Spanish Moss

[70boss2wv]

I was recently in Savannah GA, historic district. (which I recommend by the way) and while on a tour, the guide said that Henry used Spanish Moss in his model T's. Later I told the guide that I thought that was unlikely, mainly, I thought, due to the scale of the operation needed. So he did a bit of digging and send me this link, which seems to address the scale issue. So, I told him I'd post it here, and see what comments I get.
https://www.uh.edu/engines/epi2506.htm

[ThreePedalTapDancer]

Pig bristles were used. I have no doubt that Spanish moss was used in upholstery in the past, but I’ve not seen any proof of it used in Model TS. Here is an old thread on same topic.
https://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/1 ... 1323083092

[Scott_Conger]

Old Wives' Tales have a way of going around.

One article on par with a Junior High School report is not exactly "evidence" of anything. An authoritative discourse would include footnotes citing solid reputable sources; a feature that is conspicuously lacking in that newsy little tome.

As far as anyone ever pulling Spanish Moss out of a seat, it was as factory-installed as the sawdust in the differential. A lot of spurious repairs were performed on an elderly vehicle which had an economic value of pretty much "0" by the time they reached those capable hands.

[DanTreace]

At least a qualified resource on what Ford used in seat cushions early on are the authors of 'Ford Methods and the Ford Shop'*, the pair were highly respected engineers, and would of course used the correct terminology in this work.

Animal hair was in extensive use at the time, and not withstanding the limited use of plant fiber processed 'hair', certainly Spanish Moss wasn't used by Ford. Later productions into the twenties Ford manufactured 2,000 lbs. of cotton cloth daily, for upholstery backing, and utilized cotton warp with flax filler also**

*Arnold and Faurote, The Engineering Magazine, NY, 1915
**The Ford Industries, Ford Motor Co. 1927


Added from article in 2008, note the author says pig hair is superior. But likely blends of animal hair was used by Ford, most of the body and upholstery in the early years using the stuffed pleated diamond tufted cushions were made in the North, long way from Southern states where Spanish Moss was found.


Figure 7: Ford Model T / Exploded Seat View
"In order to ensure the hair fibres did not disintegrate or loosen from the seats, latex-bonded seating interiors were later developed. Initially, animal fibres were used such as those from horses, cattle and pigs. The last named were favoured as they have the highest degree of curl and hence the best interlocking capabilities. A light impregnation with natural or synthetic rubber...."

[Scott_Conger]

Thanks for that, Dan

that is a picture that I've never seen before

[Rich P. Bingham]

"Curled hair" was an upholstery staple in the era, mostly comprised of horse hair.
As recently as the mid 1990s, a buyer called on my neighbor annually to collect a couple of gunny sacks full of horse hair which found its way into brooms, bench brushes and likely as curled hair. The neighbor was a horse trader, and saved the hair gleaned from trimming manes, thinning tails and grooming. One day, the buyer came no more. Synthetics reign supreme as we pay lip service to renewable resources, but employ materials that cause cancer in California.
(Wash your hands after using.)

[TRDxB2]

Did some research on the use of Spanish Moss for upholstery stuffing.
Here are some facts:
-The Spanish Moss hanging from trees do not contain contain chiggers (which will cause itching & rashes on humans.) This was an assumption as they were present in the foliage below the moss and not on it.
-Spanish moss is not a moss . It is technically a bromeliad, like a pineapple or a succulent.
-Spanish Moss at one time was harvested and ginned commercially. Through a specific curing and ginning process the outer grey bark was removed and the remaining filaments were used for upholstery in cars, furniture and mattresses. The mattresses were well known for being exceptionally cool. The grey bark was often used for mulch as well. The peak of the commercial harvest of Spanish moss may have come in the late 1930s. It was harvested for commercial use until 1970 when synthetic fibers made its use obsolete.
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Here are the myths:
-The plant material hanging from the tress were not directly used and the processes of curing & ginning would have removed the chiggers. Therefore the stories about Ford recalling Model T's in 1915 as a result of seats stuffed with "Spanish moss" having small bugs, known as berry bugs or chiggers, crawling out of the seats and bite drivers and passengers.
-I'm certain that everyone would agree that Ford used whatever was the least expensive material. In looking at the images of horse hair and processed Spanish moss - the color differences would indicate that horse hair is in that seat. That is not to say that a mix of horse hair and Spanish moss was not used. Unless there is a photo to contradict the appearance of horse hair - pure moss is a myth.
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Safe to assume that horses were plentiful back in Model T day's and eventually Horse's were replaced by mechanical means and hair became more expensive. Likely a substitute was used . There is no question: Henry would not be using Horse hair Today at $500 60$1000 a pound
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Note differences is material thickness and color

