MTFCA Forum

Gents,

I have a '14 with front facing Kerosene lamps. As shown in the attached pictures there is a bracket inside that Locks the tank into place. One of mine is missing. Here are some things I am trying to learn.

1 Where might I find one, preferably with the bolt and nut?
2 Should it have a washer involved?
3 What is the name of that bracket?
4 Any tips if I have to make my own?

Thank you very much

Ben

I think pressing a piece of steel into some hardwood or steel forms would work well. Maybe even a big C-clamp.
What make is it? I might give it a try if you don't get any offers.
Rich

That’s a Victor #2 lamp, isn’t it ? There’s plenty of lamp restorers out there that probably have available parts. Contact Bill Glass.

Yep, It can be done. I'll keep going in case you don't find a real one. It fits my Victor. Others may be the same.
Rich

Anyhow, that's how I would make one if I had some spare time on a Sunday afternoon.
Rich

Ben. Email me with your address and I’ll send you the part you need. No charge/just postage. Don. fordfool@verizon.net

Pretty slick Rich. You make it look easy.

Thanks Dallas. It was an easy part to make. Having the right thickness on hand helped. The square hole is a touch bigger but I can make a bolt that fits it. I'll add it to my Victor collection should I ever need it. It's another sample of what we can make.
I'm glad Ben found one.
Rich

Rich E, I love seeing your posts about how you make parts!
For the life of me, I cannot remember what car it was for? Might have been the 1914 pickup I had years ago, and had to sell before I finished it (I sometimes try to forget about that one). But I had made one of those pieces in much the way you did.
I really like the way you pressed that steel piece. I was brutal when I did mine. Found a scrap of strap iron the right thickness, slit it down the side to the proper width. Then hammered it rounded over a scrap of pipe to match the one from a matching lamp. I carefully copied and marked the holes and slots, then drilled a series of small holes, leaving a bit of room to file to fit. It didn't take as long to clean it up with good small files as I thought it would. Maybe about twenty minutes? The entire process took maybe a bit over an hour. I could have spent that much time searching small boxes at a swap meet (if there was a swap meet to go to?), and not found one.

It is fun Wayne. I hadn't made much lately and a few glitches popped up. First I cut the width 1" and had to re-saw it to 7/8". Then I used the original to locate the notch and marked it backwards. I'm glad I checked it before sawing. There are dozens of ways to go wrong especially when I'm out of practice.

Hey there Rich E!
More to the story?
The irony is that a couple months later, in a box of model T junk I picked up off ebay? Was that exact piece like I had made. I think I still have it. If I recall correctly, I sold that pickup shortly after finding the original one quite by accident. But after my effort to make the thing, I had gone ahead and used it in the side lamp.
When I was later restoring the rare transitional early 1915 tail lamp for my early 1915 runabout, I compared that original piece to the similar piece that the transitional lamp used. But the transitional lamp's piece was a slightly different size. The font/bowl on the early 1915 transitional lamps is similar in design to the 1913/'14 lamps font/bowl, but the sizing and fit is slightly different.

Thanks to all, Don is sending one but the discussion and illustration was quite educational.

Regards to all

Ben