The Ford Barn

TD · 01-31-2012, 12:08 PM

This thread was started a while back: Re: The story of Briggs and Murray I glanced through the articles and didn't catch if the owners were offered a choice between a Briggs or Murrray or did they just take what was delivered. Also was there an area of the country that received one of more than the other?
The question still is; does anyone know how Ford advertised the two? Was there an option or did you get just what they had. Was the price the same. Was one a special order? Inquisitive minds would like to know. (the mystery deepens)

Gary WA · 01-31-2012, 10:33 PM

Looking thru the Advertising the Model A Ford Thank You! All I could find about the Briggs or Murray bodies are these two Items Nothing from 28-29 about Murry Bodies as was in 30-31 bodies. I'm sure there is more info out there.Looking at more info they did both in 1929?The Ford Model A Album by Floyd Clymer/Leslie R Henry apr 1960 pub shows various Briggs or Murray body styles. How they were ordered? I think only certain body styles were built so that is what you purchased for that year don't believe there was a choice.

TD · 01-31-2012, 11:13 PM

I'm guessing it was special order since they were pricy. I'd love to Find someone who was around to remember. There has to be records some where.

Arlen · 02-02-2012, 02:37 AM

With really only the top part of the door different looking, the average customer then probably never noticed it. The customer simply bought a 4 door in such and such color, then paid and took it home. They were buying a Ford, they didn't care who built up the body.

Tom Wesenberg · 02-02-2012, 11:16 AM

Here's a bill of sale for a 31 Town Sedan, but no mention of who made it. I have a few other bills of sale and the dealer wrote down the key numbers on them.

Marco Tahtaras · 02-02-2012, 12:27 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

This same topic was brought up about a month ago. In my opinion it's unlikely both versions were were available in a specific territory at any one time. The general records make no distinction between the Murray and Briggs versions of any particular models.

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showth...ghlight=briggs

Benson · 02-02-2012, 12:51 PM

I see the car was made "without shatterproof" ... wonder if that was side windows only or was windshield plate glass also?

Really scary!

Years ago after an accident I found regular plate glass in the windshield of the S Coupe.
Several years earlier I had replaced the side plate glass windows with safety plate.

Tom Wesenberg · 02-02-2012, 01:10 PM

Does the "BG&O" stand for battery, gas and oil?

I can't see charging for the battery.

Purdy Swoft · 02-02-2012, 01:28 PM

I have read that in the early days of the model A, Henry encouraged Harold Hicks, The guy from the Avion division, That designed the improvements that brought the model A engine up to forty horsepower, to test the model A on the streets. Henry encouraged Harold to race the other cars from stop light to stop light, to prove that the model A would beat or skin the pants off all other cars of the time. A truck pulled out in front of Harold and he hit the truck. Harold was cut up pretty badly, This is when it is said that Henry decided to use safety plate glass in the windshield.

Tom Wesenberg · 02-02-2012, 01:32 PM

Here's another bill of sale. This one lists gas and oil, but no "B".

I wonder when window stickers were first used to show the new car price.

OOPS, this is the same bill of sale. I'll have to find the other one.

Here's the correct invoice, plus 3 more I found.

JoeWay · 02-03-2012, 02:23 PM

Bumpers got a lot cheaper between March and August!!!

Joe

Jeff/Illinois · 02-03-2012, 03:59 PM

I read once that beginning with the 1959 model cars, they had to have a window sticker placed on them. Some kind of Government mandate.

The Ford Garage in Alexis, Illinois was pretty old. They used to have an original '1935 New Ford Price Guide' sign on display. It was metal if I remember right and nicely painted by Ford. About 15" wide by maybe 24" long. Ford Blue and Cream colored with the 'Ford V-8' logo. Neat sign. I am guessing that that was the price you paid, no haggling??

Maybe the Model A's were priced like that too??

Marco Tahtaras · 02-03-2012, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fordgarage

Pimp Your Ride!
Wow, 20% of the cost of the Sport Coupe is for Accessories!
John Smith might do well in Touring Class!
(wonder why he didn't get a stoneguard?)

Maybe "John D" (as some folks called him) didn't care for stone guards like me!

Above shows Lucy Smith with the car in 1929. The sidemounts were actually semi-custom as right wells were not readily available here yet. The sidemount arms went through the lower corners of the cowl into large cast triangular supports mounted below the floorboard riser. The fender wells were die stamped in two halves spot welded together and then riveted to prepared flanges in the fenders.

A friend was the second owner and restored the car just as it was when purchased. I believe Lucy saw the finished car before she died. There is a small pic of the finished car in the Sept./Oct. 1990 Restorer on page 24.

ronn · 02-03-2012, 07:46 PM

WOW! 12.00 for a coupon book!

Vanspeed · 02-03-2012, 08:00 PM

Why is the sport coupe 704.00? That is without all the added accessories. Isn't that way over priced?

Tom Wesenberg · 02-03-2012, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vanspeed

Why is the sport coupe 704.00? That is without all the added accessories. Isn't that way over priced?

I thought the same thing.

BTW, I'd sure like to find an invoice from the TWIN CITIES FORD PLANT, if anyone has one or knows where I could buy one.

Jim/GA · 11-20-2012, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vanspeed

Why is the sport coupe 704.00? That is without all the added accessories. Isn't that way over priced?

