early 30

[Bob Lehigh]

Sorry to be such a pain but you all have been so helpful in the past, so I'm submitting my next barrage of questions. So here goes: I have just purchased an early 30 (or is it called a 29 1/2?). 1)Did these change as time went along or were all early 30s the same? 2)Are the bumpers supposed to be 29, 30 or 30 commercial? 3)Is the dash a 29 or 30? 4)Is the headlight bar a 20 or a 30? 5)Are the headlights 29 or 30? Any other info on these unique trucks would be appreciated. Thanks. Bob boblehigh@yahoo.com

[Chris Haynes]

All I can tell you is what my Early 1930 looked like. It has the 1929 commercial headlamps and bar. Oval speedometer. 1930 type commercial bumper. The side view mirror is mounted on the door post midway between he top and center door hinge. Four speed transmission. '30/'31 axle and brakes with the split case Timken rear end. Mine is a May 1930 and has the twist lock gas cap.
Here is a factory photo of what I believe is an Early 1930 AA.

[Neil Wilson]

The 82-A cab was used on the A and AA from 1927 through about July 1930 including the instrument panel. The conversion to the 82-B cab occurred at that time and there was likely some overlap in July of either cab rolling off the assembly line. The conversion to the '30 style chassis occurred in January of 1930.

I have seen at least one picture showing that the '29 commercial headlamps were used. So, either the '29 or '30 commercial headlamps seem to be correct. See the attached photograph.

I have only seen original photographs in which the '30 style car front bumper was used. The front bumper arms are AA parts which started in January 1930.

These truck are really not unique and they were not revered to a 29 1/2 by Ford. They are not just early '30 (January - April) since they were built into mid 1930 also. The Ford commercial line did not convert to the new body styles until mid 1930 (both the A and AA).

Photo Information:

www.loc.gov/pictures
Photographs 85 through 96 of 126
93. Neg. No. F-78K, Aug 11, 1930, EXTERIOR-ASSEMBLY BUILDING, NORTH SIDE, WITH TAYLOR-TRUCK-A-WAY TRUCKS AND TRAILORS
HAER CAL,19-LONGB,2-A-93

• Title: Ford Motor Company Long Beach Assembly Plant, Assembly Building, 700 Henry Ford Avenue, Long Beach, Los Angeles County, CA
• Creator: Historic American Engineering Record creator
• Related Names:
Albert Kahn Incorporated
• Medium: Photo(s): 126 (4 x 5 in., 5 x 7 in., and 8 x 10 in.)
Data Page(s): 15 plus cover page
Photo Caption Page(s): 11
• Part of: Historic American Engineering Record (Library of Congress)
• Reproduction Number: [See Call Number]
• Call Number: HAER CAL,19-LONGB,2-A-
• Repository: Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA
• Notes:
• Survey number HAER CA-82-A
• Unprocessed field note material exists for this structure (FN-15-A).
• Building/structure dates: 1930 initial construction
• Building/structure dates: 1991 demolished
• Significance: Ford Motor Company built the Long Beach Assembly Plant during 1929-1930 as one of six contemporaneous assembly plants constructed in the United States. The overall purpose of these plants was to expand production of Ford's Model A, which replaced the Model T in 1927. Albert Kahn,

[REM]

That is an interesting picture with the mix of 82A and 82B's lined up together.
One would think that that should be some of the latest 82A's but they have the early gas tank caps and headlights.
Is there any indication of where or when the pic was taken.

[Rosenkranswa]

I have an early '30AA, with a February '30 date stamped on the 5-hole Budd wheels. It has '30 running gear and duals on the rear, and the cab is the square style with '29 style dash and '30 commercial bumpers. The gas fill is the '29 style screw-on rather than the bayonet lock. The engine is from a late May '29 build block, but we don't know if its the original engine or not since we haven't lifted the cab to check the frame number.

[Neil Wilson]

REM - I updated the photo post with the information I have (taken Aug. 11, 1930).

Rosenkranswa - The original engine id would start with "AA" and there would be a star on each end. What is your engine ID like?

[Rosenkranswa]

Neil - *A1643596* - so its definately a replacement engine, no AA. It also has the '29 style commercial headlamps. What do you think about the screw on gas cap? Did they switch to the bayonet lock from January, or was there a changeover time?

[Neil Wilson]

Rosenkranswa,
Both trucks shown in this thread have the screw on gas cap.

I have 1930 Express 89-A AA2936300 February and 1930 Panel Delivery 79-A A3310631 May - both have the screw on gas caps and I am very sure that the tanks are original.

My opinion is that the twist on cap was used at some assembly plants due to running out of the screw on filler neck. But, who knows!

Having a twist on gas cap and threaded radiator cab does not add anything to the looks (in my opinion). Kind of like collecting coin mint errors (not something I would be interested in).

[Rosenkranswa]

Once again reaffirming that when it comes to Ford A's and AA's, you simply can't be that dogmatic about when changes occured...