MTFCA Forum

I am currently installing a new top on a 20 touring. So far I have the pads and the straps installed. I am in the process of stitching the pads, then will install the windbreaker and the rear panel and finally the top.
The process with two men part of the time has taken a few days.
Now for the question? How did they install the top on a moving assembly line? It seems to me that perhaps they had another station in the factory where the top was set up and two men worked on it and then it would be moved to the assembly ling and merely fastened to the body. Even tacking the rear panel to the body would take some time to complete. I can't imagine how it could be completely assembled on the line.
Does anyone know?
Norm

That's a good question. I suspect that it was mostly just the chassis that moved down the line and had parts added to it. Individual parts such as assembling wheels, the engine, and attaching the top to the body, would be done at stationary locations. If you remember seeing movies of the body being lowered to the chassis, the top is already on it.

If you can find a copy of the book "Ford Methods and the Ford Shops", published in 1915, there is a chapter in there showing how the tops were installed. It was done on a moving line.

I had read somewhere maybe Bruce's book, that body's provided by vendors may have been received already trimmed with upholstery did that include the folding top?? George

The top was built on a jig at the upholstery department with the rear panel left long for installation. After pulling into shape, it was trimmed.
Ken Buhler

As with all the Ford Model T factory processes, they were constantly improving the time of assembly, early cars with more irons and top size took longer, later one-man tops were assembled faster.





Later assembly with parts stacked on left of line, note the top irons with covered bows, then behind boxes of cut and sewn ready to fit top covers, as the body moved the top was assembled.
And here the finished body with top is on overhead carrier going to the line for the body drop.

Side curtains also fitted on the assembly line.

Thank you! After working for a long time on a top which had already been stitched and partially assembled by Clastique, I am merely installing on the car, I wondered how they ever did it on a moving production line! Now I know.
Norm