Study Guide - Kynoch

Model T Speedometers: A Study Guide

Quiz

1. Which three brands of speedometers were initially offered as accessories for the Ford Model T?

2. Why did Ford stop including speedometers as standard equipment in November 1913?

3. What was the name given to the factory-installed speedometers offered by Ford in late 1914?

4. Apart from factory-installed options, how else could Model T owners acquire speedometers?

5. Besides Stewart Warner, name three other manufacturers of Ford-Special speedometers.

6. What was the typical method for driving Model T speedometers?

7. Which two companies offered transmission-driven speedometer systems?

8. Name the speedometer heads compatible with the transmission drive systems.

9. Apart from the companies already mentioned, name two other manufacturers who produced speedometers for the Model T.

10. What impact did Ford's decision to stop including speedometers as standard equipment have on the market?

Answer Key

1. National Speed Indicator, Jones, and Stewart and Clark.

2. Stewart Warner, having recently acquired the Warner Instrument Company, could not meet the increased production demands brought about by Ford's adoption of the assembly line.

3. Ford-Specials.

4. Dealers could install speedometers of their choice, and other manufacturers distributed their products through parts accessory jobbers and dealers.

5. Standard Thermometer, Sears Cross, and Jones.

6. Most speedometers were driven from the right front wheel.

7. Nash Motor Products and Patterson Manufacturing.

8. Stewart, Standard Thermometer, and A.C. Speedo heads.

9. Corbin Brown and AC Speedometer.

10. Ford's decision opened up the market, allowing other speedometer manufacturers to become competitive.

Essay Questions

1. Discuss the evolution of speedometer availability for the Ford Model T from its introduction in 1908 to the late 1910s.

2. Analyse the factors that led to Ford's decision to stop including speedometers as standard equipment and the subsequent impact on the speedometer market.

3. Compare and contrast the different methods of driving speedometers in Model T cars, including their advantages and disadvantages.

4. Explain the significance of the Ford-Special speedometers and their role in the Model T's history.

5. Research and discuss the history of one of the speedometer manufacturers mentioned in the text, focusing on their involvement with the Ford Model T.

Glossary of Key Terms

• Speed Indicator: An early term for a speedometer.

• Accessory: An optional item not included in the standard equipment of a vehicle.

• Assembly Line: A manufacturing process where each worker performs a specific task in a sequential manner to assemble a product efficiently.

• Factory-Installed: An accessory or feature installed at the factory during the vehicle's production.

• Jobber: A wholesale distributor who purchases goods from manufacturers and sells them to retailers or other businesses.

• Transmission Drive: A system where the speedometer is driven by a gear connected to the vehicle's transmission.

• Speedo Head: The visible part of the speedometer containing the dial and needle.

• Competitive: Relating to a market with multiple businesses vying for customers and sales.