I have a question Our 1912 tour Canadian car has its original steering column, the levers are steel there is no trace of brass not even under the original knobs. We also have a 1909-10 column no brass either, is this a Canadian thing.
This is typical of brass plated things in general. It just disappears after a dozen or so years. The spark and throttle levers were brass plated on all Model T's through 1917. Yours were too.
Is that a typo? I was always under the impression that only cars thru 12 had brass plated rods.
Richard,
No typo.
Both Bruce and the MTFCI judging guidelines say nickel plated levers for 1917. I wonder what's on the Rip car.
The spark and throttle levers were brass plated on all Model T's through 1916. Nickel plating replaced brass for the 1917 model.
The 1915 and 1916 cars has the steel quadrant brass plated as well.
Colin, you can disassemble the steering column and have the rods plated and then re-assemble. Sometimes guys replace both levers with solid brass rods.
I had limited success with the Casswell Plug-n-plate for brass plating on my 1911.
I have a set of solid brass rods that someday I might tackle the project to replace them. If I do, I will replace that poor quadrant that someone really buggered up with a ball peen hammer.
: ^ )
Keith
Steve
Think so too, this is the Rip Van Winkle 1917 steering wheel and column.
I have a NOS '15 quadrant that is serrated on both sides. The brass plating is still evident.
When removing the control rods from the brass steering box, the sides of the brass need to be bent to be able to get the rods out. Usually they break off a bit, and you are left with less than enough to make the rods captive again. Is there a way to avoid this?
Allan from down under.
We are in the process of making new brass plated rods
My dad bought a bunch of NOS T parts from a Ford dealer in the 1950's. Among that load was a late 1912 steering column. The brass plating is still perfect on the spark and gas levers. They are only plated on the upper ends, the plating does not show on the engine side of the column.
Nice Are the levers painted on the engine side?
i have looked at a lot of flat levers in my time, first time like those.like to have some for my early 13
Me too and those are first I've seen !
Allan, I replaced the rods on both of my T's. Once the steering box and rods are re installed, they can't go anywhere. They work just fine. Dave
Steve,
It would be easy to make dozens of them if someone wanted to pay for the cost of a set of stamping dies.