This is not a standard 1910 open runabout. Look at the cowl / dash area - it is quite special.
That image is in the Ford R Bryan's Book " Clara ."
The caption for the picture posted below.
Ford Richardson Bryan's books are a great insight into Henry Ford and the Ford Motor Company.
Regards, John
John,
It all makes sense, except the body is not a standard Model T. The chassis appears to be standard 1ate 1909 / 1910. The radiator is an earlier 1909, while the fenders are no earlier than summer of 1909.
I found the image on the Henry Ford online photograph collection with a similar caption, although the date is listed (incorrectly I think) as 1911.
Royce,
Thank you . I think all of the Richardson books were well researched and the information should be correct. He was a volunteer at the Benson Ford Center for a number of years before his passing and was a distant relative of the Ford's.
Regards, John
They even realized the need/benefit of a large oil drip pan back then!
Great car, neat photo. The license number is painted on the radiator core, making it 1909 as well. Michigan started issuing plates in 1910.
Royce
Is this the same car?
Mark
I'm no license plate expert but i think Mi started in 08 or 09 and the first were leather.Mi started the porclein plates in 1910.Bud.
Mark,
Looks like the same car with the same two kids!
Nice one.......
Looks to me to be the same car. Maybe with a larger gas tank.
The large "upside-down" steering wheel looks the same.
: ^ )
no windshield on the 2nd photo
just sayin'
brasscarguy
The first Model T book I bought when I started out with my first T in 1965 was " Tin Lizzie " by Philip Van Doren Stern.
Here is a page from that book.
The first photo looks like a water pump radiator and S Roadster Cowl. Also has earlier 09 side lamps. 09-10 Fenders.
Second pic has a torpedo gas tank and windscreen and dash. I would say this could be the development of the open torpedo but you would expect it to have a square gas tank if that were the case.
Mark,
I thought the cowl looks similar to an S roadster (and the S/T prototype touring) 1908 cowl too. The radiator neck looks like the S/T prototype radiator with the NRS style narrow high neck.
I believe the second photo is a cutout, and the trimming around the radiator neck wasn't well done, and the car is the same car with windscreen added.
After reading some of the "Reminiscences" it appears there were several experimental s and special cars made during the early years of the Model T. Maybe this is one of them?
From the Ernest Liebold "Reminiscences", THF, all rights apply:
Rob
It looks like a standard Water Pump era radiator to me, possibly later with Ford Script. Think the experimental era radiators had the pump in the front of the radiator like NRS. Nice reading on the experimental cars. Maybe the car evolved from an experimental car or pre 2500 T, hence the S style cowl.
Thanks Rob.
Mark
Agreed - it is an ordinary late 1909 - 1910 radiator.
Mark,
I misunderstood. Yes, it looks like a water pump T rad. I wonder if it was an "extra," or if this car was an early 09 (calendar year) creation? I think the S Roadster style cowls added a lot to the appearance (although I think they make entering and exiting the car a little more inconvenient).
Thanks,
Rob
If the photo was taken 1910 or later, a state issued Michigan license plate would be displayed on the front of the car instead of the painted registration on the radiator.
The radiator looks like the early T style that used a separate outer brass shell. The crank also looks to be brass plated.
I wonder if they used the painted numbers with the small leather license in 1909? Bud.
In Michigan in 1909, owners applied for a state issued disc for the dashboard. The registration was required to be displayed on the front and back of the car. The digits had to be three inches in height, black on white or white on black, with "Michigan" in full or abbreviated in one inch high letters.
I'm assuming the registration is painted on the radiator rather than metal numbers on a leather plate because I doubt they would have blocked the radiator with a piece of leather.
Also - be aware that owner provided license plates did not have to be made out of leather and the numbers did not have to be metal.
Here is a 1910 Michigan plate.
Bruce,
Very nice. The 1910 model year began August 1, 1909. At that time the cars all had 1909 plates. Here are some typical 1910 Model T's for reference: