Mounting Rear Fenders on late 11/early 12 Roadster

[Jones in Aiken SC]

Just tossing this question out there for those of you who might have mounted rear fenders on a late 11/early 12 Roadster. I am using repro rear fenders from Rootlieb, which are of excellent quality. I am using the Torpedo style curved fenders rather than the "flat tops." My question is about some small holes I found in some original rear fenders, where my finger is pointing in the picture. It appears that these holes were there to screw the fender flange to the underside of the body. Are these holes "stock" or somebody's better idea to more securely fasten down the fender? Either way, it looks like a pretty good idea but was wondering what is truly "stock." I hope this question is clear and makes sense. I attached a couple photos of the rear fenders that are going on the car.

[1915ford]

While your holes appear to be too numerous and too large to be oem, its a fact that ford used wood screws to hold the splash aprons against the body sill. It is shown on the blueprint for the splash aprons circa 1913-14 and i have seen them on too many original cars to count. That being said the curved commercial roadster fenders are a rare item and i have not looked at the prints for them. Torpedo and open runabouts of 1911 have similar flanges at the base of the apron but those fenders had a butterfly style fender iron to help hold them in place. Your car likely used a single iron that bolted through the rear body to frame bracket. More research may be in order. I cant think of a single surviving example of this body style we could look at.

[Allan]

When you are adapting parts from one car to another like this, the rules of originality don't necessarily apply. Fitting your fenders the best way to suit the application is probably the way to go. if this means they are like the originals in another application is just serendipitous.

Allan from down under.

[Jones in Aiken SC]

Mark, the car came to me with fenders off the car. The fender mounting rod is a single rod bolted to a bracket on the frame. The fender then mounts over the rod and clamps in the typical manner used throughout most of Model T production. I have no way of knowing if the pair of rear curved fenders were original to the car, but I replaced them with repro Rootlieb fenders of the same style as the originals were beat to heck. I know there is some controversy about whether the curved fenders were ever used on the 12 Commercial Roadster, and Bruce McCalley's bible implies they were not. I also have a set of Rootlieb "flat top" fenders that I was going to use but could not find the right mounting hardware. My engine is serial number 85XXX so made in late 11.

FWIW, here is a link that may be interesting as it shows the curved fenders and I assume it is a Commercial Roadster we are looking at: https://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/4 ... 1392942865

[RGould1910]

Am I correct in thinking the curved style fenders require a butterfly bracket?
On my car, a Dec 1911 Comm'l roadster with flat rear fenders, the rear fender brackets come thru a hole in the top of the skirt. I see no holes in the curved brackets in the photos.

[Jones in Aiken SC]

Richard-
The curved fenders use a single fender iron, and there is no hole in the fender. The fender mounts over the fender iron so the iron does not "penetrate" the fender like on the flat tops. That is what various folks tell me and it is consistent with the set of original curved rear fenders that I have. But I am not the premier expert on these rear fenders so would welcome anything anyone else has to offer on them.

[RGould1910]

I see. So the border or flange of the skirt is screwed to the bottom of the body platform. That would allow the fender bracket to pass inder the skirt.

[Jones in Aiken SC]

That's how I think it should be, but not sure. The set of original fenders I have do have screw holes, and it looks like the holes were enlarged by either pulling through the sheet metal or by being brutally removed. Still not sure, but I will do what makes sense to me...within reason, of course. I got a phone number for a fellow who has studied the Commercial Roadsters for a long time and I will ask him about it.

[Jones in Aiken SC]

Well I got brave and mounted some sheet metal on my 12 Roadster. Starting to look like a Model T! Now to work on the windshield and support rods, fenders etc. "Slow Man at Work"

[Wayne Sheldon]

Looking really nice!
I have a pile of 1912 roadster I wish would ever look half that nice. It is one of the project piles I got years ago when I walked into it for cheap. I had some stuff it was missing, and later got a few more bits that were close enough. Circumstances have changed enough that it is doubtful I will ever even begin working on it.
Regardless, I really enjoy seeing someone posting their progress on this and other forums! Especially when they are doing such a fine job of it.

[Allan]

I'd say it is looking really, REALLY nice! Beautiful work. I can well understand why you want to get things absolutely correct before committing to any drilling.

Allan from down under.

[Jones in Aiken SC]

Thanks, folks. Wayne, I know how it goes about "too many projects." I have restored 7 Model A's and T's, and each one gets a little better in quality. I had two Model A's that were unrestored as of course I planned to "get to them", but time passes by too quickly. Now I am 68 and finding I have to pick my battles, I can't do everything. So I sold the two unrestored Model A's and now only have a 31 Victoria Model A. This 1912 Roadster is likely the last car I will restore. (Until, of course, I decide to re-restore my 26 Coupe to get it "right.") Time is our most precious commodity!