The Ford Barn

ronn · 12-16-2024, 09:22 AM

can anyone tell me when the Powerhouse was discontinued in 1928?

thanks!

nkaminar · 12-16-2024, 10:16 AM

Deleted

Gary WA · 12-16-2024, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ronn

can anyone tell me when the Powerhouse was discontinued in 1928?

thanks!

Thru Jun 1928??

jrelliott · 12-16-2024, 10:32 AM

I have a September 11, 1928 build date on my fordor that had a power house generator. Do not know the exact date they were discontinued. The generators were well engineered.

ronn · 12-16-2024, 11:02 AM

Ok so august sept would be a good guess.

thanks!

Bob C · 12-16-2024, 11:34 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

The Judging Standards say July 1928

ronn · 12-16-2024, 02:07 PM

thanks Bob!

Marshall V. Daut · 12-16-2024, 07:56 PM

A local lady bought a new 1928 Business Coupe that was made in December, 1928. It still had the powerhouse generator and multidisk clutch. Since this happened in SE Iowa, I assume the car had been built in Detroit. Maybe the factory was using up its existing supply of these items before switching to the single disk clutch and three-brush generator? I have also read that in some overstocked assembly plants, Ford continued to install the multidisk clutch and powerhouse generator in AA trucks into 1929 until the supply was used up. Urban legend or the truth? It sounds like something Henry would do to save a buck and let nothing go to waste. You don't become a multi-millionaire by throwing away perfectly good inventory!
Marshall

jb-ob · 12-16-2024, 08:29 PM

I believe power house was used until mid 1929.

Probably listed in the Judging Standards.

rotorwrench · 12-17-2024, 11:39 AM

The power house was longer lived than 1928. It had the 5-brush and three brush versions and was used well up into 1929 right along with Autolite types. The powerhouse was a good unit but was a bit more costly to produce. The field coil arrangement was more complicated but the units were easier to adjust. They could put out more amperage than the Autolites too but not a lot more. I think cost to produce and the frailty of the brush ring were the big factors in it's eventual obsolescence.

Fullraceflathead · 12-18-2024, 12:37 PM

I have read that ford was paying royalties to use the powerhouse generator therefore he was in a hurry to replace it but my memory cannot tell me where I read this!

Steve Schmauch · 12-18-2024, 01:04 PM

Powerhouse generators were used exclusively from beginning of production to October1928. Style L1 generators and powerhouse generators were BOTH used in an overlap period from October 1928 to July 1929.

12-16-2024, 09:22 AM	#1
ronn Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: NNNNNNNNJJJJJJJJJJ Posts: 7,648	generator question can anyone tell me when the Powerhouse was discontinued in 1928? thanks!

12-16-2024, 10:16 AM	#2
nkaminar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 5,863	Re: generator question Deleted __________________ A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past. Last edited by nkaminar; 12-16-2024 at 09:13 PM.

12-16-2024, 10:32 AM	#4
jrelliott Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Pine, AZ Posts: 823	Re: generator question I have a September 11, 1928 build date on my fordor that had a power house generator. Do not know the exact date they were discontinued. The generators were well engineered.

12-16-2024, 11:02 AM	#5
ronn Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: NNNNNNNNJJJJJJJJJJ Posts: 7,648	Re: generator question Ok so august sept would be a good guess. thanks!

12-16-2024, 11:34 AM	#6
Bob C Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: So Cal Posts: 9,360	Re: generator question Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) The Judging Standards say July 1928

12-16-2024, 02:07 PM	#7
ronn Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: NNNNNNNNJJJJJJJJJJ Posts: 7,648	Re: generator question thanks Bob!

12-16-2024, 07:56 PM	#8
Marshall V. Daut Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Davenport, Iowa Posts: 2,627	Re: generator question A local lady bought a new 1928 Business Coupe that was made in December, 1928. It still had the powerhouse generator and multidisk clutch. Since this happened in SE Iowa, I assume the car had been built in Detroit. Maybe the factory was using up its existing supply of these items before switching to the single disk clutch and three-brush generator? I have also read that in some overstocked assembly plants, Ford continued to install the multidisk clutch and powerhouse generator in AA trucks into 1929 until the supply was used up. Urban legend or the truth? It sounds like something Henry would do to save a buck and let nothing go to waste. You don't become a multi-millionaire by throwing away perfectly good inventory! Marshall

12-16-2024, 08:29 PM	#9
jb-ob Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 787	Re: generator question I believe power house was used until mid 1929. Probably listed in the Judging Standards.

12-17-2024, 11:39 AM	#10
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 17,410	Re: generator question The power house was longer lived than 1928. It had the 5-brush and three brush versions and was used well up into 1929 right along with Autolite types. The powerhouse was a good unit but was a bit more costly to produce. The field coil arrangement was more complicated but the units were easier to adjust. They could put out more amperage than the Autolites too but not a lot more. I think cost to produce and the frailty of the brush ring were the big factors in it's eventual obsolescence.

12-18-2024, 12:37 PM	#11
Fullraceflathead Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Chillicothe, Missouri Posts: 1,684	Re: generator question I have read that ford was paying royalties to use the powerhouse generator therefore he was in a hurry to replace it but my memory cannot tell me where I read this! __________________ "If I asked people what they wanted they would have said faster horses." -Henry Ford "Primitive technology is not a design flaw" 1928 Ford Model A Roadster Pickup 1930 Gordon Smith Air Compressor 1941 Willy's Pickup 1960 Thunderbird-For Sale 1964 Buick Riviera 2x4 425 1965 Pontiac GTO, 455 Super Duty 2004 Dodge Ram SRT-10, V-10 Viper 1977 Charger Jet Boat,460 Ford,Jacuzzi Jet Front Engine Nostalgia Dragster,Supercharged 296 "Fullrace Flathead" Ford Engine Build up on DVD ask

12-18-2024, 01:04 PM	#12
Steve Schmauch Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Spokane, Washington Posts: 76	Re: generator question Powerhouse generators were used exclusively from beginning of production to October1928. Style L1 generators and powerhouse generators were BOTH used in an overlap period from October 1928 to July 1929.