The Tbay listing said it was a 1908 postcard?
It is indeed very early. Note the two bold front body mounts, the tall three tier side lamps and the high top bows. Might be a two lever car.
Interesting that is has a windshield spacer board, but no windshield!
Looks like it has a roll-down front curtain mounted to the front top bow.
Very nice.
Keith,
I noticed spacer board too. I've also seen photos of early cars with a windshield that still have the roll down windscreen on. I've suspected ( and know from experience with our cars) that the screen is used in the winter (take off the windshield) because the car "buttons" up more tightly with the windscreen and side curtains than with windshield and side curtains.
Just a suspicion,
Rob
For those who love minutia:
I pulled the following Ford tourings that were owned by residents of Tyler from the Minnesota 1909 and 1910 license plate registrations:
1909 plate 2974, registered to B.C. Knudsen. Unfortunately, no serial number is listed in the ledger. This was one of only two cars registered to a resident of Tyler in 1909. The other was a Minnesota manufactured Luverne. I as not able to find a 1910 registration corresponding to Mr. Knudsen and this car.
1910 plate 4334, serial #7859 (1909 model) registered to William Schnell
1910 plate 4340, serial #7345 (1909 model) registered to Hans Lauritsen
1910 plate 9287, serial #26,336 (1910 model) registered to Johnson Welding
1910 plate 9556, serial #22,708 (1910 model) registered to Jens Sorenson (could this be a relative of Lance Sorenson?)
Erik in Minneapolis, MN
Nice photo! I believe the four rivet fender brace on the rear fender is offset rather than evenly spaced. If the fender irons came up under the fender skirt the bracket would be evenly spaced -- estimated that way on the first 2500 or so cars (ref: http://www.mtfca.com/encyclo/1909.htm fenders on first 2500 cars --Hap's comment about the fender bracket being centered on the earlier style fender irons and offset on the later 1909-10 fender irons).
Note also the crank handle is down -- while a water pump engine could also have the crank handle down they are often seen stored up to keep them out of the dirt/mud etc.
The car also has the "bills" on the front of the fenders another item associated with the cars after #2500.
And the running board does NOT appear to be black ribbed rubber with brass trim -- again indicating later than the first 2500.
A higher resolution photo would show the low radiator neck and cap better. But I do not believe it has the wider cap that the water pump radiators had see Lang's http://www.modeltford.com/item/3926E.aspx
The two bolt front mounting bracket is a characteristic of the 1909 cars but may also have been used into 1910 production. I have not been able to figure out when they started converting to the three bolt body mounting bracket up front or when they stopped using the two bolt bracket up front. There would have been some over lap. Additionally the Runabout may have continued to use the two bolt front mounting bracket (along with the tourabout) longer than the touring cars. I'm always looking for help with dating things. So if folks have known serial numbers with original bodies or photos of original bodies etc. that we also know the serial number -- please let me know.
Eric -- thank you for the additional license plate data.
Respectfully submitted,
Hap l9l5 cut off
Lance,
If they have a post mark of 1908, I would really like to know as this would not fit into my understanding about the cars (not that I have it right -- but that I would like to make it more accurate if I can.)
Note for a 1908 post mark -- the last car (or car number) produced in Dec 1908 was car #309 (ref pg 502 Bruce's book). That clearly would have been a two lever two pedal water pump car. My current understand would have one of those cars with the fender brackets centered on the rear fenders, no bills on the front fenders, most likely a "T" shaped four bolt mid body mount that reinforced the original two bolt body mount or perhaps even a two bolt mid body mount.
Do you have the listing number or can you post a link etc.? I did a search on ebay -- but I did not see it in the first 50 or so photos.
Respectfully submitted,
Hap l9l5 cut off
Hap, sorry but I sat on this card for a month after I borrowed it. The listing didn't show the card back and it only said that it was 1908. That wasn't one of my relatives either.
I doubt that it is postmarked 1908 since it supposedly was taken in Tyler, MN which is in the southwest part of the state.
Although we have plenty of warm Minnesota days in October, November and December, there are too many leaves on the trees and the occupants are not dressed for fall weather.
eBay sellers are notorious for misdating real photos. It may an unused/unmarked postcard with no postmark. In that case, the seller is probably guessing when the photo was taken.
Grandpa! Who's that lady with you? And where's Grandma?