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02-28-2023, 06:44 PM | #1 |
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Brass model “T”s
When did Ford stop production of the brass styling on the T, was it all at once or did they phase it out?. A few years back we rode in a brass T at Greenfield Village it’s the only old car my wife likes.
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02-28-2023, 06:50 PM | #2 |
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Re: Brass model “T”s
16 was the end
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02-28-2023, 09:08 PM | #3 |
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Re: Brass model “T”s
"it’s the only old car my wife likes." You better get one, then. ;-)
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02-28-2023, 10:32 PM | #4 |
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Re: Brass model “T”s
Here's a "T" I had about 30 years ago. The "FatMan" steering wheel (in the up position).
Had a 2.3 Ford in it and an ALL Chrome "Jag" rear under it, disc brakes all around. It was an absolute Blast to drive,,, went to California. Click on pix to Enlarge. .
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03-01-2023, 02:39 AM | #5 |
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Re: Brass model “T”s
Good chance it was one of the several 1914s built for the centennial.
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03-01-2023, 07:19 AM | #6 |
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Re: Brass model “T”s
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03-01-2023, 09:45 AM | #7 |
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Re: Brass model “T”s
World War I was having affects on the availability of materials and Ford wanted to mass manufacture the cars which whittled away the brass use in that time frame. The 1917 cars were different in a lot of ways besides the lower use of brass. Sheet metal processes were improving and shapes were more rounded and flowing than the earlier brass era cars. Polishing the brass was a chore and a lot of folks were tiring of visible brass on automobiles.
The Horseless Carriage Club of America cut the date of brass era to January 1, 1916 but they later allowed a Nickel registry to include the cars with more nickel plating than brass. Nickel plating didn't need as much care as bare brass so some companies went that route even in the brass era. |
03-03-2023, 01:11 AM | #8 | |
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Re: Brass model “T”s
Quote:
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The only thing nice about being imperfect is the joy it brings to others.... "Silver rings, your butt! Them's washers!" "We shot our way out of that town for a dollar's worth of steel holes!" - from 'The Wild Bunch' - 1969 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NReUd2_0u0 |
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03-26-2023, 06:03 PM | #9 |
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Re: Brass model “T”s
Please post some pix of your Brass "T"s in this forum
.
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03-26-2023, 07:18 PM | #10 |
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Re: Brass model “T”s
Here is one I owned for a while. It once did a cold free start the first time I re-awakened it from a winter rest. What a surprise!
Last edited by J Franklin; 03-26-2023 at 07:24 PM. |
03-26-2023, 07:49 PM | #11 |
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Re: Brass model “T”s
Thank you Mr. Franklin for posting a picture of that very nice looking T,
(Tin Lizzy) is what they were referred to back in the day, I believe... Also, you mention the "free start" your T did at one time. I have heard very little about the so called "free start" that was possible with the T. Could you, or other members please explain more about how that happens. It would be really interesting to learn about that anomaly ? Thanks .
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03-26-2023, 08:08 PM | #12 |
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Re: Brass model “T”s
I have 2 brass T's. one is a 1911 Mother-In-Law Roadster and the other is an open runabout with an aftermarket body. John
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03-26-2023, 08:10 PM | #13 |
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Re: Brass model “T”s
Piston just over top dead center with charge of fuel. Roller in timer closing circuit. Turn key to battery on switch, coil fires, boom the engine starts. Free start is generally anytime the engine starts without cranking it over beforehand or can be when engine is primed by cranking over a couple of times with key off, then without more cranking, turn the key on and it starts.
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03-26-2023, 08:38 PM | #14 | |
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Re: Brass model “T”s
Quote:
Thanks John, they are a couple of Great looking Brass T's. Also, thanks redmodelt for explaining the "Free Start" That's interesting to know... .
