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04-24-2024, 02:17 PM | #1 |
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Motor Meter or Quail
Guys/Gals:
It may have been mentioned before but what did the Model A roll off the line with. The Quail or the Motor Meter (with or w/o the wreath). Want to get what is accurate for mine. Thanks!
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--------------------------------------- 1929 Model A Tudor "Stay away from negative people, they have a problem for every solution" Model A Ford Club of America Model A Restorers Club Motor City A's Club |
04-24-2024, 02:28 PM | #2 |
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Re: Motor Meter or Quail
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04-24-2024, 04:04 PM | #3 |
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Re: Motor Meter or Quail
Don't. Took my car to the hardware store(s) a few years back, and someone tried to muscle my moto-meter off, and all they did was break the neck of my radiator. The lady at Snyders told me she hears that a lot. She said I think they don't realize they are locked on when they attempt to steal the radiator cap. Mine has been on the workbench ever since.
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04-24-2024, 09:18 PM | #4 |
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Re: Motor Meter or Quail
Dealer installed Item.
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04-25-2024, 06:20 AM | #5 |
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Re: Motor Meter or Quail
The Quail and Moto-Meter were both Ford authorized accessories sold by Ford dealers. My '31 roadster came with an original "Ford" Moto-Meter and locking cap. Both were made of pot-metal. The Moto-Meter is still on the car and works. I did have to replace the locking cap with a repo one. The pic shows an NOS Ford Moto-Meter that I ran for a while with a 1935 French flying lady hood ornament. The NOS Moto-Meter and Lady are back in the display cabinet now. I believe the original Moto-Meters are more accurate then the repop ones.
Bob-A "Skirts are for Women not Car Fenders" |
04-25-2024, 06:24 AM | #6 |
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Re: Motor Meter or Quail
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pretty sad what this country has become............! |
04-25-2024, 08:04 AM | #7 |
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Re: Motor Meter or Quail
Neither the Motor Meter or the Thermo-Quail are effective in warning you of an imminent over heat. Both let you know when the over heating is occurring. So these two accessories are cosmetic in my opinion. I suggest you opt for a temperature gauge if you do not already have one.
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04-25-2024, 09:12 AM | #8 |
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Re: Motor Meter or Quail
Bob Bidonde is correct, if you want to protect your if engine then certainly get an in cabin temp gauge .
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04-25-2024, 09:28 AM | #9 |
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Re: Motor Meter or Quail
Apparently this country hasn't just become this way since they made locking radiator caps in 1930. But I agree with what you are saying.
I use a standard original type S/S radiator cap, mainly because the Vintique Repo junk doesn't seal and the pot metal corrodes.
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The Master Cylinder Enjoying life at the beach in SoCal... Last edited by The Master Cylinder; 04-25-2024 at 09:33 AM. |
04-25-2024, 10:10 AM | #10 | |
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Re: Motor Meter or Quail
Quote:
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04-26-2024, 06:43 AM | #11 |
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Re: Motor Meter or Quail
I ended up getting just the normal Quail as for looks, I don't drive her all that much so not worried about overheat.
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--------------------------------------- 1929 Model A Tudor "Stay away from negative people, they have a problem for every solution" Model A Ford Club of America Model A Restorers Club Motor City A's Club |
04-26-2024, 09:12 AM | #12 |
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Re: Motor Meter or Quail
They will even steal your regular radiator cap.
Doesn’t matter where you live. If you leave your car in a parking lot, your asking for trouble. |
04-26-2024, 09:27 AM | #13 |
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Re: Motor Meter or Quail
I agree with WHN, society has gone to getting things on the cheap. A.K.A. 5-Finger Discount.
When not being driven, 'Darla' sits in a storage unit double locked. Away from prying eyes, and quick fingers.
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--------------------------------------- 1929 Model A Tudor "Stay away from negative people, they have a problem for every solution" Model A Ford Club of America Model A Restorers Club Motor City A's Club |
04-26-2024, 02:53 PM | #14 |
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Re: Motor Meter or Quail
I have thought of that. I have one my painter painted for me when he painted my car. A whole lot less attractive, but I get your point.
