I have been from time to time going to a Doctor with an interest in old cars, particularly the Model T (doesn’t own one) I have loaned him several manuals and books on the T’s over a period of time.

Each visit brings up another question; today he stated he had heard the early T’s had wood frames. Told him not that I’m aware of, nor do I know of any other product Henry manufactured for retail to have a wood frame.

My question is, did Henry ever produce a wooden frame vehicle for retail?

Another question he brought up---When did the automobile manufactures abandon the fabric roof going to the all steel type?

I know GM had for the first time a steel roof on the 37 Specials and Century, seemed to me the 37 Ford also had a steel roof/top. Strange seeing and driving all the 30’s car that memory fails to recall which had fabric or steel and what years.

Older you get the more to remember, therefore more to forget

Anyone have some info on the wood frames or steel roofs?

The earliest model Ts had a wooden insert in the frame rails. Or it might have been a steel insert.Now that I'm thinking about it I should defer to someone who knows for sure. Like Kim Dobbins.
I know of a 1912 REO that has wooden inserts in the rails tho.
Herb

Franklins had ash frames up to at least 1925. In the right application, wood is pound for pound stronger than steel.

They were finally able to build stamping machines big enough to do a whole roof in 1936-7. They were known as turret tops, IIRC.

rdr

Some of the early Brushs had a lot of wood in them also.

Jerry,

Maybe the confusion comes from the body having wood frame rails. The body was then bolted onto the steel frame.

Tom

Ford's early racing cars, 999 and the Arrow, had wooden frames. They were one offs, not for retail. See this thread for more info: http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/50893/69207.html

All steel "Turret tops" for sedans was introduced by Fisher for the 1935 model of Chevy, but Ford was first on trucks - with the 1932 model 82-B closed cab pickup.

The first to have wood frames were the Romans. In 1225 BC they had wood frames on their chariots.

Pre-'15 Stanleys had wooden frames. Brush axles, as well as frames, were wood.

Gil Fitzhugh, Morristown, NJ

International used wood frame rails (and bodies) on all their Highwheelers.

Brush had wooden frames and axles. The saying at the time was, "Wooden frame, wooden axles, wooden run."

From the Vintage Ford Jul-Aug 1982 page 10 & 12 (used by permission)

Some interesting specifications of the Ford Cycle car – only one prototype was produced. From the article by Don J. Black.

YEAR OF MANUFACTURE: 1914
TRANSMISSION: Standard, full-sized T Ford.
Ford Cyclecar:
1914 Model
BODY: Apparently of aluminum, experimental in
design, in the style of the soon-to-be-released 1915
“new” Ford. Approximately 3/4 scale.
WHEELS: Wire, motorcycle type, all 30 by 3 size.
FRAME: Wood, bolted into steel channel.
WHEELBASE: 73.5 inches, compared to 100
inches for the standard Ford.
ENGINE: Smaller, shorter, four-cylinder. 116 cu.
in., 17 hp. Only two main bearings.
Steering wheel, running boards, coil box, etc.,
apparently all standard 1914 Ford production
items.



You can see the wood in the rear part of the frame channel in the picture above. I was surprised it appears to only be in approximately the last 1/3 of the frame.

Apparently Ford used the prototype to kill off the numerous cycle car manufactures that were starting up in the mid teens.

Respectfully submitted,

Hap Tucker 1915 Model T Ford touring cut off and made into a pickup truck and 1907 Model S Runabout. Sumter SC.