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03-26-2023, 09:12 PM | #15 |
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Re: Brass model “T”s
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The only thing nice about being imperfect is the joy it brings to others.... "Silver rings, your butt! Them's washers!" "We shot our way out of that town for a dollar's worth of steel holes!" - from 'The Wild Bunch' - 1969 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NReUd2_0u0 |
03-26-2023, 09:12 PM | #16 | |
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Re: Brass model “T”s
Quote:
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The only thing nice about being imperfect is the joy it brings to others.... "Silver rings, your butt! Them's washers!" "We shot our way out of that town for a dollar's worth of steel holes!" - from 'The Wild Bunch' - 1969 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NReUd2_0u0 |
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03-28-2023, 08:53 PM | #17 |
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Re: Brass model “T”s
I have a brass car but it's not a T. It's a Maxwell but nobody really makes anything for them so I have the T books to order things. The car cover I ordered for a T fits very well.
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03-28-2023, 10:00 PM | #18 |
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Re: Brass model “T”s
1940 convert, I think a lot of folks here would enjoy seeing some pix of your
Brass Maxwell. I, for one, would like to see and compare to the "T" s. .
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03-28-2023, 10:08 PM | #19 |
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Re: Brass model “T”s
1912 Mascotte not my pic but it's my car in Springfield IL. I can't get it to show up so I'll post the link.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/myoldp...n/photostream/ |
03-28-2023, 10:21 PM | #20 |
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Re: Brass model “T”s
Looks like I'll have to update a photo host to post them.
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03-29-2023, 10:06 AM | #21 |
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Re: Brass model “T”s
They can be posted from your computer but you may need a few more posts before it will work. The FB site required 15 posts before you can use the private message system and that may affect photo posting but I don't know for certain.
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03-29-2023, 05:34 PM | #22 |
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Re: Brass model “T”s
Okay thanks I wasn't aware of how it worked.
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04-01-2023, 02:52 PM | #23 |
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Re: Brass model “T”s
I usually get plenty of free starts with my 1909 Model T, but always when the engine is warm after a run and then starting it shortly after. I never heard of a free start after the car was sleeping all Winter, unless you cranked it with the ignition switch off to prime the cylinders and then turned the ignition switch on.
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04-01-2023, 03:33 PM | #24 |
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Re: Brass model “T”s
I've had mine hit and spin over a few times but never actually start.
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04-01-2023, 06:30 PM | #25 |
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Re: Brass model “T”s
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04-02-2023, 11:28 AM | #26 |
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Re: Brass model “T”s
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04-02-2023, 12:19 PM | #27 |
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Re: Brass model “T”s
My 11 Touring car. Art
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04-02-2023, 01:59 PM | #28 |
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Re: Brass model “T”s
That's a nice car.
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04-02-2023, 02:32 PM | #29 |
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Re: Brass model “T”s
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The only thing nice about being imperfect is the joy it brings to others.... "Silver rings, your butt! Them's washers!" "We shot our way out of that town for a dollar's worth of steel holes!" - from 'The Wild Bunch' - 1969 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NReUd2_0u0 |
04-03-2023, 10:16 PM | #30 |
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Re: Brass model “T”s
My grandmother around 1911-13 - Brass car?
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04-05-2023, 01:14 AM | #31 |
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Re: Brass model “T”s
That '11 Touring is sure a dandy car!
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04-05-2023, 11:29 PM | #32 |
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Re: Brass model “T”s
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The only thing nice about being imperfect is the joy it brings to others.... "Silver rings, your butt! Them's washers!" "We shot our way out of that town for a dollar's worth of steel holes!" - from 'The Wild Bunch' - 1969 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NReUd2_0u0 |
04-06-2023, 12:46 PM | #33 |
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Re: Brass model “T”s
Thanks Pete, for taking the time to ENLARGE these pictures, making
them easier to see the detail in the photos,,,you'r a good man .
