Looks to me like that low-hanging speedometer cable is asking for trouble.
Later 1909 car. Steel running boards, high door handles, with the late 1909 front fenders. For sure above S/N 2600 (April - May) so it could be a 1910 model year car. Also notice the later three bolt / two bolt body brackets.
It is probably a too long replacement speedometer cable.
Jay,
Great photo! Ditto Royce's comments.
I took a quick look at Bruce's (R.I.P.) book for when the last entries for cars without the windshield were listed. Note, Bruce was only noting every 100th car in his listing by that time unless there was something interesting about one of the other car serial numbers. I was surprised at how late the cars were being shipped without a windshield. On page 485 there were several listed in Sep 1909 and one touring noted on Jan 30, 1910 #11,100. And on the next page Feb 15, 1910 #16,278 (touring) and then #17,000 on Mar 4, 1910 (touring). The 16,278 was listed because it was the first entry that was marked "special flywheel." But the typical 1910 open car would have come equipped with a windshield with a few exceptions. Of course one of the nice things about car #1,119 through 70,702 or so is the original shipping invoice is still available for most of them. So instead of restoring them to a “typical” 1909-1911 Ford, the owner can order the shipping invoice and in most cases know exactly what equipment came on his car (type of lights, type of windshield or no windshield etc.).
Respectfully submitted,
Hap l9l5 cut off
The wife looks like she just got done canning pickles and taste-tested one too many.
Nice detail an the top boot!
That wasn't nice, Tim. She might be the mother or grandmother of someone on the forum! The reason people didn't smile in the old pictures was because of the time exposure. It was hard to hold a smile for a long time. I have pictures of family members taken 100 years ago and they didn't smile either.
Norm
Another reason for not smiling may have been her tooth status. Few had their own teeth up in age and good dentures were rare/expensive, I suppose?
I am still trying to figure out the radiator cap? It is awfully early for accessory figurines. But that is what it looks to be. (Could be an illusion with something lying in the grass in the background)
In 1910, radiator caps were still mostly to keep water in, and critters out. By 1914, accessory caps were being offered in dog-bone styles, or handles and sometimes wings. Motometers were offered by Boyce about 1910, but ornamental figurines did not become common until after the World War. I am sure there were early exceptions. Other than Automobile Club insignias, I can't recall ever seeing something like this that was this early. (And I don't think it is an Automobile Club insignia because of the way it leans forward. They mostly were straight up, or round or bell shaped)
It is a wonderful photo, with a lot of details about that transitional 1909/10 Ford.
Thank you all!
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2
Wayne
There is something other than a plane radiator
cap, the picture might have been taken when the car was a couple of years old not in 1909-10. The owner took very good care of this car, it might be new to them and a used car.
Bob
I would say that the license plate is either 1910 White on Blue, 1911 White on Maroon or 1912 White on Red. The NY was changed after 1912. More than likely this would have been a 1910 plate. 1910 was the first year NY issued plates. Nice photograph, thanks for posting.
Mike V, You can tell that is a New York plate? You are better than I!
Wayne, I'm taking an educated guess, I blew up the photo and it resembles an NY plate. Here is a picture of all early NY Plates.
Thank you Mike V!!