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[Rich P. Bingham]

A great, informative post !! Thank you Frank !

[ThreePedalTapDancer]

[NealW]

I was recently in Savannah GA, historic district. (which I recommend by the way) and while on a tour, the guide said that Henry used Spanish Moss in his model T's. Later I told the guide that I thought that was unlikely, mainly, I thought, due to the scale of the operation needed.

My wife and I just got back from a brief vacation in Savannah, and on our historical walking tour the tour guide said the same thing... I told my wife that I didn't think that using it seemed practical based on the quantities needed for production and Spanish moss isn't exactly farmed. Anyway, I'm glad to see this post confirming the nonsense of that piece of information. Apparently misinformation is not limited to the internet!

Historic Savannah is a beautiful city to visit; particularly right now with the azalea's blooming.

[tdump]

I guess this along the lines of the tales of mexican upholstery that has manure and straw under the seat covers!

[George House]

Oh I thought Spanish moss growing in trees precipitated the German immigration to America. I heard they thought it was sauerkraut growing in trees

[jiminbartow]

Animal hair was most likely used by Ford in Model T’s. When I bought my all original 1926 coupe in 1970, the seats were all original. When I removed the original upholstery, they had animal hair in the seat cushions, though I don’t know what type. When I reupholstered the seats, I reused the stuffing so it has the same stuffing it had from the factory.

Being located in the Deep South, Spanish moss was too far away, so freight would have been expensive to transport up to Michigan. As a boy in the 1960’s here in Florida, My Dad used to have me climb the trees on our property and pull the hanging moss from the limbs to make the trees look cleaner, so, pulling it is labor intensive and moss is very itchy containing a tiny pest we called red bugs (look it up). That is one job I hated not only because it was dangerous and itchy, but my Dad paid me a whopping 25 cents an hour. I wasted a lot of my youth working for my Dad for .25/hr. A small price to sell one’s youth for. Jim Patrick

[DHort]

When I took apart my seat it had that stiff green horsehair in it. Must have come from OZ. I bet that is how the Wizard got his powers. He knew the right time to get the horsehair was when the horse of another color was green. Any other color just did not work.

[70boss2wv]

Thanks everyone for all the excellent responses. I've been in touch with the tour guide we had, and he said that he's going to stop saying the Henry used Spanish Moss in the Model T.
I love this forum, everyone stays on topic, is earnest, and helpful, it's a pleasure to read.

[TXGOAT2]

Animal hair has a high protein content. Burning a small sample should release a strong "burning hair" odor. I doubt very much that a sample of Spanish Moss would emit such an odor.

[Steve Jelf]

Ford required that Spanish moss be shipped in crates that could be used for firewalls.
If trucks delivering the crates were low on gas they backed up the hill to the factory.
They were always black.

[TXGOAT2]

... And Henry Ford was a notorious tightwad who built all his factories on hills to force the truck drivers to buy his overpriced gas!

[Rich P. Bingham]

. . . They were always black.

The moss, the crates, the drivers or the trucks ?!?

[TXGOAT2]

All of 'em!!! Ford was a robber baron!!!

[Kaiser]

88AB834D-66D7-40C0-8AE1-388C9E65A3F0.jpeg

I have a lot of loose hair of late, I see an opportunity here