Shackle bar question

[wrndln]

I was reading through the MARC Technically Speaking booklet and stumbled on to an article about shackles (page 76). I took a picture of the the article page and it is pasted in below. I think it is readable. The article says there was an hourglass shaped shackle bar used in early/mid 28 through March of 1929 - figure 6. I have three cars manufactured in this date range, so I was interested in the article. I have never seen an original shackle bar like this. I thought all original shackle bars had straight sides. I would like to know if anyone has seen a bar like this. There are lots of repro hourglass shaped shackle bars, but they have a more distinctly narrow middle part. I wonder if the article is correct.
Rusty Nelson

[Synchro909]

I just replaced a shackle the same as the one on the book. It was on my '29 Phaeton. Had to be replaced because the pin broke away from the bar. While it was broken, the car handled like a bag of s#!t.

[wrndln]

Vince,
Is there a section on your website about the shackle bars? I looked and couldn't find anything.
Rusty Nelson

[wrndln]

Vince,
Is the picture on your website with text to explain the different shackle bars? Do you agree that the hourglass shaped bar was used for early/mid 28 to March 29 like the article stated?
Thanks,
Rusty Nelson

[d.j. moordigian]

I thought this was the progression, Model T on the left, the rest are A's..

[Gary Karr]

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The hourglass type of shackle bars are actually around at swap meets if you look for them. I had never seen the Ford script one until I found this one pictured below at a recent meet.

[d.j. moordigian]

Are the damn dates accurate in the article..?

[wrndln]

Gary,
Are the edges radiusted all the way around the bar? It looks like it. Do you know if the dates in the article are correct like Dudley was asking? We both have cars within the date range the article states the hourglass bars were used. Probably the reason I haven't noticed them is I probably thought they were repro bars, like many repro shackles come with. However, repro shackle bars aren't shaped quite right.
Rusty Nelson

[brito36]

The original shackle bars were not sheared. They were 'coined' and should have a rounded edge.

[wrndln]

Brito36,
I think you have it wrong. Most shackle bars with straight sides were indeed sheared n the ends from bar stock. Only the figure 8 style were coined. The figure 8 style was only used for the first three months of 1928. I got this information from the fellow updating the shackle section of the Judging Guidelines for the next revision.
Rusty Nelson

[Charles Reese]

Can someone kindly post a photo demonstrating "coined" vs. "sheared" ... Preferably of the dog bone shaped bar being discussed. Thanx

[wrndln]

Charles,
Look at Vince's picture in post #2. The figure 8 on the right side is "coined". The center shackle bar is "sheared". The shackle bar on the far left is a carryover from the model T shackles and were used one the very early model A's.
Rusty Nelson

[Charles Reese]

from what i can determine “coined” edges mean they were struck from both sides simultaneously causing excess metal to pile up at meeting point on outer edge ...thus, would these bars (photos) be an example?

(wish they were script as they would then be correct for my Jan 28 vehicle)

[Gary Karr]

Charles, what you are picturing are sheared. The "coined" shackle bars have a rounded edge as pictured below.

[Charles Reese]

Another example of why FB site & "A" community are so great!

[Charles Reese]

Originally Posted by forever4

I believe what you are showing are aftermarket/repro, not Ford.

Agree, they seem to have a cheap plating as well ... But I did learn from the discussion ... since they were free, nothing lost ...