Erich,
I believe they are Model B being assembled at Piquette. Several of us are at Dearborn now and will tour Piquette in a few hours.
Thank you for posting,
Rob
More Model B assembly at Piquette:
The engine testing building at Piquette. Two Model B and a Model C or F:
Photos courtesy of "The Henry Ford" online. All rights apply.
Erich,
The top photo is definitely the Model B Fords and not the Model K. It has been mislabeled as Model Ks in several books including Robert C. Kreipke's "The Model T" page 6. [An excellent book with great photos and a few mislabeled but still lots of details etc. Available from the vendors.] I suspect that the original print in the Benson Ford Archives is mislabeled. When it was originally filed someone put the wrong model by mistake and since folks see the photo and label at the Benson Ford they assume it is correct. The good news, they are willing to update the notes when provided with more accurate information. I'll try to follow up on that one. From Kreipke's book, he shared it is THP P.189.16783 and I will try to send them a note to see if they have it labeled Model B or Model K.
Rob,
When you have a chance if you could send me a cropped copy of the Model C or early Model F shown on the left side of the photo, I think there is an excellent chance we can zoom in and find out which one it was. Both had the 10 row radiator but there were other differences we should be able to see. Or if you could zoom in on it and see if the tie rod is located in front or behind the front axle as well as does it have an extra support/stiffening rod below the front axle?
Respectfully submitted,
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Hap,
This is the best I'm able to come up with. If one buys the print from the Henry Ford, I believe the resolution is higher.
It looks to me as though the testing seat used on the Model B was carried directly over to this 1906 Model K being tested in the Dearborn area (Tireman Avenue). I think the passenger may be Henry Ford, although it isn't a good pic (derby and cloths look right)?
Model B in the testing bldg:
06 Model K out for testing:
Piquette as it appears today, from the "Ford Piquette Avenue" website:
On the topic of Model B Fords, did you see how much this Model B Ford hubcap sold for on ebay over the weekend?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/291226683070?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m142 3.l2649
Rob,
Thanks for posting the higher resolution photo. I believe we can see the truss rod below the front axle. That with the 10 row radiator would make it an early Model F chassis. Pate's Early Ford Automobile Encyclopedia on page 7 of Chapter 8 states the A and C did NOT have the truss rod below the front axle but the F did. And you can also make out the drag link running down in front of the axle.
Respectfully submitted,
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Hap your right, here is a front shot of my 1906 F
I phone won't upload, sorry
One more try
Does anybody see the painted murals in the background of the two photos that Rob posted?
Robert, I don't see them. Which pics? And, if you would like, tell us more about your "F."
we'll my IPhone screen is small. On further examination on my computers larger screen it is someone in the back ground out of focus.
Seems the man in the passenger seat is wearing overalls/coveralls, would Henry wear those ???
Robert,
We would like to see More photos of the Model F Ford instead of just Model K's
-Don
David,
I believe Rob was saying the passenger in the photo below might be Henry Ford.
Since it is a right hand drive car, the driver is the one who is wearing the overalls and the passenger in the left hand seat appears to have a suite and derby hat on. That is a typical combination for Henry Ford to wear in the early 1900s – and add an overcoat in cooler weather.
From http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4e/Henry_Ford_and_Barney_Oldfield_with_Old_999%2C_1902.jpg [that link will take you to a higher resolution photo -- nice details.]
Two other photos of Henry with the derby are located at: http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2012/12/12/worlds-oldest-ford-motor-company-vehicle-to-help-celebrate-henry-fords-150th-birthday/#PhotoSwipe1410023597171 scroll down to see thumbnail prints and click on the one of the 1909 race car #2 arriving in Seattle, Washington and the one with Henry standing in front of a Centerdoor sedan. They also have some photos of Henry Ford with a cap and also one with a straw hat.
I think it might be Henry Ford in the passenger seat of the K chassis picture that Rob posted. But as always a higher resolution photo and one that showed more of his face and ears would make it a lot easier to confirm if it was or was not Henry. I do not do as well with face recognition as with car recognition (which I also still get wrong) so I will let someone else comment on if it is or is not likely to be Henry in the passenger seat in Rob’s photo.
