MTFCA Forum

Received the January- February 2025 copy of the Vintage Ford this morning. Has a redesigned front cover print and a modified format for stories inside... Catches your attention with stories and pictures. Thanks for the upgrade!

Mine came today, too. Got the Model T Times this week as well.

Yes, the Vintage Ford is first class. No wasted space, richly illustrated, broad spectrum of subject matter. I appreciated the 'reprinted' articles and liked seeing a cover photo that related to a feature story. A very professional publication in my view, thanks, VF. jb

We were very happy to make the cover with ‘Betty’.

I got the new Vintage Ford today in the mail. Pretty nice as usual. I guess it was inevitable to eventually have an A.I. picture of Henry Ford. It looks like it anyway. Sign of the times. They show every once in a while at other sites or photos.

To each his own. I'm a life member of the MTFCA, and miss the publication since Bruce turned it over to Jay. Jay did a pretty good job for the first couple of years, but it has declined ever since. The Model T Times is much better.

I'm still waiting for mine. Hopefully it will come in a few days.

I enjoy the content and think it’s a great magazine. Unfortunately, the quality, not the content, of the cover photo has seriously declined in recent years. This month’s cover is a good example of that. Black cars, reduced to a blurry silhouette, with some photoshop corrections.

There was a time that cover shots were a premium and highly coveted. They would sell the cover shots, suitable for framed memorabilia.

Not sure what the problem is but the lack of a quality cover photo detracts from an otherwise excellent publication.

I still don’t have mine.

Came today. Thank goodness.

Cell phone photos?

I guess it was inevitable to eventually have an A.I. picture of Henry Ford. It looks like it anyway. Sign of the times. They show every once in a while at other sites or photos.

Facebook is flooded with A.I. crap. It's depressing how many people take it all for real. When you see a "Model T" with 13-spoke wheels, that's a hint.

Steve Jelf wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 30, 2025 2:14 pm

I guess it was inevitable to eventually have an A.I. picture of Henry Ford. It looks like it anyway. Sign of the times. They show every once in a while at other sites or photos.

Facebook is flooded with A.I. crap. It's depressing how many people take it all for real. When you see a "Model T" with 13-spoke wheels, that's a hint.

A.I. FAKE MODEL T.jpg

AI generated cars do seem to have a problem with wheels and script. Among all the other things wrong with this image, what the heck with the script in the “Ford” emblem?

The “Ford script” is in Chinese…

Steve Jelf wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 30, 2025 2:14 pm

I guess it was inevitable to eventually have an A.I. picture of Henry Ford. It looks like it anyway. Sign of the times. They show every once in a while at other sites or photos.

Facebook is flooded with A.I. crap. It's depressing how many people take it all for real. When you see a "Model T" with 13-spoke wheels, that's a hint.


A.I. FAKE MODEL T.jpg

Their poor son has no right arm. (Probably from cranking a Model T the wrong way)

Also, mom is really huge!

Facebook and other artificial intelligence crap I'm sure will not find their way into the Vintage Ford magazine.... I'm sure our editor will see to that.

It’s just not Model T fake A I photos. The fake A I photos of classic era cars and Plckups is showing up more. Even supposedly old cars left in fields and buildings and being tagged ‘just found’ is beyond crazy.

Received my issue today. Maybe the cover photo is a result of generational differences.

Art Mirtes

I like the Vintage Ford and appreciate the effort that goes into it, but I'll have to say I'm not a fan of the altered and computer-generated photos. Call me old fashioned, but I much prefer a photograph in it's original form.
And frankly, it is very disappointing to see an AI version of a u-joint and Henry himself instead of an actual photo of both.

Again, not bashing the publication or the production staff, just wishing we could go back to unaltered photogaphs- which are much better than the fake ones.

Steve

I think a lot of the Vintage Ford cover photos back in the day were taken by Glen Embree, a highly talented photographer. I am sure he used 4X5 film and they did often extravagant stagings. The photos were pin sharp, top notch compositons. He didn't have digital cameras in those days. Today, resolution is important in an electronic image. Not sure what the Vintage Ford requirements are for a cover shot, but I would think 24Mb is about the minimum.

I haven't received mine yet. Could be because I don't believe I paid my dues...

I just renewed, so hopefully, I'll get my magazine soon and I'll be able to be disappointed too.

