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1915 Coupelet

Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2019 9:43 am
by Russ_Furstnow
I just finished my 1915 Coupelet (engine # 6552XX) which was assembled on 12-31-14. I took it out for a drive today and it runs and drives great. The car has many components found on the typical 1914 car, including a 12 rivet rear axle, lettered pedals, riveted steering gear case and aluminum timer. The car has an all original body that was re-wooded by Ray Wells and has a diamond tufted leather interior, dark blue headliner and a leather top. The side lights are E&J #6 and the tail lamp is an E&J #7, while the headlamps are larger than the production 1915 electric headlamps. The bulb horn has a unique bracket that attaches the horn tube to the steering column. The car is all black with gray rubber Firestone tires.

Re: 1915 Coupelet

Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2019 9:48 am
by WayneJ
Beautiful car! Congratulations on its completion!

Re: 1915 Coupelet

Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2019 10:04 am
by John L
Beautiful car. I see it even has a speadometer.

Re: 1915 Coupelet

Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2019 10:18 am
by Bud Delong
Wow!!!! Bud.

Re: 1915 Coupelet

Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2019 10:22 am
by Dallas Landers
Very nice!!! Bud said it, WOW!

Re: 1915 Coupelet

Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2019 10:33 am
by Sarikatime
Russ, is that a brass moulding above the windshield and in the back below the convertible top? It is absolutely beautiful. Frank

Re: 1915 Coupelet

Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2019 10:46 am
by Russ_Furstnow
Frank, The brass molding is the "tack strip" used on the coupelet. It covers the tacks used to hold the leather top in place. The molding is half round brass filled with lead and has 90 degree nails imbeded into the lead. This was original to the coupelet. Russ

Re: 1915 Coupelet

Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2019 10:53 am
by Russ_Furstnow
Frank, Here is a closer photo of the brass molding and one of the car with the top down. BTW, it is much easier to drive the car with the top down (easier to see around you)!!

Re: 1915 Coupelet

Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2019 4:17 pm
by R.V.Anderson
Russ, FWIW, my late Dad's original '23 Canadian coupe has that same lead/brass trim, with embedded nails, as you describe. The former owner removed it to install the new top material, but fortunately he removed it carefully and saved it.

Re: 1915 Coupelet

Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2019 4:25 pm
by Walter Higgins
That trim is also called, "pin molding" and was also used around the firewall on other early makes of cars. Neat stuff and it's easier to work than it sounds. Had to make a new one once for the firewall of an Autocar.

Your Coupelet is beautiful! They're very neatly proportioned bodies.

Re: 1915 Coupelet

Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2019 4:28 pm
by GEmering
A very beautiful and unique T.
Congratulations and many happy miles!

Gene

Re: 1915 Coupelet

Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2019 5:26 pm
by Wayne Sheldon
Beautiful car! And such an amazing quality restoration. You should be quite proud.
At some point, I would love to see a good picture of your tail-lamp. I really like those earlier '15 style side-lamps.

Absolutely wonderful!

Re: 1915 Coupelet

Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2019 7:30 pm
by Russ_Furstnow
Wayne, Here you are. The E&J Model 7 tail lamp came in two styles. The tail lamp on this car has a "blade" type mount and there is also a bolt and nut type mount like the E&J Model 9 tail lamp. The most interesting and worthless feature on this car is the tailgate at the rear of the trunk. Very little can be loaded into the trunk with this tailgate. Ford decided to change to the typical trunk lid on the top of the trunk for the 1916 coupelet, which was identical to the later coupes. Here is a photo of the side lamps, which have the blade type mount.

Re: 1915 Coupelet

Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2019 7:46 pm
by George House
Breathtaking pics Russ !! Thanks for sharing the results of your dedication to this rare and unique body style....another Stynoski ?

Re: 1915 Coupelet

Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2019 7:58 pm
by EricMac
Absolutely fabulous car. I have thought the Coupelet is the ultimate T for a long time. Well done.

Re: 1915 Coupelet

Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2019 8:56 pm
by 1912touring
Mr. Furstnow...that is a stunning restoration...absolutely beautiful. Well done!

