Why internal band adjustments?

[Steve Jelf]

This drawing of an English hogshead turned up on one of the FB Model T pages. Seeing the internal low band adjustment and the external adjustments for brake and reverse, exactly the opposite if the USA setup, got me to wondering: Why have any internal adjustment at all? Why didn't they make external adjusters for all three bands?

[Luxford]

Steve,
Probably because of costs to try and fit three together, but you can easily get outside adjusters for your pedals, I have one on the clutch pedal on my RHD clutch pedal, they have been available for 40 plus years as far as I can tell, someone is sure to have a supplier for you or any one handy with a lathe can make them.

[Chris Barker]

Isn't it related to the way the bands wrap around their drums?
Brake and reverse have to have their fixed ends on the left, whereas the low gear has to be fixed on the right. That's why the RHD version has the two outside adjusters for B and R, but not C

I may have this wrong but it appears to be 'anti-self-wrapping' - like the trailing shoe in a drum brake. Maybe to prevent the system jamming.

[Kerry]

I'm thinking that Chris has it pretty right but is rotational jamming an issue, unless high speed may play in as a factor?, the brake drum rotates both ways in a forward or reverse of the car and the band works fine either way. Well at lowish speeds anyway I'm sure not going to roll down hill backwards at 35mph to find out what the brake will do

[jeffstag]

Kerry, if your rolling downhill backwards at any reasonable speed, the brake band won't stop you. I found this out when my engine got staved for gas at the top of a fairly steep incline. It was exciting!