Looked at a 26 coupe tonight and it has a set of really long front to back accessory springs, no front spring, and only a few leafs in rear spring. And two "snubbers" in the center front and rear.
What can anyone tell me about these accessory springs and are they ok to continue using? Two pics attached.

Here is spme pics of the coupe, last registered in 1975, local car. Almost seems a shame to wash the dirt off...

Another pic of spring

It's hard to see much in the photos but it looks crazy. The rear snubber appears to be a period rebound shock absorber unusual but not unknown.
I can't see what's holding the front of the car off the ground. The longitudinal springs don't look stiff enough to support the weight, and what are they attached to at their midpoints?
The two leaves of the rear spring won't be sufficient on their own.
Does the car feel extremely soft when you push the body or step on a running board?
But if the rest is complete, it looks like a good toy. Allow for buying some proper perches and springs though!

Nice
That odd style of accessory springs was patented. At least one more set has survived on a car and was discussed a few years ago on the forum - I just have a hard time finding that particular thread..

The idea must have been to level some of the forces from the front axle to the rear, much like the BMC hydrolastic system from the 60's

Thanks for the replies, I will get more pictures when I pick up the car later today

Thanks for the replies, I will get more pictures when I pick up the car later today

Anybody else seen anything like this?

Here is similar from old adv.



Guess the wife wanted the ride of a Buick,
the husband wanted low cost Ford, and settled on a set of rocker springs for cushion like road feel. Likely added the strap type rebound checkers as that long spring set was too bouncy!

Thanks Dan, you have awesome order among all the pictures you've saved
Thanks to the name of the device, Hyde, it was possible to google the other thread where the same style springs were discussed: http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/411944/491617.html?1415708952

That is a really interesting spring set up. I wonder if it worked as well as they claimed. I think I know where to get a set of springs made like those!! Maybe I'll price it out

Thanks Dan

Just got this car home today, here are some more pics.

Michael
I would really appreciate some more detail shots of the spring attachment to the frame if possible at your convenience please
Also perhaps the width and thickness of those spring leaves. Any other details!!!

Amazing find. Cannot imagine it was a great selling accessory as it would have cost much more than Hassler shocks.

The irony could be that this setup works better on today's roads than the off-road conditions of the 1920s.

Les, put me down for a set

Don't know if all that heavy weight of such longitudinal springs on both sides is much of an idea for the 20hp Ford.

Seems too with the engine weight at the front, lack of the Ford spring would wreck havoc on the front cross member.

That coupe body is heavy too, seems like going back to Ford front and rear springs, and adding Hassler shocks if wanted, would be best, IMO



But, real nice coupe and looks like a great project!

When you consider that the C of G of the T engine unit is about at the #4 spark plug, then perhaps the frame will then absorb considerably less stress. Also consider that many T frames are sagged in the engine mount/fire wall area.
I'm certainly not advocating that we all convert our T's to this. But it is a interesting "slice " of independent engineering of the era.
Constantine
It might just handle the rough roads a lot better with a much softer front spring with potentially a lot more suspension travel. Dampening would be important I think as they obviously incorporated it into both samples that have survived

Dan, overall weight gain might not be huge as the front spring goes as does most of the rear spring.

Les, you make some good points. Ride off-road may improve but I wonder is off-road ability would suffer without the "3-point suspension"?

The test for such a setup would be roads like this:



Hours of driving on such roads in northern Kenya was brutal on the car (exhaust fell off and rear fender broke apart) and left me with a swollen lower swine. Front suspension seemed to just pass on the impacts to the body and driver rather than absorb them.

Thanks for all the input

Not long ago I saw a horse-drawn buggy with suspension similar to this with the springs going from front axle to rear axle. Unusual set-up for a buggy, too, and quite probably predates the set-up for automobiles.

It's still a three point suspension and it seems to have worked well on both survivors. Many cars had just quarter elliptical springs holding the axle, like Olds Curved Dash and Chevrolet 490, so there shouldn't be any need for a panhard bar.

Really cool - would be interesting to hear if there is any big difference in the ride compared to a standard Ford.

Not long ago I saw a horse-drawn buggy with suspension similar to this with the springs going from front axle to rear axle. Unusual set-up for a buggy, too, and quite probably predates the set-up for automobiles.

Well just for the hell of it I may price out the springs when I get home in a couple of weeks. I really need another project!!!

The patent is very interesting. Thanks