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04-08-2023, 06:51 PM | #34 | |
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Re: Brass model “T”s
I own a '14 Runabout that is presently being converted into a Sears, Roebuck Agents car, a '15 Touring, and a '15 Speedster. Pix below... Remember; 'Brass has Class!!' Quote:
. |
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04-08-2023, 08:35 PM | #35 | |
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Re: Brass model “T”s
Quote:
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The only thing nice about being imperfect is the joy it brings to others.... "Silver rings, your butt! Them's washers!" "We shot our way out of that town for a dollar's worth of steel holes!" - from 'The Wild Bunch' - 1969 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NReUd2_0u0 Last edited by petehoovie; 04-08-2023 at 08:50 PM. |
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04-08-2023, 08:45 PM | #36 |
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Re: Brass model “T”s
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04-08-2023, 08:51 PM | #37 | |
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Re: Brass model “T”s
Quote:
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The only thing nice about being imperfect is the joy it brings to others.... "Silver rings, your butt! Them's washers!" "We shot our way out of that town for a dollar's worth of steel holes!" - from 'The Wild Bunch' - 1969 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NReUd2_0u0 |
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04-08-2023, 08:56 PM | #38 |
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Re: Brass model “T”s
Sorry I quoted the wrong post. I meant to ask BRENT in 10-uh-C.
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04-08-2023, 09:08 PM | #39 |
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Re: Brass model “T”s
Thanks Brent for submitting your great Brass T pix...
And again, thanks to petehoovie for taking the time to Enlarge them .
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04-10-2023, 08:38 AM | #40 | |
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Re: Brass model “T”s
Quote:
Then, there are the non brass-era cars such as a few more Ts and a couple of As. Finally, add in a mix of 'family cars' such as '29 Model-A Phaeton that my great, great Aunt & Uncle purchased new on their honeymoon, a '49 Chrysler Windsor that my late FiL 'courted' my MiL in, a '54 Hudson Hornet that my grandpa purchased new, a 1979 Chevrolet M/C that was the last car my grandmother had, ...and as you can see I have too many old cars. |
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04-10-2023, 08:42 PM | #41 |
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Re: Brass model “T”s
1916 was the last year but I have a 1915 and love it. Just put on a new set of Universal Whites over the winter and they really make a brass T Pop. I also have a 24 Coupe that I removed the package shelf on and the legroom is amazing.
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04-10-2023, 10:52 PM | #42 | |
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Re: Brass model “T”s
Quote:
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The only thing nice about being imperfect is the joy it brings to others.... "Silver rings, your butt! Them's washers!" "We shot our way out of that town for a dollar's worth of steel holes!" - from 'The Wild Bunch' - 1969 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NReUd2_0u0 |
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04-11-2023, 06:48 AM | #43 | |
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Re: Brass model “T”s
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That is a bunch. I grew up around a large collection of 30's and later. My Maxwell was our only one older than 1928. It was just overwhelming to try to keep up. It's now down to just three which at times still seems to be a bit much to care for. |
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04-11-2023, 07:14 AM | #44 | |
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Re: Brass model “T”s
Quote:
I like the looks of the white tires but they seem like they would be hard to keep white. On another board they have talked about sometimes they turn a little brownish with age. |
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04-11-2023, 09:48 PM | #45 |
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Re: Brass model “T”s
You do need to clean the tires like white walls but its worth the extra 15 minutes when washing the car when needed. As for turning brown that was a real thing 5 or so years back but not today.
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04-11-2023, 09:51 PM | #46 |
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Re: Brass model “T”s
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04-11-2023, 10:03 PM | #47 |
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Re: Brass model “T”s
It was all white tires as they all come from the same plant in Vietnam regardless of brand. If I recall it was a release agent they were using on the molds. I got a set of Universal Whites from Coker at Christmas with free shipping and 10% off.....I think they were just under 200 each. They do not last as long as the black tires but I think most of us have tires age out before we run the threads off. Its a personnel choice however to me the white tires make the car look so much better that its worth it.
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04-12-2023, 10:06 AM | #48 |
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Re: Brass model “T”s
The added carbon black was what made the natural rubber more durable. The white walls were a band of natural rubber added in during the wrapping process. On an all white tire, the whole carcass is made from natural rubber but it usually has some carbon black mixed in. It was enough to make the a sort of grayish white. When these tires were first made, automobile and aircraft tires were a relatively new invention. The wheel rims to take them were too. In less than a century, tires went from natural rubber and reinforcing materials to the more modern steel belted radials tires that have a lot more syntheyic rubber mixed in.
