What's the story behind the wings and dog bones?

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2012: What's the story behind the wings and dog bones?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Robert Poane on Wednesday, October 31, 2012 - 02:42 pm:

What's the story behind the wings and dog bones that go on the radiator?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By ROBERT BERGSTADT on Wednesday, October 31, 2012 - 03:06 pm:

The ones we make are U.S.A. Made, Bob


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Peter Claverie on Wednesday, October 31, 2012 - 03:06 pm:

Wings and dog bones are two of perhaps 50 different "dress-up" items that have been sold to Model T drivers since day one. They serve no particular purpose, other than decoration.

The Model T Ford was far and away the most-accessorized auto of all time. Back in the 1940's and 1950's, Sears, Montgomery Ward, Western Auto, and scads of other companies devoted many pages of their catalogs to Model T parts and accessories. My 1952 Sears catalog has 32 pages devoted to the T, plus things like tires appearing on other pages along with non-T items.

The creativity shown by some of these "dress-up" items is astounding.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Norman T. Kling on Wednesday, October 31, 2012 - 03:09 pm:

Wings give the impression of speed while the dog bone is just a good handle for speedy twisting the cap.
Norm


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Roar Sand on Wednesday, October 31, 2012 - 03:29 pm:

As late as 1965 Sears had T parts in their catalog. I bought a crank and cam gear set. The cam gear is a fiber gear and came in a box with ALLSTATE on it. Based on previous thread, I will probably never use it.
Roar


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Royce in Dallas TX on Wednesday, October 31, 2012 - 04:02 pm:

My dad used to have the dog bones cast in Minneapolis in the 1950's. He would grind, sand and polish them, then sell them mail order through Hemmings and the VMCCA newsletter. I still have the molds somewhere, plus molds for things like cast iron parking brake shoes.

A lot of the dog bones and wings and other things you see at swap meets are old, but not as old as you might think!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Darel J. Leipold on Wednesday, October 31, 2012 - 06:34 pm:

Both Royce Sr and I sold dog bones. His dog bones were flatter than mine and had a grooved edge. My version were smooth. Some had my name stamped inside. I also manufactured winged caps. I have the match plates for both.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tony Bowker on Wednesday, October 31, 2012 - 10:24 pm:

I bought my Coupe in 1976 and the first time out was the Ramona Parade in 1978. Prior to that run, I bought the 4.50x21 tires from the Sears catalog.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Aaron Griffey, Hayward Ca. on Wednesday, October 31, 2012 - 10:59 pm:

I bought 5.50 X 18 tubes at SEARS sometime after 1986.
I had to order them and I went and picked them up the next day.
About that same time a friend took a SEARS 5.50 X 18 tire back to SEARS because it had a bulge and they gave him a new one. He didn't even buy the tire from SEARS, he found it at a swap meet.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Wayne Sheldon, Grass Valley, CA on Wednesday, October 31, 2012 - 11:25 pm:

Wings are pretty much ornamental. My "well accessorized" coupe has a new set of wings with good plating. They are almost identical to the wings that were on the car when I bought it, but their plating was really in bad shape.
Dogbones, on the other hand, do have a practical aspect to them. Those handles, sticking out, hanging in the wind, are a little cooler than a small cap that is more difficult to get a hold of. If your car boils, you can remove the cap more easily if it is a dogbone. BUT BE CAREFUL! The dogbone will not in any way prevent you from being scalded by hot water as it spews out toward your face.
My boat-tail has a dogbone. I have no idea how old it really is? I paid a bit much for it. But the proper nickel plating has just the right amount of old to it.
One other thing that really bugs me , however. Why do so many people these days put their wings on backwards???? That and motometers on backwards really bug me.
Just silly me.
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Nathan Bright on Wednesday, October 31, 2012 - 11:28 pm:

not sure if this is really accutate or not, but if you notice some old race cars, a 14 National Comes to mind, you will notice they have a hollow/tube dogbone that stays cool due to its lack of mass. could aid in rapid opening of the radiator to add more water. Just my two thoughts. if nothing else... they look cool :-)


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