MTFCA Forum

Laying out parts on what we believe to be a 1920 Roadster to see what we got and what we need. Top bows are confusing us, may be 20, maybe different years, might be roadster, one man, etc. I can certainly take more detailed pics, but these are two I have on file. Any direction greatly appreciated. I know I need the L brackets and probably the saddles, but do not feel on the bows where saddles would attach. Front bow wood is just duct taped to outside of sockets to keep in place. Socket on front bow is still in shape with rivets, so this bow did not come out of those sockets. Middle and rear bows are original.

It looks like a correct 1918-22 two-man roadster top (square top sockets).

There is nothing on the bows where the saddles attach. The third bow simply lays in the saddle and then a leather strap is buckled around all three bows.

[/attachment]It looks to me like the correct year, however, looks like the rear two bows of a touring. The Roadster center bow would have two circular notches for the front bow. The upper one for using when the top is up and the lower one for hooking the top bow when it is folded down. You can see the bottom notch on the driver's side.

On the back of your body, right where the seat is to be tacked, you will see a bracket with a hole in it. There should be a bent rod with a nut on one end, which the rod goes through that bracket with the nut on top and the rod at right angle to the body. The saddle then slips onto the rod. The bow just lays on that saddle when it is down.

The second bow shown in the original poster's pictures do have the two eyelets on the sockets for putting the first bow in the upper position for when the top is up and the lower position when the top is lowered. In the photo, the first bow is attached to the lower eyelets and laying unsupported.

When mounted, the back bow should be positioned an inch or two back from vertical. With that bow set, the middle bow, standing straight up, should be just a bit higher than the back bow. This puts a slight crown in the top so that it does not flap about. Hard to tell from the photo, but the back bow seems to be too high. If it is too high when set with the correct layback to the rear, It may be higher than the middle bow.

Allan from down under.

These are the only photos on hand of my 1920 Runabout that would show the top bows;