Model A Accessories

[Y-Blockhead]

After seeing the referral to the "BAT" intake manifold in another thread, It got me to wondering how many members have various "accessories of old" that are either installed on your car or you have collected? Either listed in "Those Wonderful Unauthorized Accessories for the Model A" book or not.

I know a lot have heaters and such but does anyone have the more obscure accessories? I bet some of you guys have some neat 'stuff'

I have a Trico vacuum operated defroster fan and a spotlight.





I also have a Wells starter solenoid to replace the foot starter of unknown vintage.

[alexiskai]

There was that guy on the thread a couple weeks ago who had an original Phillips timing advance mechanism.

[Gene F]

I have a sportlight of some kind. Also a tire gage, and a electrical (diagnostic) gage of some kind. I always think those newfangled water/oil/gas canteens on the running boards look cool.

[Brad in Germany]

I've collected some era APCO brackets and gauges:



Brad in Maryland

[Y-Blockhead]

Originally Posted by Brad in Germany

I've collected some era APCO brackets and gauges:



Brad in Maryland

Wow Brad. Nice collection.

[Stretch Cab]

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I have a couple different spotlights, a clock mirror, tire gauge, trunk rack, some manifold heaters and I guess that is all.

Edit: I forgot the real oval porcelain Ford sign.

[Bob-A]

I've got a few Model-A accessory goodies, but there mostly stashed away.
However, I do run a "Simmons" Swan Manifold intake manifold on my '31 deluxe roadster.


Bob-A

[Bob Bidonde]

I would like to have an airplane mascot. For info about accessories, get this book.

[Y-Blockhead]

Originally Posted by Bob Bidonde

I would like to have an airplane mascot. For info about accessories, get this book.

Bob, yes I mentioned that book in post #1. What I was interested in is what items from "Those Wonderful Unauthorized Accessories for the Model A" book that members actually have on their car or in their collection.

[Bob-A]

A Moto-Meter "Model-A" steering column mount temperature gauge set up. With all of its mounting accessories, also came with original instructions.


Bob-A

[Brad in Germany]

I've collected some car clocks, clock mirrors, and some oil gauges (on the right in this photo), etc.... :

.....and a couple other oil pressure gauges:


Brad in Maryland

[henry's 31]

Awesome,


Thanks for sharing!

[Werner]

Hi,

I have a vacuum meter and an inverse oiler (Marvel), reserve cans, front toolbox.

[Brad in Germany]

Two "Rainbo-Cap" dash light covers:





Brad in Maryland

[J Franklin]

The rainbow cap is reproduced. some of the suppliers sell them, or did before covid.

[Ruth]

Originally Posted by J Franklin

The rainbow cap is reproduced. some of the suppliers sell them.

I think a lot of the old accessories are being reproduced. But a lot of the ones listed in "Those Wonderful Unauthorized Accessories for the Model A" are pretty interesting and are not reproduced. That's probably a good thing in some examples.

I wonder how well the Boyle "Flat Seat" valves works? And can you imagine a Gear Shift Guide?

[Bob-A]

This is another item from the "......Unauthorized Accessories for the Model A Ford" book that I have shown. It is a down draft Bendix Stromberg carburetor set up. The ad. for it shows a date of October, 1931. So it was available when the Model-A was still a new car. I've got three intake manifolds, two with Bendix Stromberg in raised letters on them. Two of the Stromberg DXR-2 carbs and one later BXV-2 replacement carb. Someday I hope to restore one of the set ups for my '31 roadster.


Bob-A

[J Franklin]

Originally Posted by Ruth

I wonder how well the Boyle "Flat Seat" valves works? And can you imagine a Gear Shift Guide?

The gearshift guide was needed because the Ford the farmer traded in shifted very differently!

[burner31]

A heater in the winter is always a nice accessory, but some tend to be noisey and expensive

[Bruce of MN]

Heater, indeed!

[Brad in Germany]

To prevent the theft of your Moto-meter:



Brad in Maryland

[The Master Cylinder]

I have one of those coal burning foot warmers, tho I have never used it. I'm afraid to get gassed out from the fumes!

[John Dayhuff]

Bumping this back up to the top, would love to see more.

[Bob-A]

Not shown in the "....unauthorized accessories" book. This Appleton spotlight
I picked up off of eBay some years ago. Is very interesting as it was specifically designed to fit '28-'29 Model-A open cars. I have sold the car, but kept the light. And have found a better reflector and a glass lens for it.


Bob-A

[Brad in Germany]

....an original "Air Filter" by Air-Maze Corporation:



Brad in Maryland

[DKnapp]

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One of the rarer Model A accessories is the after market wood steering wheel. I attribute this rarity to the fact that this wood wheel cost $7.50 in the Model A years. That was a good chunk on money then to replace a probably perfect steering wheel. So, the original wood wheels are extremely hard to find. I never could find an original (have only looked for 50+ years!). I ended up making one and then had several requests for them. I quit making them after number ten as they take too many hours and at 85 I still have other things on my bucket list. See the original ad and pictures of one of my 12 sided Walnut wood wheels.

