MTFCA Forum

Is photo # 9 a ‘15 or ‘16 touring with retrofitted hood and radiator of the ‘black era’? And the 2nd to last photo of the 2 ladies in a roadster appears to be similar ?? Thanks for the photos and this puzzlement Tom.

Every now and then, someone asks for examples of period clothing worn in the Model T era. Lots of examples in this collection of period photos.

Tell me about photo 4.

That’s about a 1907 Ford model N with a very unusual mother-in-law seat. First one I’ve seen on an N. Quite ubiquitous on the Rs and Ss. Also the poor fitting top was an accessory and thats the only N I’ve seen with landau arms. Photo #6 is another N. I think; judging by lack of runningboard in the shadow. He didn’t add the accessory headlamps, windshield OR top………

George House wrote: ↑

Sat Dec 27, 2025 10:55 am

Is photo # 9 a ‘15 or ‘16 touring with retrofitted hood and radiator of the ‘black era’? And the 2nd to last photo of the 2 ladies in a roadster appears to be similar ?? Thanks for the photos and this puzzlement Tom.

Thank you for that George! I, too, spotted both of those almost instantly. While not really common, if one looks around at a lot of era photos, one can find quite a number of them showing the updated 1915/'16 cars with updated radiators and hoods to make them appear more modern. After-market sellers were offering several types of similar upgrade parts or kits even before 1915. They continued with such parts and kits through 1915 and 1916. Usually those after-market ones can be spotted by their unusual radiators or hood shapes or louvers.
When Ford's 1917 model line came about late in 1916, many more Ford owners opted to get an actual Ford radiator and hood. Although the 1915/'16 firewall and hood former didn't fit properly under the 1917 and later hood, the fit was good enough that most people updating their Fords left the 1915/'16 hood former in place. Often, IF the photo is taken from a good angle to do so, one can see the later hood sitting a bit higher than it is supposed to relative to the cowl piece.
Photo number 9 appears to be standard later Ford radiator and hood. The hood does appear to be a bit high against the cowl. Photo number 15 may be a Ford hood, or not. However, the radiator and shell appear to be something other than Ford standard issue. Whether it is an after-market radiator, or a dress-up kit over the brass radiator I cannot tell from that angle.

Now, for a bit of ironic comparison? Look at photo number 12. Another 1915/'16 on a dusty rocky mountain road. The "even folding" windshield is folded back and partway down, making it at a glance appear to be the later offset folding type. They are not typical Ford headlamps from 1912 through 1914, the bezels and lenses are too large. One can see the typical smaller gas lamp reflectors in the back of the buckets, and the chimney/bonnets reaching slightly above the headlamp rims.
So, here we have a 1915/'16 T backdated to an earlier feature!
The subject of 1915 T Fords having had acetylene headlamps has been debated for over half a century. There is evidence that there is/was one exception to the rule, in that model Ts that went straight into military service, mostly overseas, "might" have been fitted with acetylene headlamps from new. Whether from the "factory" or not is still debatable.
An unknown number of 1915 PROTOTYPES were built in mid calendar 1914. Several photos of these cars do exist. At least one of them, for awhile at least, did have acetylene headlamps on it. Again, that is an exception to the rule.
The RULE is, that NO 1915/'16 style open body model Ts were issued with acetylene headlamps.
Unofficially, and maybe against Henry's orders, there is sufficient evidence to believe that quite a number of Ford dealers were switching the electric headlamps out in exchange for gas headlamps in order to make a sale and have a happy customer. A lot of people, Ford's customers, were not ready to accept that new idea of electric lights on their automobiles. They knew gas lamps, had used them for years, and trusted their reliability. In 1915, a LOT of people were not ready to accept electric lamps on their cars.
Era photos of 1915 and later model Ts with gas headlamps are fairly rare.

Them durned bubs'll blow out and leave you in the dark! When they blow out ain't no way you can git 'em lit again!!

Unofficially, and maybe against Henry's orders, there is sufficient evidence to believe that quite a number of Ford dealers were switching the electric headlamps out in exchange for gas headlamps in order to make a sale and have a happy customer. A lot of people, Ford's customers, were not ready to accept that new idea of electric lights on their automobiles. They knew gas lamps, had used them for years, and trusted their reliability. In 1915, a LOT of people were not ready to accept electric lamps on their cars.
Era photos of 1915 and later model Ts with gas headlamps are fairly rare.
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I would love to see some of this "sufficient evidence"