MTFCA Forum

I have a 2 hole spindle arm, with the casting # T 283, attached to a right hand spindle body casting number T 203. I assume that the 2nd hole is for a speedometer mount. What year(s) car is this probably from?

From http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/80257/87900.html
Was used for a speedometer
By Tom Mullin on Tuesday, April 14, 2009 - 11:25 pm:
These two screen captures of portions of the Parts books for 1915 and 1919 show there were different drawings for the Spindle Arms.

Thanks for the info Frank. Can the 2 hole arm be used on any year T?

FundyTides wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 11, 2021 2:26 pm

Thanks for the info Frank. Can the 2 hole arm be used on any year T?

No. Only on the early cars, as the post-brass cars had the arms "bent" to clear the drag link. I believe it has to do with the advent of the "under the axle" wishbone.

The 'two hole' arms were only with the 'straight' (angled yes, but not offset up/down) spindle arms. The 'straight' spindle arms were used from mid 1911 until early 1919 on some Ts. So no, these are not for 'any' year model T. Beyond that limitation, they were only used some of those years. I am not sure of the first year they were used, may have been 1911, or a year or so later. Speedometers were standard issue on model Ts for most of the brass years, however, the suppliers couldn't keep up with Ford's needs. So around 1914, some model Ts weren't getting speedometers. Many (most?) of the Ts in 1914 and 1915 (and some later?) did get the 'two hole' arm in the right side spindle whether they had a speedometer or not. By 1917, I don't think the 'two hole' arms were being installed by the factory. The black era model Ts used different mountings for accessory speedometers.

Thanks very much everyone. As usual, the knowledge among hobbyists on this forum is outstanding. I am slowly sorting through the Model T parts that I have accumulated over the past 50+ years. My 27 Touring has been complete for quite a while and it's time to get rid of some of the surplus "stuff", especially those items that are not appropriate for my car. It's easier to dispose of a part when you know what it fits.