Side view mirror question

[flatford39]

I have three 28 29 truck cowls. One of the three has what looks like factory fasteners for the side view mirror on the drivers side and the other two do not. One of the cowls without the fasteners for the mirror is on an early (left hand emergency brake) 28 one ton frame. I do not know the origin of the other two cowls.

My question is can anyone date the cowl with the sideview mirror option??

Thank you,

Tom

[Chris Haynes]

I thought the mirror always mounted on the pilar or door hinge?

[Neil Wilson]

Most 1928 AA's had the side view mirror bracket mounted at the sunvisor (see picture). 1927 and early '28 AA's had a hinge pillar mounted bracket. Some mid to late '28 AA's also have the hinge pillar mount.

In early '29 "D-nut" on the hinge piller became standard for mounting the mirror bracket. This lasted until the end of the 82-A closed cab production in mid 1930.

[Jared275]

Flatford39,
Neil, which I'm suspecting is a clone of Henry Ford himself , is correct. I have attached a pic of my August, 1929 Cab side with the same mounting location.

[Neil Wilson]

Great picture showing the Ford installed "D-nuts" on the hinge pillar for mounting the mirror bracket stating in early '29 (actually late '28 per the Judging Standards). The customer supplied mirror bracket welded to the sunvisor will make it hard to recover the visor!

Below is the design #1 AA mirror bracket provided as standard for AA's with stake racks.

[flatford39]

Thanks guys for the information. Since Neil says the judging book lists the D nuts as late 28 I am going to use this portion of the cowl to build my 28.

[Neil Wilson]

My personal research indicates that the A-17741 mirror bracket started in 1/29. The Judging Standards has A-17741 starting in October 1928. This is the mirror bracket that uses the D-nuts (the JS does not reference the D-nuts). The prior bracket was used through 3/29. So, an overlap of usage dates.

For the AA, it is my belief that the prior sun visor mounted bracket would be more correct for a 1928 AA and even into early 1929.

[Mike]

Neil, which I'm suspecting is a clone of Henry Ford himself

I feel the same way; Mr Wilson and Mr Moore continually amaze me with their extensive knowledge - and willingness to share it!

I have a '31 open cab that currently has no side mirrors. Any information on what is proper would be appreciated.
Mike

[Neil Wilson]

Mike,
What month is your truck? What cargo body is it? Both answers make a difference for 1931. There were seven different side view mirror brackets for 1930/1931 (see attached).

[Chris Haynes]

Mike,
What month is your truck? What cargo body is it? Both answers make a difference for 1931. There were seven different side view mirror brackets for 1930/1931 (see attached).

Neil,
Were those brackets used on open cab trucks?

[Neil Wilson]

No, the above brackets are only for the closed cab. The open cab A and AA used the same mirror setup. I don't know how much could be seen through the windshield mirror!

[Mike]

Neil, I don't know what month my truck is - I still need to figure that out. I have a dual rear wheel chassis with a stake body. I suppose I may have to "engineer" a pair of mirrors. Thanks for the reply. The pics and specs you provided are amazing! Where do you get this stuff?

Mike

[Neil Wilson]

I guess my research is a carry over from my work as a system analysis. It seems I just have to know exactly what was original for my own information. I have started used Ford engineering releases and drawings. Prior to that I used the Ford Service Bulletins, Ford archive photographs, and Ford parts lists.