Kind of a low-life...besides what are they gonna do with a part off an almost 100 year old car..... Every time I think about what happened to my car I think of that scene in the movie Casino when they caught those two guys cheating. |
04-26-2024, 04:35 PM | #15 |
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Re: Motor Meter or Quail
All it takes is one time. Plus you know if it isn't getting hot enough. If it's under 65f outside mine won't get much above 120f. I have two different sized cardboard blockoff plates I painted black and keep in the car
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04-28-2024, 05:51 AM | #16 | |
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Re: Motor Meter or Quail
Quote:
My Dad (now deceased 1915-2004) told me once. He started smoking when he was 11 (1926) and use to steal hood ornaments then pawn them off to pay for the cigarettes! He also did some boot-legging in the thirties. He eventually got a legit job with the government. Go figure..... Bob-A "Skirts are for Women not car Fenders" |
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04-28-2024, 06:34 AM | #17 |
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Re: Motor Meter or Quail
Some years/decades ago my wife and I were on an annual Texas T Party tour in Fredericksburg Texas. One night every T at the host hotel that had a Moto-meter type radiator cap lost it. We were lucky because our T was parked in a nearby RV park next to our motorhome and trailer.
Last edited by Robert/Texas; 04-28-2024 at 07:55 AM. |
04-28-2024, 06:50 AM | #18 |
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Re: Motor Meter or Quail
If you're worried about people messing with your car, get an old continuous buzz cow trainer fencer. The battery type. Put a drag wire under the car for a ground and connect the hot side to the frame. You'll want an accessible switch to turn in on/off. Might make someone mad enough to really wreck it though. Best to park where you can keep an eye on the car, or live and drive in an area where you don’t have to worry about that kind of thing.
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04-28-2024, 06:26 PM | #19 |
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Re: Motor Meter or Quail
I have 4 Model As ranging from a VERY nicely restored one to what looks like a barn find repaired but never restored. It is the one that looks neaten up and a real bomb that I like driving the best. It is extremely reliable and goes pretty darned well. I like watching the looks on faces. Nothing has ever gone missing from it (Or any of my others now that I think about it.)
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04-28-2024, 07:09 PM | #20 |
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Re: Motor Meter or Quail
In all the years (since 1994) that was the only time my A was messed with.
Some people are just trash. |
04-28-2024, 09:57 PM | #21 |
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Re: Motor Meter or Quail
There would be serious consequences if I found anyone messing with my Model A.
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04-28-2024, 10:20 PM | #22 |
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Re: Motor Meter or Quail
I have a '70 VW bus (original owner) as a daily driver with a 12v ahooga horn mounted under the front of the body out of sight. I came out one morning & noticed two nuts & bolts on the ground. Yup, someone knew it was there & stole it! Got another & it's still there 20 years later.
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04-29-2024, 02:58 PM | #23 | |
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Re: Motor Meter or Quail
Quote:
Ya know some people catch a person messin with their car, and that person that did such a thing might be begging for the police to arrest them before it was over...ya know? |
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04-29-2024, 03:24 PM | #24 | |
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Re: Motor Meter or Quail
Quote:
I'm mildly autistic and somehow hard-wired where I cannot steal (or lie). The extra hard part is trying to understand how anyone else could steal. I seriously just don't understand how anyone can do that. There's a lot about "normal people" I don't understand, but that tops the list. If everyone was autistic, there would be no such thing as theft.
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05-01-2024, 04:34 AM | #25 |
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Re: Motor Meter or Quail
Moto-Meters or Quails were optional and dealer installed.
- However - The Judging Standards says : - Quail - "Almost a million Quail ornament caps were produced for the Model A" - Motometer - "was the most common Ford authorized accessory" - from this we can infer that there must have been more motometers than quails - that is at least a million. In consequence this means that during the era almost every second model A had one of them, and it must have been as common to have one than not. |
05-01-2024, 09:32 AM | #26 |
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Re: Motor Meter or Quail
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