MTFCA Forum

Hi all,. I'm ready to make top bows for an 09 touring. Does anyone have the measurements for each bow, I'd like to get overall width, and height from the very tip of the socket to the top of the wood bow on each row. Also the inside ( or outside) radius of the corners, and a cross section of the material would be helpful.
Any help appreciated.
Thanks Mike

This older post has the bow height from the end of the irons,I.e., what sticks out of the irons.

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/29 ... 1204593956

Thank you, I'll check it out
Mike

Here is a screenshot of the old forum page just in case we loose it.

Bob, what's the body/engine number on your 1909?

Bill,

My body # 82XX according to Bruce's book puts the build date as Aug.2, 1909 so late in the year. It has the aluminum skin Pontiac body which from memory was used last in September 1909? My engine was replaced at some point with a non starter 1916 engine so still hand crank and no generator. I would like to find the original engine but would keep the car as is for now to drive and save the open valve if I had it, but it needs the top so it is of interest to know if Kim's measurements are the same for early and late 1909 touring's?

Hello Michael:
Bows are 56" wide outside to outside. Top dimensions and construction varied slightly in design and construction, where there were a number of top suppliers for 1909. Also note how the rear bow has a wedge shaped slat on top, that is there for aesthetics and sag resistance. Curious why you are making these bows yourself. I assume you know that Amish steam bend these in oak for approx. 100.00/set.
Regards,
Scott

Not sure whether dimensional differences are due to early or late, but distance from tops of sockets to tops of bows on my 09 are much different than those posted here. They are: Front 8.0, 9.25, 9.75. Rear 9.50. The critical dimensions may be the distance from socket pivot points to the outer tops of the bows. I located dimensional data that shows socket configurations that are not identical to mine. The bow radius on mine are all 6" to the outer surface.
Regards,
Scott

Hi Scott, thanks for the info. $100 per set? Wow I think I'll go that route.

I understand you have to shape the ends to fit in the sockets, do the new tops offered by suppliers vary in size? Which is the best to order?

I guess I should have asked how to size the bows to fit the new tops that are available.
Thanks Mike

Hello Michael:
A contact for steam bent bows is:
Mel Draper, Geromesville, Ohio (419) 368-3226. Tell Mel that you also need a 48" length of this same lumber to create the rear bow wedge.
Not sure who if anyone is making a kit top for pre-1913 cars. If there is such a supplier, I would be curious about a single design that fits the multiple tops that are out there. An excellent top upholsterer is Elizabeth Estep (763)439-4441. She can either send you the pre-sewn top components where you construct the top, or she can do the full construction and installation. If doing this assembly yourself, she will need the front to back dimension (maximum top length), front to back distance between bows, finished wrap-around width as measured at each of the 4 bows, and height of the rear curtain as measured from the shifting rail (buggy rail).

Regards,
Scott