All Model T's were furnished with a tool roll, that contained a set of tools at least through 1915. They varied slightly from year to year, but were apparently rolled up with the tools when new. I'm interested in seeing if anyone has one for a 1912 that they could submit a picture of, or possibly even a 1911?
Awhile back, a fellow wanted to know exactly what tools were furnished with a 1912. Well, that list has surfaced but it is in poor condition, so I will list the tools included in the tool roll here:
Book of Instructions
Price List of Parts
Pump (Tire)
Repair Kit (Tire)
Adjustable Wrench
Hub Wrench
No. 27 Wrench (This is the band wrench).
Screwdriver
Pair Pliers
Oil Can
Speedometer Wrench
Tool Roll
Spark Plug Wrench and Handle
Packed By_______________________
It is unclear if this list was rolled up in the tool roll, or if it was stuck inside of the parts book or book of instructions.
Well, that's something new. A Google search of the MTFCA forum finds no previous mention of a speedometer wrench. Anybody have any information on it? Part number? Picture?
In the tool section in the back of Bruce's book, it lists a "Speedometer Wrench" as part number 2339, here is a lousy picture of it:
I was surprised that there were no tire irons in the kit.
Here is a better image:
: ^ )
And...it...does...?
I believe it's for setting the backlash on the speedometer gears in the swivel. It is 3 1/4" long, and is inscribed Stewart Speedometer, Release spring from teeth with screw driver when dismounting nut.
Interesting why the tire irons are not listed. Also, why did they call the band wrench a #27? With two more numbers, they could have used the part number!
Larry-
The wrench is for tightening the speedometer nut for the pinion gear for 1911 cars. There is a picture of it in Russ Furstnow's book on page 40. All the other speedometers simply used a cotter pin to hold the pinion gear in place.
A special "tab washer" fits into one of the two slots on the side of the knurled nut.
It is similar to the 1915 windshield nut, but with only two slots, not four.
Maybe Russ will post a picture of the 1911 pinion nut and locking washer.
: ^ )
I don't think the "tab washer" works that way. The gear that was used with the special swivel during 1911 had a counterbored area on the outside surface that had a single tab groove also cut into the gear to the same depth as the countebore. The tanged washer was then placed into that counterbored area and the knurled nut was then threaded onto the end of the swivel and it went down into the counterbore. The 2 slots in that nut fit the 2 tangs on the pictured wrench which then was used to tighten the knurled ring against the tanged washer down into the counterbored gear. The tang on the washer then was bent over and against the outside knurling to hold the nut tight in its final rotational position. The knurled nut was more like a threaded ring with knurling all around the outer perimeter. I can't prove it but a very good condition ring I saw seemed to be threaded with a tapered thread but there weren't enough threads in it to prove it but the swivel also seemed to have the same small amount of taper on its thread too. There simply are not enough of them around to make a valid conclusion possible on that score.
Here are pictures of the wrench and the nut.
I know this isn't the classifieds, but I have a wrench if someone really wants to complete their tool set. Tmorsher@icloud.com
Larry,
Everybody has an incomplete set...
The tool kit/instructions/manual were all 'assembled' and 'done' as part of what we call today a 'fulfillment center' concept and they were placed in the trunks/under seats in a corrugated box that Ford had specifically manufactured to their specifications.
The corrugated box has an actual T number on it and I do have the print around here somewhere but who knows where...and I have never found any instruction to dealers to assemble the roll and chuck the box. Keeping the box actually makes sense...until it gets old or wet....
We all know that corrugated today is lucky to survive a year of so without getting floppy and sloppy...but back then it was different, the product was more like plywood in stiffness.
The paper had less acid in it and the adhesive was actually liquid glass and not starch paste as it is today. The flute height/thickness specified is also all but obsolete here in USA, but is still available in Asia and Eastern Euro places.
I looked into manufacture of a batch once, when the tools box drawing was included in one of the Vintage Fords it peaked my interest...so that those who would want the perfect tool kit to include the proper corrugated box as the car originally came with...but the collective response was like 'zilch' as to interest.
Back then I could still have gotten Virgin Kraft Paper, had the means to have had it manufactured using liquid glass and not cornstarch as the adhesive, could have even had it made to the proper thickness to match the drawing, could have had it NC razor blade cut-out...would look, feel and act just like that original box material that many of us still keep our Lionel transformers in, which was a similar specification as to paper and glue!
Fascinating! Does someone have an original box and can they post some pictures of it on the forum? From what George is saying, if every T originally came with one, at least some must have survived.
What about the "Rip Van Winkle" T? Did it have its original tool box?
Paydirt! Here is the part number for the box! I found it in Bruces master parts list, and is listed from 1908-1920, and is indeed corrugated cardboard.
Whoops, the factory number is 1923.
I'd buy several, George. Go for it!
Anyone have the Vintage Ford article about the tool box?
Jeff, if you can be more specific about which issue it is in, I'll look it up.
Mark,
my best recollection/guess is that it was about 13-14 or so years ago...
Ok, I'll look in the 2000 - 2001 timeframe.
George, you have a good memory! I found an article in the January/February 2000 issue of Vintage Ford (Volume 35, Number 1) entitled, "The Use of Scrap in the Making of Model Ts in the Ford Factories.
Page 27 shows a picture of a drawing of part number T-1923, the cardboard box in question. The article says that the blanks for the boxes were to be used as spacers between hoods during shipping to the branches and the branches were instructed to make boxes out of the blanks.
The drawing is marked "Obsolete 4-22", I wonder what process took its place?