MTFCA Forum

The wood floor for my turtle deck burned. I am in the market for one. Or even a pattern for making a new one would be great.

I am not too sure about 1921. I know of course that most of them had the knock forward in the hidden front panel for the battery. Whether the non-starter cars had that or not I do not know. Most of the 1910s runabouts, the bodies and the turtle decks, were manufactured by a few different companies. And they did vary quite a bit in how they were made. Especially in the frame and flooring of the turtle decks. A few years ago, when I was restoring the one I got for my 1915, I had looked at a bunch of them for sale before I settled for the one I got. I looked at ones from earlier than 1915 well into the 1920s. While they mostly looked close to alike from the outside, the frame and floor (if it had one) varied quite a bit.
A few I looked at that had enough of the wooden frame to be able to tell, showed no signs that they ever did have a floor built into the deck framework. On the other hand, I saw a few that still had their original floor inside and intact! Apparently, some did have a floor built in, while some did not. I do not know how much of that might be year model? Or who made that particular deck?
Another consideration of course is the handles on the deck lid. It is basically well known that the "round" (round steel or maybe brass) handles are earlier, from pre-1915 through about 1919. And that the stamped flat steel handles were later, from somewhere around 1919 until the introduction of the 1923 style trunk.
From what I have read, the crossover time where both round and flat handles may have found their way onto cars at the factory might have been as much as two years. That may again have had more to do with who made a particular turtle deck than what year model it was going onto.

I was fortunate when I restored my turtle deck. A longtime good friend (THANKS AGAIN Phill!) had a very nice original pre-1919 turtle deck with intact original wood. He allowed me to borrow his so that I could take measurements and make drawings of the wood. Mine was not very nice, smashed and dented, however the metal was solid. I was able to use his as a guide to get mine back into proper shape. And I copied the hidden front inner panel from his as mine was missing that.

I have not seen my notes for a year or two. But I am sure they are around here. If someone can get a good answer more quickly? So much the better. But I will see if I can find them in the next couple days. If I find them, I will of course need your address to mail them (I don't do so well attaching such things to emails etc?).

The basic frame is fairly simple. and can be made using hand held electric tools.
For whatever it is worth, I opted to put a frame into my sheet steel deck/trunk, without the floor. I figured the little turtle deck was small enough, that the additional 1/2 to 3/4 inch might be helpful. The wooden frame nailed into the steel deck/trunk is plenty to bolt down onto the rer deck of the runabout body. And the runabout body is just fine for the floor inside.

I have a super nice ‘19-‘22 turtledeck with original paint and original wood. When I get home after lunch today, I’ll ‘stand it on its nose’ and take a picture of the underside for you.

I don't know about a 1921, but if it is the same as a 1923, the turtle deck floor is part of the body structure. If it is just the flooring it should be straight forward. If it includes the body wood structure that will be a very different level of repair.

Not the same as a ‘23-‘25. Different style. My ‘deck has the forward battery offset in the steel panel. Wood frame w/ wood slat flooring

I was thinking the turtle deck floor was the same for the battery cars until late early 22.
In my 1919 Roadster I used cabinet grade 5/8 “ plywood and left the battery area open for the battery. The battery indention on the turtle deck gave me a good idea where the battery was to be placed and the place wher I could make an open area for the battery.

And yes it may not be original for the purist but it’s a good job for me.

The deck wood, shown in the previously posted photo, is covered with a sheet metal panel

The bottom of the trunk has a wooden frame around the perimeter which is rabbeted to accomadte the trunk floor boards. It would take a talented woodworker to reproduce the trunk wooden frame and, frankly, you would be better off and money ahead if you purchased a complete 1919-22 trunk that is in good condition. They aren't hard to find and the prices are generally pretty reasonable.

I have a 1917 roadster. The differences between the 1917 trunk and the 1919-22 are forged handles vs. flat handles and no accomodation for battery access.

I forgot to mention in my post that I covered the wood floor I installed with sheet metal. As far as I r ember it was either 18 ga or 16 ga sheet metal. Since I worked in a shop that had sheet metal breaks I bent the edges and the metal floor came out pretty good.

As promised, here are some pics of this ‘19-‘22 turtledeck wood frame. I thought it had a wood slat floor like my ‘14 but it doesn’t. First time I had it ‘on its nose’ and looked at the framing; it appears theres a part of the wood missing at the top of the pic. See the battery provision.

The turtle deck that George posted is exactly like the one I bought years ago for my 1919 Roadster. When I installed it I used the battery area for an idea where I should cut the wood floor and the overlaid sheet metal.

Thinking back about it I couldn’t find any information about a “cover” over the battery area.
So what I did I made a simple wood cover that inset for a flat truck. I drilled a 3/4 “ hole in the cover for a finger pull to pull it up.

Maybe others might know if there was a cover originally.

"As promised, here are some pics of this ‘19-‘22 turtledeck wood frame. I thought it had a wood slat floor like my ‘14 but it doesn’t. First time I had it ‘on its nose’ and looked at the framing; it appears theres a part of the wood missing at the top of the pic. See the battery provision."

Exactly what I am looking for. Could you possibly take measurements and draw the layout?

Sure… right after coffee and breakfast

Chris,
Some people can draw measurements on photos; but I’m technologically challenged . I hope this helps you. The hardwood boards are nailed from the bottom approx
2 1/2”- 2 3/4” apart. Mounting holes (4) for 3/8” carriage bolts extend thru rabbeted connections. More info ? Just ask…..

George House wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 09, 2023 9:49 am

Chris,
Some people can draw measurements on photos; but I’m technologically challenged . I hope this helps you. The hardwood boards are nailed from the bottom approx
2 1/2”- 2 3/4” apart. Mounting holes (4) for 3/8” carriage bolts extend thru rabbeted connections. More info ? Just ask…..

Absolutely Perfect. Thank You.