OT - K Roadster part 3

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2014: OT - K Roadster part 3
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Rob Heyen on Sunday, November 09, 2014 - 01:12 pm:

This is the last portion of our K roadster threads. This will cover why I chose to trade our touring for a roadster, and a little history (according to Rob) about them.

I've thought for some time a K Roadster would be an incredible machine to drive. I had not sat in one, and only saw a "made up" roadster in person (from an 06 chassis). Two things really piqued my interest:

1. The K Roadster was advertised as a 70 mph car. This is the fastest production Ford until the V-8 comes out in 1932. The reasons for the higher speed are lighter car and larger tires. At some point I intend to find out if the "guarantee" of 70 mph is valid.

2. The Model K Roadster, along with the Ford Model R, are Henry Ford's first models when he has overwhelming control of the company. For those historians who reported he was "forced" by Malcomson and/or investors to build the Model K, that cannot be the argument for the K Roadster, or 6-40 as it was commonly referred to.

Henry Ford would not have been compelled to bring out the six cylinder roadster, unless he wished to, in my opinion. By July 1906 he has 58 percent of FMC shares, and I doubt anyone was able to "force" him to build a particular model from that point on. Meanwhile, the 6-40 (K roadster) was announced at the end of January 1907, and on the road by May 07.

It appears about 200 6-40's were built, and it also appears the only Model K Ford built and sold after May 1908 were 6-40 roadsters.

I believe we have a bit of a skewed opinion about the Model K in general, and the K roadster in particular, regarding it's place in Ford history and culture. Below are copies of photos that appeared in the "Ford Times," July 1 through September 15, 1908 issues. I wish to thank Trent Boggess and The Henry Ford for help copying these images. The point of posting these photos is to demonstrate that Ford Motor Company evidently felt displaying the Model K along with NRS runabouts provided good advertising on the in house publication. This seems to contradict the notion that the Model K was disliked by Henry Ford, again, in my opinion. These issues were late model year 1908, just prior to the release of the Model T.

Of course, your mileage may vary.......



Ford dealer garage, Miami:




























Branch Manager Fay's 6-40:



Caricature of K.C. Branch Manager Meade:



These were probably file photographs, and I thought it interesting that so many Model K were prominently displayed around Ford branch and dealer offices. Maybe they couldn't sell them so they just sat out front? I thought I better say it before someone else .......

:-)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Richard Eagle Ida Fls on Sunday, November 09, 2014 - 01:19 pm:

Great pictures. I always enjoy them.
I don't read all the words as I'm a little dyslexic but the K stuff is fastening.

Rich


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Walker, NW AR on Sunday, November 09, 2014 - 02:07 pm:

Rob -- I'm glad the one you have has the "swoopy" rear fenders. It's much more sleek than the long running board version. Were those two different versions made at different times?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Royce in Georgetown TX on Sunday, November 09, 2014 - 03:18 pm:

I think it is ridiculous to think that Ford Motor Company would not have marketed and promoted the left over Model K's as aggressively as possible and in the best "spin" possible, regardless of whether Henry Ford wanted to build them or not. No way the fact that Henry didn't want to build the Model K would have been mentioned when the company still had hundreds of unsold ones to try to unload.

The fact is Ford was stuck with X number of Model K chassis ordered from Dodge Brothers in 1906. It makes perfect sense to put a less expensive roadster body on the slow moving product. That reduced the unsold car's cost.

As it turned out there were unsold Model K's in stock at Ford Motor company well into FY 1910.

Thanks for posting the very interesting photos Rob. I have added them to my collection. The Model K has an interesting, checkered, fantastic history, and I cherish it.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Rob Heyen on Sunday, November 09, 2014 - 03:42 pm:

Let's see the FMC 1910 left over inventory. Is that info in your collection? And I don't mean Henry Ford's personal K, we know he kept that until about 1920.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Royce in Georgetown TX on Sunday, November 09, 2014 - 03:50 pm:

Ford Motor company's 1910 fiscal year began October 1, 1909.

If we are to believe this guy there were unsold Model K roadsters in December 1909:

By Rob Heyen on Thursday, October 30, 2014 - 08:04 am:
Drilling down on K production a little more, the last evidence of FMC offering Model K was late spring 1909, when they announced to dealers in "Ford Times" that they still had a few K 6-40's (roadsters) to sell. The last instance I've found of a new Model K being bought from a dealer was a red 6-40 roadster sold in mid December 1909. The last Ford Motor Company advertisement listing K tourings (that I've found) was April, 1908. Of course, there's more to learn,
Rob


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Harold Schwendeman - Sumner,WA on Sunday, November 09, 2014 - 04:23 pm:

Richard - Your post reminded me of a fellow I knew that was troubled somewhat by a mild form of dyslexia. He used to tell people that he had "lessdixia"!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Rob Heyen on Sunday, November 09, 2014 - 04:25 pm:

If one reads what I wrote, Ford Motor Company announced they still had a few K roadsters for dealers in THE SPRING OF 1909. The Ford audit report bears this out, reporting 42 K sold along with NR and S in FY 1909.

The second item lists THE LAST NEW MODEL K SOLD BY A DEALER that I have found. Not FMC, a dealer. Of course you knew that if you read what I wrote.

