Hi! I am new to this forum and would truly appreciate any help as far as info on this Ford Boyce Moto Meter. I purchased this from a local yard sale last week and was curious if anyone could tell me anything about it. The original owner thought it was from a 31 Model T but is there anyway to tell for sure? The cap seems unique from others that I have seen while researching. Is it a midget? Can't read patent no's bc tucked under rim and not about to attempt to unscrew. Cool thing is that I tested it today in cup of hot water and STILL WORKS!! I thrive off of learning about things that I know nothing about so would LOVE to hear your thoughts on this piece. THANK YOU!

Last pics...

Amy-
Welcome,

The Ford Script in the oval indicated that it is of the 1928-1931 Model A era. The Oval is post-Model T.

I am not sure if the bottom part that appears to be broken is off a Model A or not.

: ^ )

Keith

Looks like it was a flip top instead of a screw on like the Model T. The hinge might be broken off but the top part with the thermometer in it is fastened by a nut which unscrews. It could be adapted to fit a different cap.
Norm

The Motometer itself, would bolt through any sort of cap designed for one, so while the Motometer
is post-T era with that oval, it certainly doesn't mean that the guy with the six-year-old Model T could
not have put one on his car in 1931. No different that doing a part replacement today on your six-year-
old car and installing an "updated" part.

Yes, the cap is a broken off "flip top" variety, and only part of the whole assembly is present.

Yours also has the fancy wreath design bezels and gold color face. Wreath bezels showed up about 1923 on the standard size (larger) Moto-meters, and a little later (I am not sure when) on the junior (smaller size) meters. I don't know when the gold faces came about. I think around the model A era however (1928ish). My '24 model T coupe has what I think is an old era junior Moto-meter on it with the more common plain bezels and a gold face. Mine has an earlier version Ford script in it. I like to think it is an original one, but it could be a later reproduction from the '50s or '60s. They were made very much like the original era Moto-meters for awhile back then. Later reproductions were made differently and easy to spot as repros. Yours looks like it probably is an original model A era Moto-meter, and would look great on a nice correctly restored (or really nice original) model A. Actually, it wouldn't look half bad on a model T either.

Notice the little circle above the Ford script oval? It looks darkened on yours. Originally, that was a natural light window to make it easier for the driver to see the thermometer in its critical area. The original piece was sandwiched in between the two plates inside the glass (both go on the front side of the thermometer). The original piece was little more than a piece of wax paper about the size of a half dollar (remember those?) with some printed instructions for installing it into the moto-meter. (I have a few originals saved from meters I have restored) The sunlight exposure in the hole usually ate away the wax paper. When I restore a Moto-meter, I usually use just a simple cutout piece of wax paper out of the kitchen. Looks perfect!


Be careful! Antique automobiles can become quite engaging! One good part can lead to a whole car!? And one whole car can often lead to three or four of them!?
Do drive carefully, and enjoy! W2

Amy

Here is a website on motometer, just about all you want to know, since 1912 these thermometers have been used on automobile radiators. Many brands were mfg., the most famous was Boyce.

http://www.motometercentral.com/

It looks like a model A ford moto meter to me.

Thank you ALL for the great info!!
Amy