Was someone collecting body numbers from the Forum? My memory thinks so, but I tried checking the "search" but found nothing to answer the question. I'm taking apart my '12 Torpedo for refurbishing (it was last done in 1969ish), and found a body number under the front seat. Will also check under the leather door and body panels.
Steven

Hap Tucker!!!

Mike – thanks for the assist. Sometimes we all get tied up and miss things that we really would like to know about. Thank you for thinking of me.

Steve,

Thanks for posting your question. Yes, there are a couple of folks interested in body numbers and who are trying to collect them to help document which body company produced which body and also with the hopes of eventually being able to help date the bodies by the body number and also to determine which body panels from which body makers easily interchange and which ones don’t interchange well.

So for your 1912, yes please send me the body manufacture number, who the body manufacture was if it is known, how you know which manufacture, the casting date on the engine and the engine number 103,xxx for example. Feel free to “xxx” the last three numbers of the engine serial number. I don’t need that level of detail (ok for a Model NRS – please don’t just send “xxx” it won’t be that helpful).

Additional details below:

For the Coupe body numbers, Dave Sosnoski is the primary person collecting them (I also log them when I see them -- but he is the person working to write a book on the 1924-25 Coupes (introduced around Aug 1923 and they are the style with the normal doors and NOT the earlier suicide doors.) For more information on on his project or to obtain his e-mail address and see some of his research see:

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/29/32888.html
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/29/27450.html
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/29/24578.html
Anyone who would like to send Dave information about a Coupe can click on his name on any of his postings from those threads and send him an e-mail – or sent the information to me with a note that says “Please forward to Dave”and I will send it on also.

For the 1914-1922 roadsters and tourings – I am working hard (ok – maybe I’ve been working at it for a long time would be more accurate…) to collect enough numbers to be able to figure out which company produced which bodies when. The motivation for that is primarily the body panels do not necessarily interchange well between the different makers. I think if we can figure that out – Howell’s sheet metal and other sheet metal fabricators would be able to make a panel that they know fits a Beaudett body well and a different panel if required to fit the Fisher body – etc. Also if someone such a myself is trying to find panels for their car – if they know what body maker produced their body and which of the other body maker panels fit on that body well, it could make the search a little easier. Bruce McCalley on his online encyclopedia at http://mtfca.com/encyclo/doc15.htm and on page 557 of his book “The Model T Ford” shares:
JUN 26, 1915 Factory Letter
"Hereafter when ordering body panels for 1915 cars, please give both the car and body numbers. The body number will be found on the right sill just inside the front door. This number will be preceded by a letter which indicates by whom the body was made.
"The above information is necessary as panels for bodies made by our various suppliers vary somewhat."

A side benefit we are noticing is we can easily date some of the bodies which have a date code on them (Wilson, Beaudett, etc). So if someone purchased a car that did not have an engine, and if one of those body numbers with the date was available, we could help them determine the month and year (and I think possibly the day – for the Beaudett bodies—we are still trying to confirm that one way or the other). Of course the body was produced before the car was assembled – as the body was made – shipped to the Ford factory, painted and upholstered and then mounted. For the body numbers that do not have an obvious date code, I believe we may still be able to obtain enough information from original cars to get an approximation. They don’t run sequentially – i.e. Ford had numerous bodies being painted, drying, upholstered, etc. in numerous assembly plants etc. But it may still be able to serve as a guide. I will add a second posting about that project in a little bit – specifically asking folks who are going home for the holidays to please look for body numbers..

So for any 1914 – 1922 touring or roadster manufacturer body number (which is often found on the wooden front seat frame (lift the seat cushion and look in front of the gas filler and left and right of there --- or on the right front floor board riser) or body number question please let me (Hap Tucker) know. You can e-mail me by clicking on any posting such as the one you are currently reading or any other one that has my name in blue (hyperlink) or by going to my profile at: http://www.mtfca.com/cgi-bin/discus/board-profile.cgi?action=view_profile&profil e=hap_tucker-users . There you can send a private e-mail and you don’t have to share you e-mail address or you can also see my e-mail address listed there and use that – which allows you to send attachments. Please put Model T in the subject line and if you do not hear a response within 3 or 4 days – please remind me. I occasionally delete the wrong e-mail and/or file it and can’t find it).

For any 1903-1931 body manufacture number – I am also collecting them for future use. I’m trying to work the 1914-22 numbers first. I think when the high cowl (1924 model) began to be produced in 1923, that the roadster and touring bodies were now both made by Ford and no longer had a body manufacture number. If anyone has one for those years – please let us know. The closed car bodies continued to be made by out side firms and often would have a body manufacture number.

Thank you and anyone else who can help me collect this information. I am hoping by this time next year I can share some worthwhile findings. Not “the answer” but at least some good info on the Beaudett bodies which so far I have been given the most information about. And if there is anyone out there getting impatient and who would like me to send them all the information we have gathered so far so they can get this thing done quicker – just send me a note. I know there are lots of better organized and smarter folks out there who may have some spare time on there hands and I will gladly support you.

Respectfully submitted,

Hap Tucker 1915 Model T touring cut off and made into a pickup truck and 1907 Model S Runabout. Sumter SC

Hap,
My 24/25 tudor has all the body parts, and I think the original brackets holding the wood uprights. The firewall, cowl, dash, etc are all there. Is there anyplace I might find a body number? the wood is pretty well gone if it was on the wood. Any suggestions?

Thanks, Tim

Oh, the engine has a '26 serial number, so no help there.

Tim

Tim,

The 24-25 Tudor would most likely have a body number either stamped into the metal floorboard riser on the passengers side, or stamped into the wooden sill just inside the passengers door - between the door sill and the floorboards. It's also very possible that there is no serial number at all.

Dave S.

Dave,
Thanks, it sounds like the number, if there ever was one, was on a missing piece of wood. I find nothing in the area of the remaining parts.

Thanks, Tim