Generator Cutout - Script or No Script?

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2014: Generator Cutout - Script or No Script?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Strange on Friday, June 27, 2014 - 09:14 pm:

Hello all, I searched the forum for an answer to this question, but I didn't see one, so here goes.

I currently have a 6V negative ground alternator on my 1924 touring / pickup conversion, but I will be switching back to a generator for originality. I want to use a Fun Projects regulator on the new generator.

I see on the Fun Projects website that 6V negative ground regulators are offered with a Ford scripted case, or an unscripted case, which is correct, or are both correct? Thanks. :-)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Jelf, Parkerfield KS on Friday, June 27, 2014 - 09:47 pm:

I'd check with John Regan. I expect he knows.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dave Wells on Friday, June 27, 2014 - 10:42 pm:

Do you still have your original cutout? Mine has the Ford script and I ordered my regulator the same way. 1919 was the first year for the cutout and was also the year the Ford script was added to many parts to prevent bogus parts being sold as originals so I'm guessing the script is always correct. It makes sense to offer the regulators with no script even if nobody ever buys one because it is simply one step omitted.

While we're here, were the cutouts painted black? My regulator is still a plated, silvery finish which looks out of place on my otherwise black engine.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Danuser on Friday, June 27, 2014 - 10:55 pm:

Mark I carry John Regans products here in Fulton MO danuser88@ktis.net


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Jelf, Parkerfield KS on Friday, June 27, 2014 - 11:00 pm:

Dave, even without looking it up I'm pretty sure plated is correct. I don't think I've ever seen a cutout painted black. Again, John would know.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dave Wells on Friday, June 27, 2014 - 11:13 pm:

Ok Steve thanks. I'll wait to here from John before I dip my brush.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Royce in Georgetown TX on Saturday, June 28, 2014 - 07:44 am:

1919 cutout was not mounted to the generator at all. Here's a picture Richard Gould posted of a 1919 firewall mounted cutout:


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dave Wells on Saturday, June 28, 2014 - 08:28 am:

Thanks Royce, I forgot about that one.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John F. Regan on Saturday, June 28, 2014 - 09:17 am:

Mark:

I didn't see this thread right away and answered your question via email this morning in response to your email but I have researched the cutout at the archives and what I found is this. The "typical" cutout changed mainly in the beginning. There were many different cutouts offered in the beginning and it definitely appeared that Ford was simply buying cutouts that were already in use and being manufactured. While the early ones were typically rectangular, there were some "odd ducks" that were slightly different including some that had more than the usual 3 connections but Ford was only using 3 of the terminals. I realized rather quickly that the cutout research was going to be a very large project if I was to include all of the companies that Ford bought from and those early rectangular cutouts were not all of a "standard" size. When the cutout moved to the generator it basically was round and they all appeared to have been plated but by different platings. Some were even copper plated on the covers and the Ford script size seemed to vary and was not specified. The more or less "standard" cutout for most of production was in fact terne coated steel on its cover. Depending on who you talk to, this coating was just that - a coating while others called it "terne plated" and considered it a plating process. I made many VR's with terne coated steel covers but that process contains lead and that became impossible to get anybody to do so I opted for the only thing that made any logical sense and have been zinc plating them for years now since lead has been more or less outlawed by our lord and savior gubermint. In truth the zinc is probably a better rust inhibitor coating but I was sad to have to change. So far as I have been able to determine, the round can cutout was always Ford scripted and always mounted on the generator. They were never painted black so far as I can determine but many people have painted the covers of my VR black and complained that it should be that way because the one on their car was black but I have not seen any that look original that have black paint on them.

As a note of trivia the contacts in the original cutouts were the same ones used in the battery horn but of course the mounting was very different.

Hope this helps.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Larry Smith on Saturday, June 28, 2014 - 10:06 am:

I have two retangular Ford script cutouts, but I'm not sure if they were mounted on the generator or the cutout, but both are black.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Strange on Saturday, June 28, 2014 - 11:12 am:

Thankyou John, for the email answer and your thorough explanation above, I placed an order for one of your scripted VRs on your website this morning. :-)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John F. Regan on Saturday, June 28, 2014 - 01:52 pm:

Larry:

I assume you meant you were not sure if they mounted on the generator or the FIREWALL since otherwise your statement is confusing me. I thought I made it clear I was talking about the round generator mount cutouts when I stated they were plated different ways. I have not seen any round black ones that appear to be original but they may have existed. The mounting feet will tell you quickly whether the unit was mounted on the generator or firewall since the firewall mounted rectangular cutout shown in the picture above has been in my hand and it has mounting holes through 2 flat surfaces at the ends of the cutout and there is no way that base could be bent to make it fit the round generator. I have not personally witnessed very many of the rectangular cutouts but I have personally viewed the factory drawings for some. I was focusing on the round ones when I was researching since that was the unit I was going to emulate for my VR. One of the drawings for the round one said it had a copper cover which is one I would like to find at some point. Polished up it would really be neat but of course Ford really didn't polish them.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dennis Henrichs on Sunday, June 29, 2014 - 01:52 am:

Hi Larry,

I sent you a PM.

Dennis


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