MTFCA Forum

I cannot find info on this. I believe I’ve seen both styles of early horn buttons. 1916-17 ? How about some expert advice?

Chronology ?? Right or wrong, dates if right?

In your bottom picture, the rightmost button is the one located on the steering post of my ‘26 coupe pointed to the left. Don’t know about the ones in the top photo. Jim Patrick

Well, I am not absolutely sure about what I think I know (I expect some corrections from those that know better, or type faster). I'll come back to the odd one later.
The common early style was used on many '15s with electric horns, and on through much of 1917 models. I am not sure just when, but I have read a couple times it was late '17 calendar/'18 model year that the combination horn light switch began to be used. These gave to option of two positions to enable the dimmer coil to help the bulbs survive the wide voltage spread caused by the varying rpm of the magneto. These continued through 1918 and beyond on non starter equipped through much of 1919, and TT trucks supposedly into early 1920. The last one you show is the most common 1919 through '25 horn (only) switch, which I believe was used on some earlier '26s. That one was followed by basically the same switch, with a taller yet smaller button. I have no idea why the change? But most '26/'27s seem to have that funny little horn button.
As for the odd and maybe earlier one? I have heard there was an earlier style. But never myself seen proof of that. Once, I saw a photo of a '15 open car that had something like that, it was on the forum a few years ago, and discussed a little bit. Nobody seemed to know for sure. I do know similar horn buttons were used on a lot of non-Ford cars from 1912 into the late '10s. I believe the horn button on a friends '16 Pierce Arrow is very similar to that one.
I would suggest asking Russ Furstnow. He has become quite the early couplet expert, having both a late '14 build early '15 model, and a later '15 model! His early one would be one of the earliest known Ts to have had an electric horn from the factory, and knowing how important he considers "correctness" on his cars? If anyone would know? He should.

As an aside. The friend's '16 Pierce Arrow? Actually one of several I know of? Had both an electric klaxon type horn, AND an older style bulb horn. The owner/driver would use the bulb horn around town as a matter of politeness. The electric klaxon would be used to alert other drivers out on the country roads or highways. Pierce Arrow (and I believe a few other high end automobiles) offered the cars that way, and quite a few were so equipped. I "think" Pierce Arrow offered that at least through 1918.

In my experience, on our Canadian sourced cars, the horn button remained the same throughout. Early cars, up to 19? had the button mounted to the top of the steering column tube, and the exact location varied quite a bit. Once the battery horns were introduced, the same button was shifted to be mounted on the steering wheel nut. Instead of the ears on the housing being bent at right angles to fit onto the surface of the steering column, the ears were left following the sides of the housing, and two machine screws attached the assembly to a round nut with two flats, over which the mounting ears were fixed. This required two wires, looped loosely through the steering wheel spider, which moved with the steering wheel. It looks untidy, but works well.
The second surface mount switch with the metal button in the centre is likely an aftermarket item or from a different make of car. There were others similar in appearance, Apco benig just one.

Allan from down under.

I have never seen the top hat horn button before.
Otherwise 1915-1917
1918- 1922 on non electric cars.
And battery horn button 1919-1927.

: ^ )

Keith

Donnie

That push button switch is aftermarket, generic.


1915 Automobile Supply Co. NYC


The nickel finish on your part is a giveaway....Henry would never spend a cent for fancy finish!