Exotic Accessories On Your Model "A"

[Bob Bidonde]

What are the most exotic accessories on your Model "A"? Please post pictures of them.

[Marshall V. Daut]

Bob -
There was almost an entire issue of "The Restorer" in the 1980's (?) dedicated to Model A accessories, many exotic ones as you have requested. The issue consisted of contemporary ads for such items, as well as subscribers' Model A's sporting surviving accessories. If one could dig up that issue, it would provide plenty of eye candy for those people interested in Model A accessories.
I also seem to recall an article - perhaps in the same issue - that featured one owner's Model A that sported something like 157 original accessories. Many photos and a list of each accessory accompanied the text. Another issue of "The Restorer" was dedicated to unusual radiator caps, which would be considered accessories, too.
Along these lines, Rainmaker Ron's 1931 slant-windshield Town Sedan had many accessories installed. I believe he posted many photos of the car here. Perhaps a search would bring up those postings?
Anyway, these are pretty good staring points for your quest, Bob. Heck, you probably have all these back issues gathering dust on your library shelves and have forgotten about them!
Marshall

[JayJay]

My '31 came to me with a period AM radio installed. The tuning head and volume control was attached to the steering column, and the actual radio and speaker was in the passenger footwell. Antenna was a length of wire attached to the underside of the frame via isolators. And it worked!

Unfortunately it interfered with my co-pilot's foot access, so I removed it. Don't miss it much, I replaced it with a Bluetooth speaker attached to the top of the dash with magnets.

It also came with a period coolant heater (the "Ha-Dees"), which is a bit of overkill for California. That is still in the car.

I'll have the radio for sale at my booth at Turlock (JJ-52)...

[gdmn852]

Hello, the radio is an interesting accessory, but I could imagine my wife complaining about it . As the Ford Barn mentioned before, probably most Model A didn’t have the accessories that you see today on restorations . Still interesting to see what was available.On my on going ( forever) restoration I am removing some of the accessories, like the running board step plates, and thinking of replacing the passenger sidemount. Probably the most common would be the Flying Quail .

[Vern]

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The cowl vents on my '28 roadster are a pretty unique accessory. In over 30 years, I have only ever seen one other set and they were at a swap meet, marked at $400.
The bud vase I added for my wife's pleasure. A friend made up the special bracket.