He has lumped shipping into the price, not broken it out as a separate line item.

And possibly padded the price a bit at the same time. This is in June 1928 when the cars were in demand and the economy was doing well.

Does anyone have a published list of shipping costs to various destinations around the country?

Tom Wesenberg · 11-06-2014, 09:36 AM

Never did get an answer why the Sport Coupe is so expensive in #13?

And look at Marco's invoice in #13. What's up with running board mats for $6.00, or is that the same thing as step plates?

I found this thread while searching for a dealer invoice I have, where the paint color listed didn't match the year for the car.

01-31-2012, 11:13 PM	#3
TD Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: shelby, nc Posts: 201	Re: who sold what? I'm guessing it was special order since they were pricy. I'd love to Find someone who was around to remember. There has to be records some where.

02-02-2012, 02:37 AM	#4
Arlen Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Dallas Posts: 524	Re: who sold what? With really only the top part of the door different looking, the average customer then probably never noticed it. The customer simply bought a 4 door in such and such color, then paid and took it home. They were buying a Ford, they didn't care who built up the body. __________________ DMAFC

02-02-2012, 11:16 AM	#5
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: who sold what? Here's a bill of sale for a 31 Town Sedan, but no mention of who made it. I have a few other bills of sale and the dealer wrote down the key numbers on them.

02-02-2012, 12:27 PM	#6
Marco Tahtaras Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 3,099	Re: who sold what? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) This same topic was brought up about a month ago. In my opinion it's unlikely both versions were were available in a specific territory at any one time. The general records make no distinction between the Murray and Briggs versions of any particular models. https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showth...ghlight=briggs __________________ http://www.abarnyard.com/

02-02-2012, 12:51 PM	#7
Benson Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 2,599	Re: who sold what? I see the car was made "without shatterproof" ... wonder if that was side windows only or was windshield plate glass also? Really scary! Years ago after an accident I found regular plate glass in the windshield of the S Coupe. Several years earlier I had replaced the side plate glass windows with safety plate. Last edited by Benson; 02-03-2012 at 06:05 PM.

01-31-2012, 12:08 PM	#1
TD Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: shelby, nc Posts: 201	who sold what? This thread was started a while back: Re: The story of Briggs and Murray I glanced through the articles and didn't catch if the owners were offered a choice between a Briggs or Murrray or did they just take what was delivered. Also was there an area of the country that received one of more than the other? The question still is; does anyone know how Ford advertised the two? Was there an option or did you get just what they had. Was the price the same. Was one a special order? Inquisitive minds would like to know. (the mystery deepens)

02-02-2012, 01:10 PM	#8
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: who sold what? Does the "BG&O" stand for battery, gas and oil? I can't see charging for the battery.

02-02-2012, 01:28 PM	#9
Purdy Swoft Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Alabama Posts: 8,099	Re: who sold what? I have read that in the early days of the model A, Henry encouraged Harold Hicks, The guy from the Avion division, That designed the improvements that brought the model A engine up to forty horsepower, to test the model A on the streets. Henry encouraged Harold to race the other cars from stop light to stop light, to prove that the model A would beat or skin the pants off all other cars of the time. A truck pulled out in front of Harold and he hit the truck. Harold was cut up pretty badly, This is when it is said that Henry decided to use safety plate glass in the windshield.

02-02-2012, 01:32 PM	#10
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: who sold what? Here's another bill of sale. This one lists gas and oil, but no "B". I wonder when window stickers were first used to show the new car price. OOPS, this is the same bill of sale. I'll have to find the other one. Here's the correct invoice, plus 3 more I found. Last edited by Tom Wesenberg; 02-02-2012 at 02:30 PM.

02-03-2012, 02:23 PM	#11
JoeWay Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Quincy CA Posts: 752	Re: who sold what? Bumpers got a lot cheaper between March and August!!! Joe __________________ 1929 Tudor since 1962 Feather River A's

02-03-2012, 03:59 PM	#12
Jeff/Illinois Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 2,789	Re: who sold what? I read once that beginning with the 1959 model cars, they had to have a window sticker placed on them. Some kind of Government mandate. The Ford Garage in Alexis, Illinois was pretty old. They used to have an original '1935 New Ford Price Guide' sign on display. It was metal if I remember right and nicely painted by Ford. About 15" wide by maybe 24" long. Ford Blue and Cream colored with the 'Ford V-8' logo. Neat sign. I am guessing that that was the price you paid, no haggling?? Maybe the Model A's were priced like that too??

02-03-2012, 07:46 PM	#14
ronn Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: NNNNNNNNJJJJJJJJJJ Posts: 6,793	Re: who sold what? WOW! 12.00 for a coupon book!

02-03-2012, 08:00 PM	#15
Vanspeed Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Suttons Bay, Mich. Posts: 3,386	Re: who sold what? Why is the sport coupe 704.00? That is without all the added accessories. Isn't that way over priced? __________________ *Respecting and Resurrecting Ford Model A's.*

11-06-2014, 09:36 AM	#18
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: who sold what? Never did get an answer why the Sport Coupe is so expensive in #13? And look at Marco's invoice in #13. What's up with running board mats for $6.00, or is that the same thing as step plates? I found this thread while searching for a dealer invoice I have, where the paint color listed didn't match the year for the car.