Re: 1915 Coupelet

Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2019 11:16 pm
by Wayne Sheldon
Thank you Russ F. Quite an unusual tail-lamp I would think! Like the very much later Ford "O" tail-lamp, a small red lens with larger clear lens aimed at the license plate, mounted on a spade, and the brass bezel/door hinged at an odd angle. I wonder how many variations of side and tail lamps Ford used between the early September and October '14 closed (?) body cars and say March '15 full production. I have seen original era photos showing a couple variations with side hinges and smaller lenses with fatter bezels. But usually the detail and clarity is lacking in those photos to able to see all the differences. I doubt there is a significant piece in that lamp that is the same as what became standard a mere couple months later.
I have an odd tail-lamp I may use on my February/March '15 runabout. From a few feet away, it looks to be early typical Ford. Except for the font/bowl. The main red lens and its rim/bezel is almost like the common '15 tail-lamp (unlike your fatter rims smaller lenses). It may even be interchangeable with the common later '15s. But even it has some very minor detail differences from the other few originals I have. The clear side lens for the license plate may be interchangeable, but frankly, I never even tried it. Guess I should just for curiosity's sake. Nothing else is the same as the common lamps used by February and March of '15. No inner shell reflector. the burner looks NOTHING like any other Ford lamp I have seen. The font/bowl looks like yours does (three pin twist and a locking thumb screw), much fancier than the lamps that followed. The chimney is different. Even the brass top is different in construction and shape than the ones that followed so soon after. The mounting, although slightly different in detail of manufacture, is basically like the lamps the followed for another decade.

I do hope you have that car judged in the MTFCI circles! And I do hope you can get a Stynoski award for it! (I do wonder about your connection with their judging standards, and hope it doesn't somehow exclude you?)

Re: 1915 Coupelet

Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2019 12:09 am
by Allan
What an absolute beauty Russ. The coupelet has to be the prettiest body style ever on a T. You have done a wonderful restoration.

Quite apart from this, I noticed the orientation of the hose clamps on the radiator hoses, and have seen similar orientation on other cars. I have always tried to minimise the visuals of these by fitting them with the screws underneath the hoses. Is there a recognised orientation like yours, and are the screws fitted from a particular side on the top hose? Insane detail I know, but just asking for interest's sake.

Allan from down under.

Re: 1915 Coupelet

Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2019 9:09 am
by Russ_Furstnow
Hi Allen, The hose clamps were placed this way as a result of studying original photos of the 1914 production line. I'm not sure if there was a "standard" way of installation. If I were still the MTFCI Chief Judge, I would not have the car judged, but I'm considering having it judged in the future. Thanks, Russ

Re: 1915 Coupelet

Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2019 9:34 am
by DanTreace
Russ

Beautiful is truly the comment!

Such detail to your work, and especially the Arizona ‘Registration Disc’ dated 1915; looks good there on the dash, bet that was a hard find. :)

Re: 1915 Coupelet

Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2019 9:46 am
by Russ_Furstnow
Hi Dan, You are VERY observant!! I decided to register the car with a YOM 1915 Arizona license plate also. Both the disc and plate are quite rare.

Wayne, Here is an original photo from the Benson Ford Library showing the E&J Model 7 tail lamp.

Re: 1915 Coupelet

Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2019 10:02 am
by Russ_Furstnow
Here is a photo of the 1915 Arizona license. There is no provision or bracket that allows for the mounting of the license, and I believe that back in the day, the owner would just drill holes in the tailgate to mount the license (I decided NOT to do this!!). I used brass footman loops and leather straps to mount the license, and it just swings along as I drive.

Re: 1915 Coupelet

Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2019 10:27 am
by KWTownsend
Beautiful car, Russ.

: ^ )

Keith

Re: 1915 Coupelet

Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2019 10:52 am
by KeithG
Hi Russ, Very, very nice car and a most beautiful restoration. Might this be a Stynoski candidate? Just wondering.

Keith

Re: 1915 Coupelet

Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2019 11:14 am
by Hap_Tucker
Russ,

Beautiful restoration! Thank you for sharing the photos with us! And we look forward to an article or something similar about the car and restoration in the future. It is a real inspiration to many of us!


Wayne,

You asked, "I wonder how many variations of side and tail lamps Ford used between the early September and October '14 closed (?) body cars and say March '15 full production."

Summary:

In your research on different style lamps I would recommend referencing the Dec 1914 to Jan 1915 closed cars and excluding the photos from the Sep prototype closed cars. And yes there are many possible styles.