A lot of different materials are used now but natural latex rubber is still a part of the mix along with nylon and rayon synthetic fibers for reinforcement and more steel wire for the rim beads. Sulfur and zinc oxide are still used in the vulcanizing process. The reproduction tires are a lot stronger for the modern synthetics mixed in there for strength of the carcass and durability completed tire. The old originals didn't last nearly as well and that's why most folks carried their own patch kits and Ford included tire pumps & spoons as part of the tool set. Folks only carried a spare for the times a patch kit would no longer repair a tire or when they didn't want to get as dirty. Last edited by rotorwrench; 04-12-2023 at 10:13 AM. |
04-13-2023, 06:46 PM | #49 |
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Re: Brass model “T”s
I have had the 11 out and driven ten miles two days in a row. Art
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04-13-2023, 07:37 PM | #50 |
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Re: Brass model “T”s
That looks like a nice area to take a drive. I pretty much stopped driving mine without an escort a few years ago. Not really because of fear of it breaking. I've had several people cut me off and I guess they assume it has good brakes. The last few times I drove it on the street was in Springfield IL for the Secretary of State Show last fall. Then in Champaign IL for a car show but I had an escort.
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04-13-2023, 11:50 PM | #51 |
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Re: Brass model “T”s
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The only thing nice about being imperfect is the joy it brings to others.... "Silver rings, your butt! Them's washers!" "We shot our way out of that town for a dollar's worth of steel holes!" - from 'The Wild Bunch' - 1969 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NReUd2_0u0 |
04-23-2023, 07:05 PM | #52 | |
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Re: Brass model “T”s
Quote:
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04-24-2023, 07:01 AM | #53 |
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Re: Brass model “T”s
I never really considered it. It has a pretty faithful to stock restoration. It also doesn't have brake lights or turn signals.
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04-24-2023, 07:43 PM | #54 |
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Re: Brass model “T”s
You may want to look at some photos of the Rocky Mountain brakes. They are bolt on and look period correct. Trust me brakes on a T are a game changer. To me the stopping is almost as good as on a Model A.
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04-24-2023, 10:05 PM | #55 |
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Re: Brass model “T”s
I've heard of them but never seen a T up close with them on it. I'll have to look into them further.
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04-25-2023, 05:40 AM | #56 |
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Re: Brass model “T”s
Rocky Mountains are a must on a Model T. If anything between the engine and the rear wheels breaks, you will have no brakes at all!!!
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04-25-2023, 06:46 AM | #57 |
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Re: Brass model “T”s
My Maxwell is set up more like a modern system with expanding drum brakes. Then it also has outside clamping on the same drum. All on rear and nothing on front.
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04-26-2023, 09:35 PM | #58 |
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Re: Brass model “T”s
My 1915 Touring has rear disk brakes and they are better but look to modern. If you plan on doing a lot of driving disks are the best you can get. I have no complaints on the stopping ability.
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04-26-2023, 10:22 PM | #59 |
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Re: Brass model “T”s
I looked at a set of Rocky Mountain brakes and they look very similar to my factory brakes. I've been thinking of trying to clean the brake lining to see if that helps. It's important to me to keep it looking stock. I don't think I'll ever drive it a lot. Usually I park the enclosed trailer within a block or two of where it will be displayed. I've done a couple of weddings and I think 10 miles in the same day is about the farthest I've ever driven it.
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04-27-2023, 05:23 AM | #60 |
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Re: Brass model “T”s
I think I put on about 1500 miles last year and I thought that was very little.....I guess if you never drive it who needs brakes lol
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06-05-2023, 04:29 PM | #61 |
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Re: Brass model “T”s
Curious if there are other members with Brass "T"s that
would like to post a picture, or even a few pictures of it. thx .
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06-05-2023, 08:08 PM | #62 |
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Re: Brass model “T”s
I'd like to see them also. It's not often I see brass cars anymore.
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