[Jack Richard]

There were two "styles" of the equalizer brake system on the Model A. The first was on the earlier 1928 cars (until about May) that had the so-called AR brakes. This system had the emergency brake handle on the left side, near the cowl panel. This emergency brake was connected to the middle equalizer bar that the foot brake operated, but it had an additional lever arm at the left end for the rod from the e-brake handle, so it activated all 4 brakes. When Ford was forced to add a separate emergency brake system, he moved the lever to in front of the shift tower (later to the right side of the shift tower) and it operated as shown in your photo above. This system used different brake drums and wheels and added brake bands in the rear drums for the emergency brakes which acted separately from the service (foot) brakes. The equalizer system worked the same as in the earlier system for the service brakes, and in theory pulled the brake rods with equal force when applied, as long as all were connected to a brake lever. This system was replaced in 1929 by the later style cross-shaft that was one piece and did not "equalize" the pressures on the rods, but pulled them all equal distance regardless of the resistance of the brake and distance needed to apply each brake. I have cars with both systems, and the equalizer does make brake adjustments simpler and brakes seem very effective, but is much more complicated to restore and assemble than the later one-piece cross shaft system. If you need help identifying what parts you need, try looking at a 1928 Ford parts book first, then either look at a well-restored or original early car, or send me a message and I will try to help.