You may copy this to your "collection." Please do not take it out of context:

Fiscal Year.........Model K Sold
.........................Ford U.S........Ford Canada

1906.........................301.............15
1907.........................457..............20
1908.........................119...............1
1909...........................42
1907 Ford Chicago Branch Fire, 10 K destroyed.

Total: 965

Unresolved, several branches reported receiving "demonstrator" Model K (5 I've found to date for 1906). One branch advertised their 06 demonstrator as a used car. I don't know how the Ford auditor would categorize these demonstrators, however I doubt they would be included in new car sales (although I don't know yet). I also don't know if the Canada ledger is complete. I suspect we will find more cars disposed of not in the Ford audit, such as H. Ford's personal K. John Dodge also had a Model K that may have been heavily customized (he valued it at $5000 when it was stolen) and I have no idea how cars such as these (used by Ford execs) were treated by the auditor.

No record exists of Ford Motor Company holding Model K into FY 1910 that I'm aware of. There may be a few, but if there are I suspect they were demonstrators and cars used by Ford employees. I don't know, but continue to look.

We do know Ford Motor Company quit advertising K touring cars in May, 1908. Why? I presume all tourings were out of inventory and we know FMC announced they would only build N, S and K runabouts beginning in June 1908 as they tooled up for Model T production.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dennis Seth - Ohio on Sunday, November 09, 2014 - 05:53 pm:

I'm sure the reason the Model K didn't sell was because they installed the incorrect bail headlamps so no one would buy them :-)

(I learned that in an earlier post.)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Rob Heyen on Sunday, November 09, 2014 - 06:10 pm:

That would be Mike W., keeper of the bale (bail) handled flame....

:-)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Rob Heyen on Sunday, November 09, 2014 - 06:12 pm:

Denny,
If a person traded their 1906 50 hp Thomas Flyer for a new car in 1907, what do you think they traded for?

This is a trick question...


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dennis Seth - Ohio on Sunday, November 09, 2014 - 06:21 pm:

Rob,

It would have to be a Pierce Arrow because I learned the Model K didn't sell well :-)

(I also learned that in an earlier thread.)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Harold Schwendeman - Sumner,WA on Sunday, November 09, 2014 - 07:43 pm:

Richard - Your post reminded me of a fellow I knew that was troubled somewhat by a mild form of dyslexia. He used to tell people that he had "lessdixia"!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Harold Schwendeman - Sumner,WA on Sunday, November 09, 2014 - 07:52 pm:

Oops! Where'd that come from? Guess I forgot to "shut down" the computer before the football game, and my silly post to Richard posted again! Maybe that's also a form of dys..., ahh,...lysdi,.....ahhh.....never mind!

Speaking of football,....how 'bout them Seahawks with Russell Wilson and "The Beast", huh?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Harold Schwendeman - Sumner,WA on Sunday, November 09, 2014 - 07:54 pm:

Sorry about cluttering up your thread Rob,....I'll "shut up" now! Promise,......harold


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dave Hjortnaes, Men Falls, WI on Sunday, November 09, 2014 - 09:34 pm:

Can I add GB 28, Bears 0 before the half. Oh sorry. This is suppose to be about Model K's.

I was able to purchase something at Trainfest for Rob's Model K today. I need to mail it to him this week.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Rob Heyen on Monday, November 10, 2014 - 12:01 am:

Dave,
Was it as neat as this German "trinket" Bernd (German Model T forum friend) found?



Evidently Model K are known in Deutschland after all....


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Rob Heyen on Monday, November 10, 2014 - 12:30 am:

Harold,
Your always welcome on these threads. After all, it's a hobby....enjoy


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dennis Seth - Ohio on Monday, November 10, 2014 - 07:02 am:

Rob,

Did I win a cookie for answering your trick question?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Rob Heyen on Monday, November 10, 2014 - 07:16 am:

Denny,
Correct as your answer sounds,

............no.

I'm still putting it together and will post a "story" when I'm done collecting info.

I'm learning that the owners of Model K owned other large, expensive cars before, and after owning Model K (no surprise there). Most didn't go to a Model T when it came out, so an entirely different market (again, why am I surprised?) .

Have a good week,

Rob


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dave Hjortnaes, Men Falls, WI on Monday, November 10, 2014 - 08:35 pm:

No, but more useful.

Now can you translate your trinket without looking it up? Neat.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dennis Seth - Ohio on Tuesday, November 11, 2014 - 06:46 pm:

HEY ROB!

I don't care if I'm right or not I still want a cookie!

Being the male pig that I am and being single and you having two beautiful daughters and wife I think they could make cookies!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Rob Heyen on Tuesday, November 11, 2014 - 07:30 pm:

Denny,

This isn't the thread. If you expect a cookie, you have to ask on the right thread.....

:-)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dave Hjortnaes, Men Falls, WI on Tuesday, November 11, 2014 - 08:08 pm:

I would think you could spare a cookie no matter what thread you were on.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Rob Heyen on Tuesday, November 11, 2014 - 08:11 pm:

A cookie here, a cookie there, pretty soon, no more cookies


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Wayne Sheldon, Grass Valley, CA on Wednesday, November 12, 2014 - 03:28 am:

Aren't cookies the things that keep messing up Charlies password?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jerry VanOoteghem on Wednesday, November 12, 2014 - 10:48 am:

Make mine chocolate chip!


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