Well I finally got my Vintage Ford magazine today. Now to sit down in my recliner and read.

I have been a MTFCA member since I was 12 years old or since 1978. The Vintage Ford used to be great and was considered to be an important magazine. I would impatiently wait for each issue to arrive and the rest of the world would stop until the magazine was read. And it was read many times. The covers were amazing and they were collected. The content was valuable and important as well. Great memories. Today, it's a very different magazine.....

I was disappointed in several areas on the current issue but will send those comments to the Editor via email.

I've seen how The Vintage Ford has changed over time. So have most other magazines with changes in printing technology, readership, and club demographics. I will say this, the magazine depends on the material submitted; if you want to see an article on a particular topic, write it or help another person with their article. Good writing takes time, and the editors can always use more quality submissions.

Bruce traveled all over to cover events and anything needed for the Vintage Ford Magazine. When he retired that pretty much ended. "Buddy" said it right. Please write an article, send a picture, A good clear cover photo. Because we're now, every since Bruce left, depending on a great editor, which we have, and our very knowledgeable membership to give us that great magazine that we can't wait to receive, brows through and be impressed, educated. Quite often I see stuff, discussions, illustrations, photographs, etc. on our forum that is magazine material........but never gets submitted. WE ARE THE MAGAZINE! Once received our editor gets it right, ready for publication. Submit it! Regardless of your ability to write, punctuate, paragraph etc. Alway include pictures if possible, the more the merrier. Again, to a large degree, we are the magazine.

Still waiting on mine to arrive !

Hasn't showed up in Western Washington either !

As one of the Vintage Ford many early contributors I no longer submit articles, unless the club removes the stupid restrictions on what one has to do if they submit an article myself and many others won't be doing so.
If you read the Vintage Ford Magazine section in MTFCA Forums, a contributor has to now sign a form giving the MTFCA sole rights to your article.
I used to sent articles so that all members of the MTFCA could read them for everyone interested in Model T's.
My hope always is someone will have another piece to add to my article as one is not always able to find out everything on any subject. It used to be a member would sent a photo or ask a question and members would then reply with extra potos or an answer to the query. The end result everyone knew more about something we had no idea about before hand.
I can find no good reason as to why I should give the MTFCA ownership of something I produced and suppled freely to all members.
When I stayed with Bruce in the 1970's he asked me if I would help find other material away from his research starting with RHD T's as he had difficulty in finding such things and in Australia we had lots of information.
I then found other subjects ( too many to list here) but never was it a requirement for me to sign an agreement to give the MTFCA ownership of anything I wrote. As has been stated new Model T subjects are obviously liked by members, reports on previously held tours, how an owners got their car or a rerun on the Ruckstell axle are OK but not the same as one of the hundreds of stories of what Model T's were involved in in their time.
As an editor of club magazines myself I know submissions from anyone requires them to spend a lot of time and even money producing a magazine article. Anything from a different person is always welcome and reduces the load off the editor.
When I queried the requirement to sign a 'release agreement' after they appeared in 2022 I was told by the MTFCA committe -No sign- no acceptance of articles. Result no submissions from me.

I wrote to the new editor a few days ago when I saw the request for material and offered to again submit some articles but only if there are no strings attached. I have only received a reply stating he would look into the matter.

Peter,
I totally agree with you. No way would I sign a waiver. Unless they are paying for articles, they have no right to claim ownership. The only reason that I can figure out is to prevent the same article to appear in the MTFCI magazine. Without this requirement, I am sure l there would be more articles submitted.

The effort that goes into writing an article is much appreciated.

Art Mirtes

Hi Peter
I have writtten many articles for the Vintage Ford Magazine and an old friend warned early on how how to handle those concerns/objections.
By the way, the requirment you object to is ubiquitous here in the USA and my guess something similar exists with publishers Down Under?
First the MTFCA has no intention of making money from your articles submitted, they are just trying to reserve the right to be first publishing it. Agreeing to their request can include with a simple statement of your future intent. It goes something like this;
You reserve your rights to distribute your work to other publications AND that you agree you will include a statement along with the other distribution: "This article first appeared in the publication Vintage Ford Magazine on the date" AND that you also reserve the right to publish a compenduim of your Model Technical articles for future hobbyists. I
In my experience the MTFCA will not object in any way if you handle it this way.
Ron Patterson
P.S. When Bruce McCalley was in charge of MTFCA and the VF Magazine the Club was a very informal place, that was 25 years ago and things have changed.
Ron Patterson