Additional Comments from the old Forum added here so when the old forum is gone they survive:

The closed car photos are mentioned in late Sep 1914
ref: https://www.mtfca.com/encyclo/doc14.htm

SEP 23, 1914 Acc. 509, Letter, Ford Archives
Sedan and Coupelet announced.
photos of the Centerdoors and Coupelet

SEP 23, 1914 Acc. 833, Photo 1527, Ford Archives
Photo of 1915 Coupelet. Shows fork-mounted electric headlamps.

SEP 23, 1914 Acc. 833, Photo 1621, Ford Archives
Photo of 1915 Sedan. Fork-mounted headlamps and lantern-like side lamp. Curved front and rear fenders.

SEP 23, 1914 Acc. 833, Photo 1546, Ford Archives
Photo of 1915 Sedan with gas headlamps.

SEP 23, 1914 Acc. 833, Photo 1470, Ford Archives
Photo of 1915-style Touring with odd post-mounted electric headlamps, no louvers in the hood, brass steering wheel spider and 1914-type steering gear box.

SEP 23, 1914 Acc. 833, Photo 1633, Ford Archives
Photo of 1915 Touring, now with louvered hood.

FEB 6, 1915 Acc. 509, Letter, Ford Archives
New-style Touring and Runabout bodies shipped to branches for use as models, not for use in production.

FEB 8, 1915 Factory Letter
Branches asked to submit a list of inventory for 1914 parts left over after the change to the 1915-style cars.

FEB 10, 1915 Acc. 509, Letter, Ford Archives
New type (1915 style) Runabouts and Tourings now being shipped from the Highland Park plant.

But we know from Trent Boggess examination of Accession 125 Finance – Model T Cost Books 1913-1927 at the Benson Ford Archives, that the Coupelet and Centerdoor Sedan pictures taken in Sep 1914 were of pre-production closed cars. See the posting at:

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/11 ... 1268414053

That posting details that the production for the Sedan and Coupeletes started in Dec 1914 and not in Sep 1914, And it lists the number produced and the cost per unit for both body styles. It documents that USA closed car production ceased in Feb 1915 and did not resume until Oct - Nov 1915 which would be 1916 model year cars.

From that posting we have:

Month/Year Sedans Sedan Cost Coupelets Coupelet Cost

Dec. 1914 331 $577.927 801 $373.95

Jan. 1915 441 $612.215 211 $408.918

Feb. 1915 204 $601.066 160 $398.826

Totals 976 1172

Repeated from above: So in your research on different style lamps I would recommend referencing the Dec 1914 to Jan 1915 closed cars and excluding the photos from the Sep prototype closed cars - or noting that they were shown on a prototype.

Respectfully submitted,

Hap l9l5 cut off

Re: 1915 Coupelet

Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2019 11:48 am
by Russ_Furstnow
Hap,
I have submitted a story to Natalie Weaver, editor of the "Model T Times", referencing the sales of the 1915 coupelet. I used information for the story from my set of "Ford Sales Bulletins" which were issued every two weeks to Ford dealers from May 1913 thru May 1916. The sales bulletins reference the introduction of the coupelet on October 3, 1914 and on December 12, 1914 the bulletins stated, "There is a demand for these cars (sedan and coupelet) in your territory." The coupelets were not flying out the door, so Ford put pressure on their salesmen by naming them in the bulletin, along with the number of sales of coupelets and sedans for each salesman! A contest took place in February 27,1915 thru March 27,1915 to see who could sell the most coupelets and sedans, and only 50 coupelets were sold during this period. The front page headline for the March 27, 1915 bulletin stated, "Beaten to a Frazzle", "the whole scoreboard looks like a hideous nightmare!" It is clear, Ford was not happy with the sales of the coupelet and sedan.

I believe that the $750 list price contributed most to the poor sales of the car, as the quality of the car was unparalleled.
Russ

Re: 1915 Coupelet

Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2019 1:01 am
by Jim, Sr.
I recently found this "Price List of ACCESSORIES AND ACCESSORY PARTS". It is undated, but probably issued in later 1915. It lists the special head lights, side lights, and tail light, that were unique to the new 1915 coupelet and sedan models. Surprisingly, these special lights were priced the same as the standard lights that were used on the touring cars and runabouts that came along later in 1915.
If you "click" on the pictures, they will be easier to read.