Respectfully submitted,
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Bob,
Great photo of your 1906 Model F Ford. And yes, the photo of your Model F clearly shows that truss rod below the front axle very well.
From the photo it appears your Model F Ford might be an un-restored survivor. If that is so – it could be a real treasure trove of information on that model. And if part of it was restored years ago – it could still offer a lot of additional insight on the cars. Do you know if your car was covered in any articles past or present in any of the club magazines? If so which one as I would love to read more about it. If not, I would think several of the national magazines (“HCCA Gazette,” MTFCA “Vintage Ford,” MTFCI “Model T Times,” AACA “Antique Automobile” etc.) would love to run and article about your car. And as Don mentioned above – I’m sure most of us would enjoy seeing additional photos of your Model F. Maybe even start a new thread so they know it is about your Model F and so it is easier to find later.
If you have not already joined the Early Ford Registry [ http://www.earlyfordregistry.com/ ] I would highly recommend you consider joining them (us). It is a great group of people and one of the largest if not the largest gathering of folks interested in the Pre-T Fords. They have a wealth of information and encouragement for anyone with an early Ford or wanting to learn more about the early Fords. Folks do not need to own a 1903-1909 Ford to join – just be interested in the cars from driving them to preserving them to researching about them and anything in between folks would be welcomed to join.
If you do not yet have a copy of Carl Pate’s book ““Pate’s Early Ford Automobile Encyclopedia” I would also highly recommend obtaining a copy. You can order from the MTFCA club store at: http://modeltstore.myshopify.com/products/pates-early-ford-automotive-encycloped ia-1903-1909 or direct from Carl at: http://www.earlyfordcars.info/ or one of the vendors. In addition to the 450 pages if the book, it comes with a CD with over 2500 files including the “Owners Manuals” “Price List of Parts” etc. for the different Pre-Ts including the Model F. ]
Carl Pate is always looking for additional information to update his Encyclopedia and his web site listed above has his contact information. He would welcome any photos, information etc. about your car. And he runs a Two-Cylinder Ford registry listing – so you may have already contacted him. He is very active in the Early Ford Registry. If you have the car’s serial number (form memory it should be number on the engine flywheel) you can look in Trent’s Early Ford Database and you have approximately a 1 in 4 chance of finding out when the car was originally shipped and to which dealer (and is a very small number of cases which individual). Trent’s database is available at the Benson Ford Archives in hard copy, and in digital format on Bruce McCalley’s (RIP) “Model T Comprehensive Encyclopedia” as well as on the CD that Carl Pate provides with his book. If you do not have easy access to any of those if you post the number or send me the number I will gladly look to see if it is in the listing that Trent prepared back in 1997
Note the photo of your Model F shows the later larger radiator that extends below the frame. On page 10 of 25 in chapter 9 of “Pate’s Early Ford Automobile Encyclopedia” Carl states that they do not know exactly when that larger radiator was introduced. He commented it may have been as early as Aug 1905 based one of the surviving cars that had the larger radiator. [Clarification on the Model C vs early Model F radiator. While they both had the same number (10) of cooling rows at the front of the radiator the Model C was a two row radiator and the Model F was a 3 row radiator. Ref pages 9-10 of Carl’s book.]
And of course if you have any updates on your 1915 Centerdoor restoration – it is always good to hear how things are going. The last posting I saw, you were just about ready to start it up. Ok – for many folks they are only cars. But for me – they are part of my life’s story – I spent so many hours in that car as a kid driving stages coaches (it was great for that story line) etc. So I like to keep up with how they are doing with their new caretaker. For information on Bob’s Centerdoor finding its new home with him please see: http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/118802/142783.html . And I suppose her name will always be Ghost to me. Sort of like my youngest daughter will always be Gracie even though she likes to be called Grace now that she is grown, married, and on her own.
Respectfully submitted,
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Hap, I am ready to pull it with our jeep and hopefully Ghost will start. Ron's machine shop rebuilt the engine and she's tight (no pun intended). I'll try to post more on my unrestored F.
Bob,
Thank you so much for the update. Thank you for taking such wonderful care of Ghost! She is looking good!
And yes, all of us would like additional photos, information, etc. on your Model F.
Respectfully submitted,
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