MTFCA Forum

Nice pic! Note the rebound straps on the front axle.

I love the photos of the oldest Ts. It’s interesting to me how much the roads and environs changed in such a very short time. Pix from the mid ‘20s have a very different look.

I scan the ‘09-‘10 photos hoping to see a two-pedal, two-lever car. I guess the first 2,500 were scarce even then ! Most photos don’t reveal enough detail to be sure.

Second photo of the wreck, we can assume the car was moved to show up the damage. Were there “fore-door” kits available for the earliest cars too ?

Thanks again, Tom, the old photos always make my day !!

Hey there Rich B!
After-market fore-door attachments were available for almost any open front car fairly early on. I have seen pictures from about 1907 showing them, and a few era photos of N/R/S cars with fore-doors on them. Several companies offered them mail-order for common models of cars, which the model T became rather quickly. A lot of local or regional buggy or coach builders would custom build them to fit any local area automobile.
That photo is a nice one showing the passenger side door open, and an outside door handle on it.

The photo is also interesting in that there is a fair amount of debris around the car, and apparent damage to some bushes? Was it storm damage? Or did the car run off the road and scatter stuff in the yard?

Wayne Sheldon wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 18, 2024 6:57 am

The photo is also interesting in that there is a fair amount of debris around the car, and apparent damage to some bushes? Was it storm damage? Or did the car run off the road and scatter stuff in the yard?

Difficult to know, but appears from the type damage to both passenger side fenders, having folded under edges, and the mud stains on the top covering above, the fractured long crack in one of the windshields. That touring might have been just blown over in the storm, which blew around other debris. The concrete shiny pad could have been it’s parking place or former garage?

Great photos! I noticed photograph #11 above has the rare side lamps we discussed some years back that seem to have been made by the Indiana Lamp Company. Used only between car number 6,900 and 10,601 in the Shipping Invoices and noted in Bruce's book, page 477, under LAMPS as "M&E". Scott posted photo of that lamp on a car some years back and noted there was no manufacturer marking at all on the lamps. Wonder if "M&E" was "short" for Detroit Motor Car Supply Co like "Pontiac" was for Beaudette; Motor & Equipment. They supplied Ford with all sorts of equipment during the early years. OR..... has anyone figured out who the "M&E" lamp manufacturer was? I include Scott's photo with the three early car photos I now have. The third photo below is Tom's off "More 09/10" from a few days ago.

I like Picture # 14 showing the couple sitting in what is obviously a brand new Roadster. All of the painted surfaces are shiny including under the right front fender. Even the brass looks shiny! This car is very early as you can see the crank handle is held in the upright position.

Also, there are more pictures of Tourabouts than I think I have ever seen.

That tornado-damaged touring has cream or gray painted wheels. With the aftermarket fore doors it’s really gaining some personality.