Click on thumbnails to see detailed photographs.
PICTURE #1 A & B are of the flywheel used on the first 2,500 cars. The magnets are forged 1/2" thick. The magnet support is a solid brass ring. The bolts and screws holding the magnets are wired through the head. (Pictures by Kim Dobbins).
PICTURE #2 A & B are of the flywheel used in 1909 and early 1910. The outer ends are supported by bronze cylindrical shaped spacers. For a short time in 1910, the magnets were increased to 9/16".(Not pictured.)
PICTURE #3 A - B - C are of the Flywheel used in 1910, 1911, & 1912. The magnet supports are still cylindrical. The magnets are now 5/8" thick. The screws holding the magnets are held by a safety wire on the underside (see picture 3-C). Beginning in 1912 the screws were peened. The magnet bars have concave ends.
PICTURE #4 A & B are of the Flywheel used in 1913 and 1914. It still has 5/8" magnets. Now the spacers are brass spools. The magnet bars are very long with concave ends.
PICTURE #5 A & B are of the Flywheel used in 1915 and 1916. The spacers are brass spools. The bars are the same as 1911 &1912 with concave ends. The thickness of the magnets was increased to 3/4" to power the electric headlights.
PICTURE #6 A & B This Flywheel was used in 1917 & 1918. In 1917 the spools were still brass. In 1918 the spools were changed to aluminum. The bars are now straight on the ends.
PICTURE #7 is of the Flywheel used in 1919. Notice the dowels to hold the ring gear from turning.
PICTURE #8 A - B - C This Flywheel was used from 1920-1927. It remained the same except for leaving off the safety wire in about 1923. #8C is of the cast Flywheel used from 1920-1927.
PICTURE #9 is of the machined Flywheel used in late 1927. The machined Flywheel did not need to be balanced.
PICTURE #10 Magnet bars left to right 1911 & 1912, 1913 & 1914, 1915 & 1916, 1917-1927.
PICTURE #11 Magnet Spacers in 1909-1910 were 19/32" long when used with 1/2" & 9/16"
magnets then changed to 3/4 long. The left one is the cylindrical one used from 1909-1912. The center one is the brass spool used in 1913-1917. The one on the right is aluminum used in 1918-1927.
PICTURE #12 Magnets left to right 9/16", 5/8", 3/4". The 1/2", 9/16" & 5/8" magnets used up to 1913 were forged. From late 1913 they were made from bar stock V shaped.
Thanks to Steve Coniff for some of the pictures and research. Gail Rodda's column "ALL THE SAME, HUH!! appears regularly in the club members magazine "The Model T Times".
Copyright 1996 & 1997 The Model T Times.
The Model T Ford Parts Identification Guide,
Volume 1 - 60 Pages of Detailed Information and
Black & White Photos Identifying and dating Model T Parts
Gail Rodda, PO Box 577, Abilene, Kansas
PICTURE #1 A & B are of the flywheel used on the first 2,500 cars. The magnets are forged 1/2" thick. The magnet support is a solid brass ring. The bolts and screws holding the magnets are wired through the head. (Pictures by Kim Dobbins).
PICTURE #2 A & B are of the flywheel used in 1909 and early 1910. The outer ends are supported by bronze cylindrical shaped spacers. For a short time in 1910, the magnets were increased to 9/16".(Not pictured.)
