I like this picture.......straightforward and simple. Looks like either a very narrow street or possibly a back alley garage business. Not a very high tech operation, judging by the gas pump and location but........I LIKE it. Lots of little details that say "America"...

I agree with George. Simple sometimes works best.

Missing a cowl light

Nice shot. Someone must be able to find a photo for those who "look up" to Model T's....

Interesting placement of front license plate

17 OR 18?

Professors car is missing the crank.

Do the headlights look close together or is it just me???

Willis

Jim,

Summary: It could be a mid to late 1917 to mid 1919 based on the wishbone below the axle and the unequal length windshield hinge. If the horn button was visible -- that would add an additional reference point. As the combination horn button and light switch was introduced during calendar year 1917 replacing the horn button mounted on top of the steering column.

Additional details:

Disclaimer: Assumes the original parts are still on the car. I.e. if they swapped out the front axle and wishbone with the earlier style, it could be as late as a 1920 or even early 1921 that used the wide arm rest style body.

Ford did not really do yearly model year changes. The concept of a new style for each model year was promoted successful by General Motors. Hey your car is last years model, or 10 years ago model, buy this year's model style.

Instead Ford motor company during most of the Model T years made running changes. I.e. when he found a better or less expensive way to do something it would be introduced into production. Normally the old style parts were used up with some overlap when both styles were being sold on new cars produced the same day. And normally the main Detroit plant introduced the new parts, worked out the bugs of how to assemble them quickly, while the Branch Plants around the country (and world for that matter) used the older parts.

Below the axle wishbone: ref:
http://www.mtfca.com/encyclo/doc19.htm

APR 14, 1919 Acc. 235, Box 39, #385, Ford Archives
"From this date two distinct designs of front radius rods, together with front spring perches, right and left, one on the Model T and the other on Model TT.
"The Model TT design will be assembled beneath the axle, instead of above the axle through the spring perch as heretofore.
"Although it would be possible to use the Model T design on the Model TT, we request this be resorted to only in case of a shortage serious enough to threaten loss of production."

Windshield unequal length hinges see: http://www.mtfca.com/encyclo/doc17.htm

APR 19, 1917 Acc. 78, Ford Archives
Windshield hinge (with the unequal length arms) noted.

And of course there could easily be months of overlap when both styles of a part could have been used at different assembly plants.

For Willis -- I think it is the way the photo is taken. But I think the distance between the headlamps is within Ford's tolerance. But I don't have time to look up a frontal photo for comparison.

Respectfully submitted,

Hap l9l5 cut off

Joe R. , the professor's car didn't need a crank. He replaced the original engine with a "Flubber" device.

Gas pump on the right side of pic??? Looks like the nozzle at the end of the hose, on top of the "pole" is for a gas pump.

As for the professor's car, it does have a crank in these two pictures.

I was in Reno some years ago and the prop T from the movie was in a museum (it was all plastic) and the steering wheel was on backwards I mentioned it to the curator and received a reply that I can assure you it is on correctly, during the discussion her husband disappeared to review the original picture of the prop and returned to confirm that it was on backwards. They removed it and turned it over while I was there, there was no more discussion.

Good for you David!

David, are saying the T in the original "Absent Minded Professor" was PLASTIC?? If so, it sure fooled me.....of course I was only 12 when I saw the movie.

These explain more about the Model T and the "mock-up" that was used in the flying scenes.

http://www.mtfca.com/cgi-bin/discus/show.cgi?tpc=411944&post=592420

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=567271