What cool item have you made from Model A parts?

[atch]

I was perusing the Barn this morning and came across a thread referencing a walnut cracker made from Model A steering box. This led me to searching for other similar threads but found none.

A friend has a soda/beer can crusher mounted on top of a 55-gallon drum. Wish I had a pic to show. It's also made from a steering box. 55 gallons of crushed aluminum cans brings in a tidy little windfall.

A friend made this slide hammer from a Model A brake rod and gave it to me.

So what other pieces of a Model A have you repurposed into something useful?

[rfitzpatrick]

Beware the Model A Police for destroying parts??
(i like it!)

[Kurt in NJ]

I had to make power steering for a overweight golf car ,the front part of the torque tube gave the space to couple the shafts

[Ray in La Mesa]

Made a fire poker from a brake rod & a clock from a cowl light for the motorhome. Outside door handle to control shutters on oil cooler on '70 VW van & 2 more for garage door handles, flagpole tie down from scroll door handle, coffee table using '29 running board & brackets. Accessories in my "Model A" bathroom: clock using oval instrument panel, 3 cupboard pulls from deck lid handles, toilet paper hanger from leaf spring ends, curtain tiebacks using headlight conduits, towel bars using front bumpers (cut to fit), toilet flush handle using '29 woodie door handle. Used a complete transmission for a speed controller on an ancient vertical mill. Headlights & taillights for yard lights & outer shop lights. Differential castor brackets from 21" wheel hub, wheel true checker from spindle & cut down brake drum to mount on engine stand.

[atch]

Originally Posted by Ray in La Mesa

Made a fire poker from a brake rod & a clock from a cowl light for the motorhome. Outside door handle to control shutters on oil cooler on '70 VW van & 2 more for garage door handles, flagpole tie down from scroll door handle, coffee table using '29 running board & brackets. Accessories in my "Model A" bathroom: clock using oval instrument panel, 3 cupboard pulls from deck lid handles, toilet paper hanger from leaf spring ends, curtain tiebacks using headlight conduits, towel bars using front bumpers (cut to fit), toilet flush handle using '29 woodie door handle. Used a complete transmission for a speed controller on an ancient vertical mill. Headlights & taillights for yard lights & outer shop lights. Differential castor brackets from 21" wheel hub, wheel true checker from spindle & cut down brake drum to mount on engine stand.

Ray,

Can you post any pix. These sound "interesting, very interesting" (said in my best Arte Johnson voice).

I'm sure that most of us would love to see said pix.

[nkaminar]

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A leaf spring, not necessarily from a Model A, makes a good lever for prying abalone off of rocks. I did a lot of abalone fishing on the Big Sur coast when it was still legal back in the early 1970's. You had to sneak up on the abalone because if they felt any vibration in the rock they would clamp down and you could not get the pry bar under them. By rocks, I am referring to ones that were as big as houses. This had to be done at low tide and you had to hold your breath when the waves came in. And wedge yourself in between the rocks so that you did not get washed out to sea. The end of the leaf spring was forged to a thin chisel shape to fit between the rock and abalone. The other end had a hole poked in while the spring was red hot for a lanyard to put on your wrist so that you did not loose the pry bar.

Same location was good for poke-poling. The wire part was made from the wire that held the head liners in on cars. It was attached to a bamboo pole. The wire was curved to fit between the rocks and had a thick piece of 3-foot long monofilament attached with a big hook and piece of squid. You had to be careful not to touch the wire to the rocks as this would scare the fish. If the current was washing in and out between the rocks you knew there was a hiding hole there for a fish.

[Brad in Germany]

Saw this one in a European Ford magazine where they have used a 1930 radiator shell as the opening trim of the fireplace:



Other Ford parts in the photo include a rear axel lamp, a differential housing clock on the mantel; plant stand legs were rear springs (or maybe bumpers); not sure what the candle sticks were or the parking brake handle on the wall to the right.

Brad in Maryland



.

[LEM]

Wall clock made from a red 28 steering wheel, headlight switch selector and license plate numbers from Hobby Lobby.

[Bigsnapper43]

Torque tube for a mount for a SUN DIAL.

[Ray in La Mesa]

Sorry atch, I haven't figured out how to post pictures yet.

[atch]

Ray,

Check your private messages...

[katy]

Spring leaves used for tire irons to R&R tires on rims.

[Bruce of MN]

Not cool, really, but I used some old radiator support rods to make long studs to repair a couple of card table chairs.

[JoeCB]

Many old rear axle housings morphed into sturdy jack stands back in the day.

Joe B

[ursus]

Originally Posted by JoeCB

Many old rear axle housings morphed into sturdy jack stands back in the day.

Joe B

And, as upright posts for bar stools.

[atch]

Originally Posted by JoeCB

Many old rear axle housings morphed into sturdy jack stands back in the day.

Joe B

Yeah. I've got a couple but I don't know what year they came from. All I know is that they are banjo rear bells. Could be anywhere up to '48. I inherited them somewhere 25-35 years ago and I don't remember where/who they came from.

I had forgotten about them until you posted above.

[JOHN CT]

How about model t connecting rods an exhaust clamp and a ford step plate It makes a great paper towel holder.

[P.S.]

As seen in background of many Paul Shinn videos - A clock.

[Ray in La Mesa]

Used an A connecting rod to build a steering column mount to bypass the gas tank mount. Also used one to mount the cable shifter T handle for my Mitchel o/d on the steering column, but had to hog it out to fit lower on the steering column.

[atch]

Ray, what you said reminded me of something.

Well, I didn't make it, and it's not even a Model A part, but it was IN a Model A so maybe it counts. I was at a car show about 30 years ago and there was a pretty radical Model A coupe hot rod there. When I looked inside I saw the steering column drop was made from a connecting rod (of unknown origin) that had a perfect bend in it. The big end went around the steering column at just the right angle. The piston pin hole had been cut off of the small end and it was perfectly vertical hanging from the dash. I asked the owner how he got that perfect bend in a connecting rod and he said "that's just the way it looked when it came out of the side of the block. I'll never forget that story.