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Old 11-18-2021, 04:51 PM   #1
ericr
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Default Contemporary Photos of Model A Fords

don't know if anyone posted this before....

https://youtu.be/Oilh_v2A8OE
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Old 11-18-2021, 05:50 PM   #2
Chuck Dempsey
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Default Re: Contemporary Photos of Model A Fords

Thanks for sharing.

I recognize some as photos from New Deal Depression era photographers who worked from 1935 to 1946. A nice sight you can browse for your local area is at -

https://photogrammar.org/maps.
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Old 11-18-2021, 07:27 PM   #3
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Default Re: Contemporary Photos of Model A Fords

Oh...those were the days
Frankly, I enjoyed life more before computers , smart phones.
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Old 11-18-2021, 07:45 PM   #4
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Default Re: Contemporary Photos of Model A Fords

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Oh...those were the days
Frankly, I enjoyed life more before computers , smart phones.
I for one agree with you.
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Old 11-18-2021, 08:03 PM   #5
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Default Re: Contemporary Photos of Model A Fords

But it was RADIO that turned us down this street.
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Old 11-18-2021, 09:01 PM   #6
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Default Re: Contemporary Photos of Model A Fords

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nice!!!
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Old 11-19-2021, 05:06 AM   #7
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Default Re: Contemporary Photos of Model A Fords







Period Photos of Model A Fords when they were new or near new. Thanks to ericr for providing the Link.
https://youtu.be/Oilh_v2A8OE
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Old 11-19-2021, 07:53 AM   #8
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Default Re: Contemporary Photos of Model A Fords

Three things I noticed:
First, it seems that a lot of people put different tires and wheels on their model A's. Was that the average man's way of modifying his car?

Second, The cars weren't very shiny. Even the new A's in dealerships were not glossy. Was that the difference in paints from then till now?

Third, Those were period photos and the cars were not very old. Some were really beat up. Did people not take care of their fairly new cars? Were cars back then "just a machine to get a job done?"

Marty
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Old 11-19-2021, 06:13 PM   #9
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Default Re: Contemporary Photos of Model A Fords

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Originally Posted by marty in Ohio View Post
Three things I noticed:
First, it seems that a lot of people put different tires and wheels on their model A's. Was that the average man's way of modifying his car?

Second, The cars weren't very shiny. Even the new A's in dealerships were not glossy. Was that the difference in paints from then till now?

Third, Those were period photos and the cars were not very old. Some were really beat up. Did people not take care of their fairly new cars? Were cars back then "just a machine to get a job done?"

Marty
I have wondered the same things, I always suspected that the paint finish back then was not long-lasting, though how many owners in that era actually had a garage.
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Old 11-19-2021, 06:41 PM   #10
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Default Re: Contemporary Photos of Model A Fords



What body is on this very unusual Ford Model A Sedan?
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Old 11-19-2021, 09:05 PM   #11
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Default Re: Contemporary Photos of Model A Fords

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What body is on this very unusual Ford Model A Sedan?
Custom 1929 with a European coach built body. Guessing it is for an older person who liked to wear a top hat.

Brad Minners is usually pretty good ID'ing these custom euro jobs.

-Tim
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Old 11-19-2021, 10:31 PM   #12
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Default Re: Contemporary Photos of Model A Fords

I noticed a few photos of FDR with a Model A roadster. If he actually drove the car, it must have had hand controls. Later on, I believe FDR drove a 35 or 36 Ford Phaeton with hand controls.
All great photos. Enjoyed them all.
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Old 11-19-2021, 11:27 PM   #13
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Default Re: Contemporary Photos of Model A Fords

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Originally Posted by mercman from oz View Post


What body is on this very unusual Ford Model A Sedan?
LOL - That is a photo from my collection.

It is of a Swedish custom bodied taxi on a lengthened chassis. Here it is without the driver:



Note the rear wheel is farther to the rear to allow the longer doors (like the car in my avatar). Those longer doors allowed easier access for both the driver and customers. You can see the flattened area on the rear of the splash apron where the extension was put in the splash apron (gives you an idea of how much the chassis was lengthened). The taximeter can be seen inside the windshield on the passenger side. Note also the partition and trafficators.

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Old 11-20-2021, 08:31 AM   #14
Chuck Dempsey
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Default Re: Contemporary Photos of Model A Fords

Brad - 'trafficators'? The little arms by the windscreen to indicate intention to turn? If so, did they 'light up' in any way?

Thanks
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Old 11-20-2021, 10:59 AM   #15
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Default Re: Contemporary Photos of Model A Fords

FWIW, the trafficators on British cars lit up.
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Old 11-20-2021, 04:02 PM   #16
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Default Re: Contemporary Photos of Model A Fords

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Peters View Post
I noticed a few photos of FDR with a Model A roadster. If he actually drove the car, it must have had hand controls. Later on, I believe FDR drove a 35 or 36 Ford Phaeton with hand controls.
All great photos. Enjoyed them all.

I think he had several cars over the years. I've seen his 38 De Luxe at his Little White House in Warm Springs GA. IIRC, it's a Convertible Sedan (roll-up windows) rather than a Phaeton (side curtains):



Mock-up of hand controls in the car:

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Old 11-20-2021, 05:43 PM   #17
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Default Re: Contemporary Photos of Model A Fords

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Brad - 'trafficators'? The little arms by the windscreen to indicate intention to turn? If so, did they 'light up' in any way?

Thanks
Yes, they light up when activated. I have a set on my Cabriolet that I have also wired up to a blinker.......so when you turn the switch, the trafficator arm raises, lights up and blinks as well.

Here are some original Ford script trafficators with their arms out:


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Old 11-20-2021, 06:43 PM   #18
Chuck Dempsey
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Default Re: Contemporary Photos of Model A Fords

Those are cool, Brad. I can remember early VW bugs in the US having them. They set right in back of the doors....
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Old 11-20-2021, 11:31 PM   #19
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Default Re: Contemporary Photos of Model A Fords

This was GREAT, thank you very much!!

Answer to question about the beat up cars. In the west some states had no roads. In Nevada mining was done in remote places over 100 miles from the nearest town, until a gold strike. Even California had a small population before the war.
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Old 11-20-2021, 11:34 PM   #20
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Default Re: Contemporary Photos of Model A Fords

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Those are cool, Brad. I can remember early VW bugs in the US having them. They set right in back of the doors....
On closed Ford Model A's, the trafficators were mounted on the outside of the windshield stanchions. On open cars they were typically mounted on the cowl just below the windshield stations like this one on my Cabriolet:


On German built, closed Model A's, the trfficators were installed during assembly in the factory. On open Model A's the trafficators were added by the Ford dealerships at the customer's request.

The trafficators are controlled by a lever switch mounted in the center of the dash rail. You can see that switch in this era photo for example:


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