Help to identify three early front axles

[FATMAN]

Have three front axles that appear to all be early ones
can anyone tell the years by number and letter
202 w is late 11 I believe 202 t over w is maybe 12?
AA ?
Bob

[Allan]

The T over W forge mark tells of a Transue Williams forging. I do not know when they were providing forgings to Ford, but I accumulated matching TW forgings for the front end of my 1912 T. The AA axle shows a different forge mark, one I have never seen before. Either way, whether they are early or late depends on when those suppliers were involved in the Ford supply chain. Others will have more info than I.

Allan from down under.

[DanTreace]

The info on very early axles is lacking as records aren't found. But this key research by Trent Boggess covers the more likely markings and gives hints on what dates happened with axle changes. Info from Bruce's CD Encyclopedia

information was very sketchy, mainly because only two drawings for the early one piece spindle front axle appear to have survived. Both were dated post 1911. The releases for the early axle are there, but confusing ⎯ they seem to contradict the most frequently observed characteristics.
Two tidbits did come out of the front axle releases. First, trademarks in the forgings: one of the most commonly observed trademarks is “TW” in a diamond or circle. This is Transue & Williams. The second trademark is an “H” which stands for Herbrand. Technically, the axles produced by these two companies should be distinguishable. In Sept. 1920 Ford introduced a new design axle forging which was straight between the two spring perch bosses. The older design is curved between the two bosses. The older curved design was designated T-202-B1 and was made by Herbrand. Transue & Williams and Ford made the straight design which was designated T-202- B2. (The curved design referred to here is not the same as the late 1926 and 1927 where the middle of the top of the axle is about 1/2” lower, and presents a definite distinguishable curve between the perches, than on older designs.)

3-19-20 “Specified the name “Ford” (in script) to
be incorporated on this forging.”
5-7-20 “ changed type of steel from “AA” to “AAX”. This marking can be found on
many front axles.
8-3-20 “We call your attention to attached copy
of communication from Mr. Galamb, in regard to a salvage dimension for the height of yoke, permission being granted to make this distance 4.820”-4.833” for use with spindles oversize, and ask that you kindly be governed accordingly.
4-28-22 “Removed suffix “X” from letters indicating analysis of steel.”

[Wayne Sheldon]

About a dozen or so years ago, I googled some research on Transue Williams. A subsequent computer partial meltdown erased most of my bookmarks, and subsequent google searches have failed to find the good information I had previously found. Some of what I had seen was on a Transue Williams website. As I recall, Transue and Williams merged about 1911 or 1912. They began stamping front axles for Ford at about the same time they merged, probably the earliest stampings were before the merger. Earliest stampings either before or after the merging were marked with a "T" as a "maker's mark". I have not seen one of these up close myself, so can't help much with how the "T" was presented.
Note, the "T" in front of the " T - 202" is part of a Ford or factory part number, not related to who did the stamping. T - 202 should be on nearly all front axles from 1912 onward.
Late 1912ish, Transue Williams began using the "T" over the "W" as their maker's mark. Earlier T over W marks were larger, and reduced in size a few times over the years.
Ford and the Dodge brothers were beginning to scale back their relationship by 1912, and it appears that TW was manufacturing the majority of front axles by mid 1913. Dodge Brothers front axles continued to show up on model Ts into 1915 (based upon unmolested survivors fifty years ago?), however TW was the major supplier through the 1910s. Ford began stamping their own axles (I am not sure when?), but TW continued to be a major supplier until the end of model T production.
I don't know how many other companies also forged front axles for the model T? But it was several. I think I have seen at least four other maker's marks over the years.

Bob, The first three photos you show above appear to be the same axle? The maker's mark looks like an "H" inside a diamond? I am not sure if that may be Herbrand or not. But the company in Ohio goes back to the 1880s, and was famous for high quality forging and manufacturing. I have read several times that they made a lot of parts for model Ts.

Your last photo shows one of the larger T over W marks, common in the late brass era model Ts. The photo above that one shows one of the smaller T over W as used in the late 1910s and 1920s.

I find model T front axles interesting. There seemed to be some variation in them over the years. Even in the brass era years, some axles were more straight between the perches than were others. This can sometimes even be seen in era photos. Brass era axles tend to be a bit thinner, lighter, than later axles. I always suspected that was due to the forge/stamping machines weren't quite large enough yet when they were made. They seemed to get thicker and heavier looking (I never weighed any?) by the later 1910s. They seemed to also continue to vary how straight they were between the perches. In the early 1920s, I have noticed more sloppy quality surfaces than either earlier or later axles. Perhaps the highest production years resulted in cutting corners on chassis appearance? By the time of the improved models, front axles became cleaner looking again. During the improved models, the amount of sway between the perches increased, but also continued to vary quite a bit. I just get curious about these details I notice. I wonder if a timeline could be constructed to help date axles? (Probably not?)

[Original Smith]

What years used the DB logo on them? I've only seen it on 1913's, but my guess they had it in 1912 too.

[George House]

Wayne, and others intrigued by T front axles, come to Chickasha. I’ll be bringing to sell over a dozen front axles. Apologies for the shameless plug