Hi Art and Ron,
Thanks for replying to my post. I can't find any other magazine ( Model T Ford content ones there may be other types??) that insists on this requirement. Definately not in Australia, I actually have the opposite problem, the largest motor magazine for old cars here insists on paying for my articles. I don't do it for reward so I did a deal and I receive the magazine free. Same for one Model T Ford club magazine, I was awarded honorary membership in exchange for writing articles for their magazine.
When I turned down the request to sign the release form for the VF I approached the editor of the MTFCI Ford Times. ( I'm not a member) and the editor willingly axcepted the same article, No insistance I join the club, no signing of any form just thanks for supplying an article for the magazine ( something as a editor of club magazines I was always thankful for)
Others have suggested the reason for the form is that the same article sometimes is published in both magazines. Would not it be just a matter of asking the question of the author " is this being sent to other magazines", if yes then "Sorry we won't be printing it" thats the same result as the restriction form" the writer only gets it in one publication. Or if two magazines are getting the same from one writer you stop publishing that persons articles, but as I mentioned what I write is now on record for "anyone" to see so they can change it around also.

Having the right to be the first to publish an article from my point of view is - I sent it to you first (and only to you) so you get it first, don't want it tell me and I will send it else where. SIMPLE If someone then asks me to also print it I will decide what happens but as it has been published it can't be the first to do so.

I only ever send a story to one magazine I regard the most suitable. How you then police it if someone uses the article or sections of it in the future I would find difficult to do much about it once that was published.
The Vintage Ford was always my go to magazine for Model T Ford related articles, as if I discovered additional information I could write the new material to connect to it. Write it for some other magazine requires more explainations ( that can be a pain to do)

A couple of points: Over 1000 more views have been added to this post since I wrote on the 9th Feb only you two have felt the need to reply, Obviously their is little interest in the magazine and this subject by the majority of members.

Same from the editor and the executive board members, no replies to myself or through this post to members and myself. I can only surmise the same, how the magazine is now is how it will remain.

February 13 and still no Vintage Ford, but optimistic that it may be in the mail tomorrow surrounded by Valentine chocolates !

Jamie Maxwell wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 13, 2025 8:09 pm

February 13 and still no Vintage Ford, but optimistic that it may be in the mail tomorrow surrounded by Valentine chocolates !

Check the MTFCA business office to see if your dues are up-to-date. That was the issue for me.

Yes, dues were paid in November and check cleared the bank- my guess is that it's either lost in the postal service, or I'll receive it in a few more days ???

No show in Western WA. either !

Jamie Maxwell wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 17, 2025 7:17 pm

Yes, dues were paid in November and check cleared the bank- my guess is that it's either lost in the postal service, or I'll receive it in a few more days ???

Jamie, I’m in Indiana as well and have not received it yet.

We got our TVF magazine today (2/20/25). Thought my status had expired. Wife is so happy to be members. She just said so today.

Read about the alleged submission rules. Guess we (prior AACA editors) won't be submitting any articles, at least for print only. That takes the fun away from it. Maybe in the future we'll do one for the forum.

February 24 and still no Vintage Ford ???

It’s just not Model T fake A I photos.

And it's not just cars. When there's a group of people with every face fully visible to the "camera", I'm a skeptic. When a scene is fully in sharp focus, with no hint of depth of field, ditto. When a caption blathers on and on with a word salad that could easily apply to any time and place, there you go.

February 27th and still no Vintage Ford. I'm sure it would have to come through the Indianapolis USPS system and I've seen a couple segments on the news in the last couple weeks saying that it's a broken system, and that there is weeks old undelivered mail sitting in large containers. I'm going to the Marietta Ohio swap meet on March 1st , and I'm counting on Brent Mize or
Kevin Prus having a copy that I Can look at . And I'm only 38 miles from the Indy USPS !!!

Hey Jamie,

I just received my Jan / Feb issue of The Vintage Ford. The USPS in Indiana has been on the local news for several months now showing their extremely slow service. I live one hour from the museum. It is unbelievable.

Rod