MTFCA Forum

1910 touring, original saddles, reproduction top sockets with the following measurements:
Top socket width 1-45/128"
Saddle gap width 1-27/128"

Now what to do?
Does anyone have a pair of top saddles that have a wider gap that are the same profile? I think the early saddles are cast so heating and bending is out if they are cast I suppose & would hate to squish the socket. Any ideas?

If they are cast steel they can be heated and bent, if cast iron that won't work.

There is your problem! You have repro sockets.

Larry if originals were available it would be on the T.

Not hard to make from steel fabrication process in pieces, weld, braze, shape, then texture prior to painting.

Been there, Done that before.

John - enlighten me on how you came of those measurements - what measuring instrument was used ?

Digital Calipers, socket measured on the 90’s width on the saddle & a physical fitting that failed to seat in the saddles. Best John

RajoRacer wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 10, 2025 11:06 am

John - enlighten me on how you came of those measurements - what measuring instrument was used ?

I wondered about the same thing.

There is a fellow in Auburn California that has been making top sockets for over 50 years. I have never heard of a complaint!

Original Smith wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 10, 2025 1:45 pm

There is a fellow in Auburn California that has been making top sockets for over 50 years. I have never heard of a complaint!

Ron Brown. I think he retired.

Yes, he's long gone - John Borinaukus (SP) has been remanufacturing top irons for many years.

Thanks for the information & solved. In this case I don’t want to spend another thousand to solve an issue that might be resolved for a couple hundred. Hank may have the viable solution however I have seen larger saddles with the same profile on larger cars of the era. Hoping someone has a set, if not it’s a welding opportunity that Hank suggested.
Let me know if in your stash of stuff you may have a set of the larger ones as described. Best John

You might call this outfit , may have a saddle that fits.

John - what would the width of the saddle you need in American inches to the closest 1/16" ?

This is the measure made on the socket diameter.

1910 touring, original saddles, reproduction top sockets with the following measurements:
Top socket width 1-45/128"

That would be about 1 3/8" diameter, give or take.

But remember the saddle will have a leather strap laying in the curve, so you have to add that thickness too.

John, I think some of us had difficulty getting our heads around measuring things in so many 128ths. That is weird! 45/128" is approx 3/8", give or take 7/128", which is almost 1/16"

Allan from down under.

Yeah I get it Allan it’s what I was given. Thanks for the conversion. Still looking. Thanks for the input.

John

RajoRacer wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 10, 2025 2:45 pm

Yes, he's long gone - John Borinaukus (SP) has been remanufacturing top irons for many years.

Steve, when did he pass away ? Very sorry to hear this.

When a falling tree branch damaged the top on my ‘13 runabout in September of 2020, Langs put me in touch with him. At the time, he said he was having health issues, but would contact me when he was working again. True to his word, he called me back within a few months, and soon had my damaged irons repaired. A fine gentleman, a pleasure to deal with, and another Model T friend I had the pleasure to correspond with. We have lost another treasured companion on the road to the T.

DanTreace wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 10, 2025 9:14 pm

But remember the saddle will have a leather strap laying in the curve, so you have to add that thickness too.

Dan, is there a specification for the thickness (weight) of the strap leather ? Diameter of the rolled strap can be adjusted by skiving down the thickness of the strap.

I would find a steel pipe with the correct diameter then heat and straighten the saddle, insert the pipe and heat the saddle and fold the ends up and around the pipe. Since it is of no use the way it is, nothing ventured, nothing gained. If you are unsure if you are able to do it, I’m sure a local fabrication shop will be able to figure out how to do it. At the Railcar shop I used to work at, they faced these situations all the time, as they were required to make new parts for old obsolete railcars. A good fabrication shop could almost certainly make you new identical resized saddles out of mild steel.

My apologies - I meant "long gone" as in retired ! Erik B. would know if he's still on the planet.