1914 Touring Body serial number question

[NealW]

I've got an early 1914 Model T that I am working on that I am trying to decipher the identification stamped on the wood frame under the front seat cushion. Here is a picture of what is stamped into the wood, with letter and numbers typed below for easier reading:

stamped into the wood: F 6 14 221131

The 1911 T that I restored is a Baudette body and has a B followed by a series of numbers. Does the "F" indicate that the body was made by Fisher? Also, since the 6 and 14 are spaced quite a ways from the 221131 series of numbers, does that indicate something about the date of manufacturer? Any information would be appreciated!

Thanks,

Neal

[rickd]

Neal, I believe the information stamped on your front seat frame indicates the supplier of the body and the month and year of construction. I have two 14 Tourings, a Beaudette and a Hayes or Herbert. (Scroll down I have a post dated August 9 about the Hayes/Herbert car.)
On both of those Tourings the manufacturer has stamped a company initial and a month and year followed by what I believe is a body number assigned by the manufacturer. On both of my 14s the body was built prior to the engine number assigned to the engine. I dont know if that timing sequence was consistent during the manufacture of the 14s, I think more information from other owners would help.

[rickd]

And one more item that may be helpful. I have used www.Coachbuilt.com as a resource for information about the body suppliers to Ford. They have lots of info regarding the numbers of bodys supplied to Ford and details about the companies themselves.

[Wayne Sheldon]

The "F" most likely does mean Fisher Body Company, however, I seem to recall some other body supplier also began with an "F" for a very short time. I do not recall what year that may have been.
The " 6 14 " is almost certainly the month and year the body was either ordered by Ford, or manufactured by the supplier. Nobody seems to know for sure which.
Assembly dates can get confusing. Generally, engine serial number was stamped within a day or so of assembly of the automobile, although in many cases, quality control might pull a chassis aside before assembly was completed for some "correction" to be made. In rare cases, bodies have been recorded with body supplier dates weeks later than the chassis serial number. It is more common for bodies to have required finishing (some body orders were for "in the white", or unfinished), resulting in bodies with supplier dates weeks or even a month or more before the engine assembly date.

Regardless, it most likely was a June or July assembled 1914.

[rickd]

A little more info from the Coachbuilt site, Ford Model T auto body suppliers:
C.R. Wilson
Everitt Bros.
O.J. Beaudette
Kelsey-Herbert Co.
American Body Co.
Hayes Mfg. Co. (also supplied Ford with Model T fenders)
Milburn Wagon Co.
Fisher Body Co.
Kahler Co.
Wm. Gray & Sons

I don't know if this is the complete list. It is what I have found so far in my research. Also of note the body suppliers listed each had different years of entry and exit into the body building market based upon business conditions and business decisions.

[Rich P. Bingham]

Rick, that seems a very comprehensive list, thank you for that. I had only been aware of Wilson, Baudette and Fisher !


My ‘13 runabout is a Wilson body stamped with a “W” and a number that doesn’t appear to entail a date. I should take another look ! Curiously, the car came with a couple of floorboards that were stamped “Fisher Body Co.”. They seemed to fit well. (?)

[Drkbp]

Here are a couple of factory tags off a April 21, 1914,
Fisher body touring car like you have.
"Pontiac" refers to Beaudette; where they were located.

You may check your front and rear metal seat riser for a
letter. My July 1913 Beaudette "1914 style" touring has a "B"
up high just below the wood seat frame in the center. Mine
is on the rear seat riser. Ford was making '13's and '14's style
touring cars at the same time.

Also, if you get a chance to check your transmission stub
shaft, there is a date stamped on it by hand. Usually about
a week ahead of assembly of the engine serial number. Can
you see your block casting date?

[NealW]

You may check your front and rear metal seat riser for a
letter. My July 1913 Beaudette "1914 style" touring has a "B"
up high just below the wood seat frame in the center. Mine
is on the rear seat riser. Ford was making '13's and '14's style
touring cars at the same time.

Also, if you get a chance to check your transmission stub
shaft, there is a date stamped on it by hand. Usually about
a week ahead of assembly of the engine serial number. Can
you see your block casting date?

Thanks for posting the factory tag info. There is no Beaudette "B" stamped on either seat riser. Our 1911 has a Beaudette body and its body number begins with a "B".

The block has an October 1913 casting date. The transmission shaft has a 11/18/13 date. The engine serial number is a late November 1913 assembly date.

[Drkbp]

I don't have an example of a Fisher heel panel to show how
it may be marked. I wasn't saying it should have a "B" but
maybe a "F"? I was curious because I can't find a picture in
those I have or in old threads of the heel panel.

Your block casting date/stub shaft date and engine number
would also seem to indicate it was an original assembly.
Mine was block casting 6-19-13, stub shaft 7-11-13, and
#312,XXX assembled July 17, 1913, into another rather
early "1914 style" touring car. You have a pipe-plug block?
Interesting changes happening that summer of '13.