Re: 1915 Coupelet

Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2019 9:55 am
by Original Smith
That book is a wonderful and necessary book if you own a brass T of any year.

Re: 1915 Coupelet

Posted: Wed Sep 04, 2019 8:50 am
by MWalker
Wonderfully done, Russ. Congratulations!

Re: 1915 Coupelet

Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2019 8:00 am
by MikieB
Mike,
Is this the one you had?

Re: 1915 Coupelet

Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2019 9:34 am
by Russ_Furstnow
This is another car, not the one Mike was rebuilding. Russ

Re: 1915 Coupelet

Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2019 10:02 am
by Steve Jelf
As a general rule, everything looks better in pictures than it does in real life. Knowing the kind of work Russ does, I expect this car breaks the rule, and is even better than the pictures can show.

Re: 1915 Coupelet

Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2019 9:13 am
by MWalker
MikieB -- Russ had already started building this '15 when he bought the one from me. He will build that one as a '16.

Re: 1915 Coupelet

Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2019 2:35 pm
by Marshall V. Daut
Mere words of compliment don't do justice to the quality restoration you have completed, Russ. OUTSTANDING! Drooling over photos of your Couplet are about as close as I'll ever get to owning my favorite Model T body style. Alas, just a pipe dream for me, but one you were able to realize. Congratulations and enjoy many happy miles driving MY DREAM CAR! :lol:
By the way, where do you stand on the pronunciation of this unbelievably rare body style: "Coupe-let" or "Coupe-lay"? No matter how you pronounce the name, I want the car! Ha, ha, ha!
Marshall

Re: 1915 Coupelet

Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2019 9:59 pm
by Aussie16
Thanks for commenting Mike and Russ. I was wondering if it was your old car Mike. I am extremely jealous of Russ having two of that beautiful model of car. I was not previously aware of the differences of the entries to the rear storage compartments. Could you post some pictures of it open please Russ?
I have a Canadian 1916 Chassis restored and have seriously considered purchasing a reproduction Couplet body from Ray Wells to complete what would be rare and unique build in Australia. Congratulations on your spectacular restoration of such a rare T. I hope I get to see it for real one day.

Re: 1915 Coupelet

Posted: Sat Sep 07, 2019 2:12 am
by Wayne Sheldon
Hey there Warwick L ! Have you seen this in the "Parts for sale" section?

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=6295

I don't know how close they would be to what you want? But they look close. The trunk access changed for the '16 model, so it likely would be close enough. The doors and other parts I am not so sure. A bit pricey,but for something so rare? Ray Wells may be able to work with it?

Russ F sure does know how to hurt guys that like this model! It and the '11 torpedo are my two favorite factory T offerings. This car of his is simply incredible!

Re: 1915 Coupelet

Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2019 11:58 am
by Russ_Furstnow
Hi Warick,
Here are a couple of photos of the rear deck lid on the coupelet. It is nearly impossible to load anything in the trunk due to the rear spring pan that takes up vertical floor space at the trunk's opening. The change made to the trunk opening on the 1916 coupelet's made loading the trunk much easier.

Hi Wayne,
I also love the 1911 Torpedo, and just finished my Torpedo about 6 months ago.
Russ

Re: 1915 Coupelet

Posted: Mon Sep 16, 2019 2:48 am
by Aussie16
Thanks for that Russ. All that trunk space and no easy way to get luggage in! The 1916 design will be the one for me to look out for. I need all than accessable trunk space for my wife's luggage! Congratulations again on a spectacular restoration. You certainly have aimed for the rarest and prettiest models.

Re: 1915 Coupelet

Posted: Mon Sep 16, 2019 5:26 am
by Wayne Sheldon
A couple good friends of mine have a 1918 ((could be '19?) Pierce Arrow coupe. Its trunk is the same way as the '15 T couplet. The trunk is fairly large (compared to the T), but has only a small door at the back of the trunk deck. Even on that Pierce, forget a suitcase! Nothing much bigger than a briefcase is going in that thing.
I suspect they did that as it was easier to make it rain-tight that way. I guess it just took awhile to see the error of that idea.