MTFCA Forum

Thank you to all who have contributed to my addiction! I was able to find another two keyboards that I didn’t know existed. That now leads me to another question. Other than these, what other keyboards were made? Surely someone has something different hanging on their wall. At this point I’m just genuinely curious. I’m still always looking to complete sets of keys. I have acquired quite a few rounded, replacement keys and eventually would like to have a full set but have no idea who made them.

Brad

A few years back someone was making a repro of keyboards, I think. You may have one of those.
There was also a board that looked just like the stamped Ford board but was stamped Dexter. Maybe wrong but I think it was Dexter. Dan

Here is a link to one repro, there is also another one too.
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/80 ... 1248713940
Here is another link

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/118802/124167.html

Dan

Thanks Steve. Still can’t figure why my phone flips the pictures sometimes. Yes Dan the top left is one of the repops but it’s stamped and not one of the cast aluminum types.

Brad

Ford brought out their keyboard for dealers in June 1923. Color on them is black, medium gloss but not flat black.

They cost only $0.40 !

My three original boards are not real black. They have that slight blue tint, called "Midnight Blue".

Darel

Interesting, on your original boards a blue-black. Just a guess but maybe over time the black enamel has turned that hue.

The comment in the Service Bulletin mentions only black enamel.

My board is missing a lot of the paint, but the top corners are clearly black to my eyes, and match the old original paint on the inside of the rear fenders on my very original 1925 touring.

The three key boards I have are black. Here are two, one Ford script and the other is a Clum. Clum made keys for Ford and maybe made the key boards also. Gary

Gary

Nice! Never saw a Clum key rack.

Maybe coincidence, maybe not, but note the word “KEYS”.

Identical font style on Ford brand and Clum brand key rack, the K is the same and the E with short middle leg. I fathom both were made by Clum, and supplied to Ford. We know Ford used suppliers for the switch and keys, makes sense a key supplier manufactured the racks for Ford.

Way to go, Gary! You’ve got Brad all hot now. I’ve never seen a Clum board, pretty neat! I don’t know all the key makers, but Clum, Briggs & Stratton are two.

Dan, can you Imagine someone making these and selling to Ford, so they can then sell them for 40cents? It sure was another era !

I spent an hour just making the one hook that was missing from the one you sold me.

Three examples of Clum keys. Gary