted by Chris above; Why did the prices take such a jump in 1919 & 20?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Roger Karlsson, southern Sweden on Monday, August 13, 2012 - 04:17 pm:

Post ww1 inflation, well inflation started to increase when US joined the war I think, then in 1919 demobilisation of the soldiers wasn't like after ww2, they came home to recession and unemployment.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ricks - Surf City on Monday, August 13, 2012 - 04:33 pm:

Wanna' talk safety?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Danial - Veneta OR US Earth Solar System on Monday, August 13, 2012 - 05:27 pm:

I just got back in the office. Looks liek a lot of GREAT stuff here guys! I'll post more when I get home tonight.

Thanks again!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dennis Seth - Ohio on Monday, August 13, 2012 - 05:50 pm:

Being that you are going to talk to an auto class it is always fun to have the car there and ask them to check the oil...(it takes them 5 minutes to realize there is no dip stick) and have them locate the oil filter. Gas pedal, oil gage, water temp, etc. I've done this with different groups and it's fun. They will soon ask so many questions an hour won't be long enough for you to talk about the car.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Henry Petrino in Modesto, CA on Monday, August 13, 2012 - 05:59 pm:

You could also point out environmentalists of the day believed the automobile would provide a huge improvement to the environment. Until the automobile became common, there was horse poop everywhere.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Terry Woods, Katy, Texas on Monday, August 13, 2012 - 06:09 pm:

Having been a teacher for 12 plus years, teaching mostly High School age boys in vocational classes, I can only advise you to try to think like a teenager when preparing your presentation. If a boy of that age (neighbor, etc.) is available, ask him what would interest him about a Model T. I do think it is important to stress the importance and impact on American drivers and families that the Model T (and not other brands) made. The important thing is to try to keep them interested. A lot of good subjects and ideas have been made so far. As far as prices are concerned, I don't think they would care to know how much each body style cost each year of production, but a price comparison of the pre assembly line years, followed by the price reduction created by mass production, and finally Ford's desperate pricing to stay attractive to buyers when Chevy and Dodge were gaining a foothold, might be of interest. If you have a copy of Clymer's 1926 Fordex sales manual, it contains a wealth of information on the selling features that Ford used to convince buyers that the Ford was superior to other makes, ie. splash lubrication, thermo-syphon cooling, planetary transmission, three point motor-trans suspension, magneto-battery ignition system, aluminum body construction on some cars made in the twenties, steel body construction on 26-27 cars, Ford originator of flat rate repair pricing, etc. Throw in a little about the period speed equipment that was available. Boys always have a curiosity about how to make something go faster. Good luck on this. I hope this has helped.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bob McDonald-Federal Way, Wa. on Monday, August 13, 2012 - 06:31 pm:

Daniel

I did this in Anchorage Ak.when I was a green newbie 1980(after 30 years I'm still all most) but one hell of a lot of fun. It was a great experience I hope for both. If All goes well let them know that you would be willing to do it again if there is an interest,you may be surprised. In your area home and farm repairs is a way of life still.

Bob


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Danial - Veneta OR US Earth Solar System on Monday, August 13, 2012 - 09:25 pm:

Hey guys, got home a little while ago and just got done reading all of these posts and then printed the thread for my T reference binder.

You all have given me more help and input than I could have dreamed.

Also, I appreciate the contacts offered and the photos and diagrams.

Ralph, any chance of getting a higher res photo of the front and back of that post card emailed?

danthecardude@hotmail.com

Thank you all very much.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ricks - Surf City on Monday, August 13, 2012 - 10:40 pm:

Hopefully, Dan Treace will read this. It's his.

I was interested because I grew up in Springfield.

rdr


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Danial - Veneta OR US Earth Solar System on Monday, August 13, 2012 - 11:22 pm:

My father went to school in Wendling for a couple years before the family moved to Coos Bay. (My Grandpa moved them around a lot in the days after the war to follow work.)

In fact, the one room shack he lived in with 5 siblings at the time was located right in the middle of where the current school grounds are.

Also, two of my uncles worked at the mill in Wendling in later years.

There is a building in Wendling that is basically a stone hulk, no floor, ceiling or windows anymore, just a brick frame. My dad said they used to walk down there in the early 50s and watch a TV they had in the window there. I can't remember the name, but it was Wendling's version of a department store at the time.


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