1910 Model Year Specifications
Serial Number range 8108 – 31,500 (Approximately, Ford figures differ)
Model Year August 1, 1909 – September 30, 1910
Body Styles Touring, Landaulet (Taximeter Cab), Town Car, Roadster, Coupe, Chassis, Tourabout
Colors: All body styles extremely dark green, nearly black. Chassis components painted black, wheels fenders and running boards body color. Pin striping quite extensive on body and chassis including wheels in red.
Factory Options available: All cars were said to be sold “Fully Equipped”, however it was still possible to order cars unequipped i.e. open cars without tops and windshield. Optional items available from the Ford factory included Prestolite carbide tank (instead of carbide generator), tire chains, robe rail, clock.
The Model T Fords of 1910 differed mainly in detail from those of the previous model year. Indeed the cars produced on July 31, 1909 were no different than those produced the first day of 1910 production which was August 1, 1909. Ford at this time was implementing changes as needed, there was not truly a style change tied to the changing calendar. The Model T was constantly changing as the months went by in order to improve reliability and to make economic sense to the accounting department.
One place the accountants had not thought about yet was the interior. Seats in the 1909 – 1910 Model T were made like fine furniture cushions of the day. The seat upholstery was deeply tufted and buttoned genuine leather, stuffed with raw cotton and horsehair. The floor mat in the rear seat area was thick “cocoa” material, a sort of rattan weave that could be covered in mud yet wash clean easily.
Seat cushions were made of a steam bent wooden frame with spring strips nailed to the top and burlap stretched across the springs before the upholstery was installed. The upholstery is nailed to the wooden frame. This is a detail often missing on “restored” early T’s because it is time consuming and costly to reproduce.
1909 – 1910 Runabout seat cushions were made in the same manner as those from the touring.
The Tourabout body style was officially a catalogued item in 1910 model year only, however it was available towards the end of 1909 model year by purchasing a Runabout and substituting a front seat assembly for the single “mother in law” rear seat.
The Jones speedometer was one of several brands used in 1909 – 1910 on the Model T.
Speedometer drive used with the Jones speedometer was not a swivel per se, it was a 90 degree drive.
Jones speedometers were very well made top quality units.
Stewart and Clark (later merged with Warner to become Stewart Warner) speedometers were the primary supplier to Ford from 1909 – 1915. The unit above is a Model 26, in 1910 several Stewart models were used primarily models 24 and 26.
Stewart speedometer swivels used in 1910 were made from pot metal, brass plated, in 1:1 ratio. The steel wheel mounted “road gear” had 60 teeth and was also brass plated. The smaller driven gear is solid brass. Cable assembly is a steel case wrapped with brass sheathing. Nuts on both ends of the cable are solid brass.
Ford primarily used the excellent quality Jacobson Brandow coil unit in 1910. Switch assembly has an On / Off key at the top, with a selector switch below. MAG is on the right, “BAT” is on the left which is the opposite of later Model T’s.
Each of the Jacobson Brandow coils are secured in the box by a thumb nut. The box cover keeps out dust and dirt.
Second most common coil assembly in 1910 were the Kingston brand. The key when inserted makes the switch below active, the key turns when the switch is moved. Kingston coil units were made in Kokomo, Indiana.
Kingston Kokomo coils are secured in the box by thumb nuts. These were very high quality, well built, and sturdy coils that helped make the Model T Ford extremely reliable compared to other cars of the day.
Above, a well worn 1910 Model T is missing its windshield but still running thanks to the outstanding Jacobson Brandow coil unit.
Policemen with their 1910 Harley Davidson bikes park next to a Maxwell and a 1910 Model T.
We know this is a 1909 Tourabout because it is grey.
Passengers departing a swanky Miami Beach hotel decide whether they will go by carriage or in the new Model T Ford. We sometimes forget that until after World War I the main mode of transportation in the United States was still not the automobile. Ford was making and selling as many Model T’s as he could, yet there were still millions of horses and buggies in use.
