Why are most bumper medallions gone??
 

I have one on my 29 coupe, thank god but every other model A I have bought has not had one - all 29's. Most pics I see of A's for sale do not have them. Why are they always missing? Why were they taken off in the first place? I would love to get one for my 29 CCPU but man, I cannot spend 200 on one and I would never run a reproduction. Is there a box of them stashed away in some junkyard somewhere??

Re: Why are most bumper medallions gone??
 

Easy to steal.

Re: Why are most bumper medallions gone??
 

Half the owner's don't know there should be one, but I can't explain the other half either. I too have wondered why so many are gone.

Re: Why are most bumper medallions gone??
 

Easy to steal maybe but then so would be the bumper clamps??

Re: Why are most bumper medallions gone??
 

When you "bump" something with Model A bumpers, the two bands spread and
shedding the center clamp is the result.

Re: Why are most bumper medallions gone??
 

Possibaly vibration made them fall off remember there werent many smooth roads back then.

Re: Why are most bumper medallions gone??
 

Because it does not hold the bumper on, when they get loose they are either removed or fall off.
When the bumper clamps work loose someone will tighten them.

Darryl in Fairbanks

Re: Why are most bumper medallions gone??
 

Re: Why are most bumper medallions gone??
 

very good replies guys, you are most likely right. Then we should be looking alongside roadsides, especially old roads. For real though, it is a good idea. I have found many old things along side old roads.

Re: Why are most bumper medallions gone??
 

I was looking at photos of Model A's taken in the mid 1930s. 80% of the cars are already missing the center bumper clamp (bumper medalions). Reason- they fall off easy. Look at old photos (in the MAFCA and MARC magazines) form the 30s and 40s and you will see what I mean. Remember the roads were rutted muddy bumpy roads.

Re: Why are most bumper medallions gone??
 

They were not taken off they fall off when one bumper blade is bumped causing the bracket on the rear of the bumper to twist off.

Re: Why are most bumper medallions gone??
 

Does any have a picture of one of these? Being new at this business I don't know if I know what they should look like. I have something on my 29 coupe in the center of the front bumper but I am not sure if it is one of these. So a picture would help out the old guy if anyone has one a picture. Thanks

Re: Why are most bumper medallions gone??
 

My guess is two reasons. As someone said they are easily knocked off. During it's life I would guess most Model A's pushed several other cars and it was an easy fatality. Second it is decorative not a service part. When it was knocked off there was no need to replace it.

Re: Why are most bumper medallions gone??
 

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/pictur...pictureid=4105

Is this a medallion????

Re: Why are most bumper medallions gone??
 

That is a medallion & a half. Rare early version with 'made in USA' or for some Model A's 'made in Canada'. Look after it!
The hitting something, flexing & pinging off of the medallion sounds 100% correct.

Re: Why are most bumper medallions gone??
 

I think a lot of these medallions were lost alongside the roadways. Roger Kauffman was a member in our Model A club would find these medallions along with other Model A parts while doing road maintenance for the state.

Re: Why are most bumper medallions gone??
 

We've had one on the coupe forever and i've always wondered what it was and it's significance. Now that I know, I like it a lot more! Are they rare? And if so, how rare?

Re: Why are most bumper medallions gone??
 

My coupe still has her original, that is why I started this thread. Great answers so far on such a small trincket.When I see a car with them it makes me value them more. (have no idea why) Maybe we should start a poll and sell how many still have an original medallion on their car, no aftermarkets count.