[Y-Blockhead]

DKnapp, That is beautiful!! A true craftsman indeed. You should be very proud of your steering wheel and knob.

[sjhark]

My accessories are a set of overriders on the bumpers. They were used to keep bumpers from overlapping when pushing another car. I hope to get them chromed and installed once the car has been painted.

[John Dayhuff]

Originally Posted by sjhark

My accessories are a set of overriders on the bumpers. They were used to keep bumpers from overlapping when pushing another car. I hope to get them chromed and installed once the car has been painted.

Hmm...interesting.

[Brad in Germany]

Various NOS Moto-Lites (light that attaches to the front of the MotoMeter to light it up at night):



Brad in Maryland

[John Dayhuff]

That sounds cool. Any one got any pictures of one installed and lit up?

[Werner]

Brad,

Light that attaches to the front of the MotoMeter to light it up at night ...

Please, tell me what does that mean with "MotoMeter"?

[Brad in Germany]

Originally Posted by Werner

Brad,



Please, tell me what does that mean with "MotoMeter"?

As an example, this is an original Moto-Meter for Fords produced in Köln, Germany in 1931. You can see the word "Moto-Meter" in the small text under the Ford script:



The light is held on to the front side of the Moto-Meter using the Moto-Meter's outer ring mounting screws. The wire is then connected to the headlight wires so that the Moto-Meter lights up when you turn on the headlights.

MFG (mit Ford Grüße) aus den USA,
Brad in Maryland

[Werner]

Tach Brad,

hm, naja, maybe not really understood for sure. The lamp is mounted in front of the temperature gauge when viewed in the direction of travel?

And shines colorful forward?


Beste Gruesse!


P. S.: Tolle Sammlung!

[McMimmcs]

Originally Posted by DKnapp

One of the rarer Model A accessories is the after market wood steering wheel. I attribute this rarity to the fact that this wood wheel cost $7.50 in the Model A years. That was a good chunk on money then to replace a probably perfect steering wheel. So, the original wood wheels are extremely hard to find. I never could find an original (have only looked for 50+ years!). I ended up making one and then had several requests for them. I quit making them after number ten as they take too many hours and at 85 I still have other things on my bucket list. See the original ad and pictures of one of my 12 sided Walnut wood wheels.

You should be very proud of your craftsmanship. Wayne

[katy]

Fender mount parking light:

[alexiskai]

Originally Posted by katy

Fender mount parking light:

Hey do you have a picture of the other side of that light? And who's the manufacturer?

[katy]

The other side looks exactly the same, there is no manufacturer's name either on the box or the light. This thing is at least 50 years old, I've had it a loooong time.

[CHuDWah]

Fulton Pull-Up Starter - I think it's in the book mentioned in the OP. It came on the first car we restored, which was in a lot worse shape than shown here - probably was the most valuable part on it at the time. In the first pic, you can see the lever that clamps to the steering column bracket. In the second, you can see the rod that replaces the starter pedal and connects the lever to the starter switch (accessory marble gearshift knob also in that pic). As the name implies, pulling up the lever activates the starter - came in especially handy as my right foot doesn't work real well.

No pix, but another car had one of those oil filler caps with the flexible metal hose to direct fumes under the car - they seem pretty common.

[Brad in Germany]

Originally Posted by CHuDWah

Fulton Pull-Up Starter - I think it's in the book mentioned in the OP. It came on the first car we restored, which was in a lot worse shape than shown here - probably was the most valuable part on it at the time. In the first pic, you can see the lever that clamps to the steering column bracket. In the second, you can see the rod that replaces the starter pedal and connects the lever to the starter switch (accessory marble gearshift knob also in that pic). As the name implies, pulling up the lever activates the starter - came in especially handy as my right foot doesn't work real well.

No pix, but another car had one of those oil filler caps with the flexible metal hose to direct fumes under the car - they seem pretty common.

Here is something similar, but it attaches to the spark lever rod so that when you push the spark lever all the way up, it engages the starter motor:




Brad in Maryland

[John Dayhuff]

Very cool and interesting, keep them coming guys....

[alexiskai]

Barn member VT Cruzan generously sent me his original Phillips automatic spark advance and here it is.

The torus weight is engraved with "PAT. APL'D FOR / F. G. PHILLIPS STOUGHTON MASS."

The torus is notably heavier than the modern Nu-Rex replica. Maybe twice the weight. I don't have a Nu-Rex for comparison, this is just my memory of it. The Nu-Rex torus is chamfered on the outside edges to save weight. Otherwise the design is nearly identical.

This unit is worn beyond repair. As seen in photo 2, the guide pins and the groove are severely abraded. This would cause several degrees' slop in the rotor. The torsion spring that controls the amount of advance per rpm has lost 90% of its tension, probably as a result of having been seized partway through its travel for decades.

The flat spring that holds the oil pump drive bearing in place is in good condition and appears identical to the one pictured on fordgarage.com.