1923
JAN 12 Engine production records, Ford Archives Engine 7,000,000 built at 6:48 P.M.
JAN 27 Acc. 78, Box 48, Ford Archives Fordor sedan weighed 1939 pounds fully equipped; 668 pounds bare.
FEB 5 Engine production records, Ford Archives Start top piston ring 1/16″ lower.
FEB 15 Engine production records, Ford Archives Start tapered piston rings.
FEB 15 Acc. 572, Box 21, Ford Archives Assembly and changes letter to the branches states that T-8761B dash (firewall) has been changed from wood to steel. Both types will be coming through in production for about sixty days.
MAR 29 Acc. 78, Box 47-49, Ford Archives Metal sill covers installed at rear doors on touring cars, painted black. Rear floor mat changed from wool to rubber.
APR 7 Acc. 78, Box 47-49, Ford Archives Letter indicates that the steel firewall was now standard. This was the “low” steel firewall.
JUL 11 Engine production records, Ford Archives Engine 8,000,000 built at 10:19 P.M.
SEP 10 Engine production records, Ford Archives “Ford USA” stamped on export motors, below number plate.
SEP 11 Letter from Louisville Plant Prices of bodies for replacement: Fordor sedan, $430. Coupe, $235. Touring, $80. Runabout, $60. FOB Detroit.
SEP 25 Acc. 78, Box 47-49, Ford Archives “Ford USA” no longer on engine block.
OCT 6 Acc. 285, Ford Archives Letter from Harvey Firestone to Henry Ford:
“Your interest in balloon tires started me actively testing and developing them and they are giving service far beyond my expectations. At this time several large automobile manufacturers are active in their experiments on this tire and I believe will adopt it as optional equipment. Cole Motor Car Company has already adopted it. I was in New York this week and went to the closed car show and the Cole exhibit with balloon tires was the most popular exhibit there.
“I do not know, of course, how popular this tire is going to be but I want you to know the conditions for it is going to be adopted and is a practical tire — I think it is and we are going to put it on the market in a limited way. I would like to see the Lincoln be among the first to offer it to the trade as optional equipment. I enclose letter from Mr. Meadowcroft and a Cole booklet with a notation made by Mr. Edison. You will see that he is strongly sold on the balloon tire.”
DEC 26 Engine production records, Ford Archives Engine 9,000,000 built at 1:05 P.M.
© Bruce W. McCalley. Rev. February 21, 2007