The Ford Barn

johnbuckley · 09-08-2012, 04:59 AM

For years I've walked from side to side of phaetons to fold the roof up or down wondering if it's going go to suddenly collapse or get stuck.Is there a recommended way to do it?

Al · 09-08-2012, 05:30 AM

I've always done it the same way, never any problems. Well once, when I wasn't paying attention, caught my finger between the irons......ouch! My fingernail did grow back.

sethkestenbaum · 09-08-2012, 08:43 AM

John, I do it the same way. Slowly and side to side. Occasionally I will recruit some help so I don't have to go side to side.

BRENT in 10-uh-C · 09-08-2012, 08:45 AM

Believe this or not, when the irons are all correctly restored and the bows are the proper length (i.e.: no binding!), you can climb into the back seat after the front has been disconnected and start by lifting and pulling rearward to lay the top back onto the saddles. Then while sitting in the rear seat, reach over and pull down each side from "over-center" and with your hand on the front bow pull downward it will easily fold like an accordion. Ford actually had films beginning around 1923 showing his customer how the new one-man top was to be operated. Five years later by the advent of the Model-A, drivers pretty much knew how to operate them back in the day as standard practice.

Jim/GA · 09-08-2012, 09:21 AM

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Someone with a Phaeton should make a video showing the one-man top folding procedure and post it on YouTube. That would be very helpful.

Or, Brent, post a copy of that original Ford film as a video on YouTube. That would be cool.

09-08-2012, 04:59 AM	#1
johnbuckley Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 1,441	How do you fold the phaeton roof For years I've walked from side to side of phaetons to fold the roof up or down wondering if it's going go to suddenly collapse or get stuck.Is there a recommended way to do it?

09-08-2012, 05:30 AM	#2
Al Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Dunmore, PA Posts: 59	Re: How do you fold the phaeton roof I've always done it the same way, never any problems. Well once, when I wasn't paying attention, caught my finger between the irons......ouch! My fingernail did grow back.

09-08-2012, 08:43 AM	#3
sethkestenbaum Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Westchester County, NY Posts: 632	Re: How do you fold the phaeton roof John, I do it the same way. Slowly and side to side. Occasionally I will recruit some help so I don't have to go side to side. __________________ Seth Kestenbaum www.oldcarroadtrip.com

09-08-2012, 08:45 AM	#4
BRENT in 10-uh-C Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Eastern Tennessee Posts: 11,507	Re: How do you fold the phaeton roof Believe this or not, when the irons are all correctly restored and the bows are the proper length (i.e.: no binding!), you can climb into the back seat after the front has been disconnected and start by lifting and pulling rearward to lay the top back onto the saddles. Then while sitting in the rear seat, reach over and pull down each side from "over-center" and with your hand on the front bow pull downward it will easily fold like an accordion. Ford actually had films beginning around 1923 showing his customer how the new one-man top was to be operated. Five years later by the advent of the Model-A, drivers pretty much knew how to operate them back in the day as standard practice. __________________ . BRENT in 10-uh-C . www.model-a-ford.com ...(...Finally Updated!! ) .

09-08-2012, 09:21 AM	#5
Jim/GA Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Young Harris, GA Posts: 1,818	Re: How do you fold the phaeton roof Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Someone with a Phaeton should make a video showing the one-man top folding procedure and post it on YouTube. That would be very helpful. Or, Brent, post a copy of that original Ford film as a video on YouTube. That would be cool. __________________ Jim Cannon Former MAFCA Technical Director "Have a Model A day!"