Model A instruction book

kenparker

Well-known member
I was digging thru some old desk drawers and paper work and ran across a
Ford Model A Instruction Book. How do i tell if it is an original or a reproduction.??? ken
 
I was digging thru some old desk drawers and paper work and ran across a
Ford Model A Instruction Book. How do i tell if it is an original or a reproduction.??? ken

Can you post some photos of it?
The "Ford" oval on the front cover of an original is the same size as the one on the inside first page. Back in the 1970's, Ford Motor Company authorized reprinting the late 1931 book. There was nothing in the book that stated it was a reprint, however, the Ford oval on the front cover was made smaller to distinguish them from the originals.
The front cover of an original has a two-line margin border. Some of the reprints have a one line margin border.
Original pages have a semi-gloss appearance and have a slick feel.
Original book illustrations are clear and distinct. Some of the early reprints looked like Xerox copies. Some of the more recent reprints are much better quality than the early ones.
Some of the more recent reprints have a very bold year date in block numbers on the first page. Originals have a "copyright" date.
There are some ads for "Original Instruction Books" on the FordBarn Swap Meet page with photos of originals. You might want to look at the photos in those ads.
 
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Don, thank you for your reply. I am still not sure but I suspect 1970 repro. Here are 5 pictures.
 

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interesting. My instruction book (on page 50) says "Form 1940"

Ford assigned "Form numbers" to all their literature. Form 1940 is the form number for a Model A Instruction Book. All originals (and some reprints) have that on the last printed page. Some people are confused, incorrectly thinking 1940 has something to do with a printed date.
 
Ford assigned "Form numbers" to all their literature. Form 1940 is the form number for a Model A Instruction Book. All originals (and some reprints) have that on the last printed page. Some people are confused, incorrectly thinking 1940 has something to do with a printed date.
Don,
You are a WEALTH of INFORMATION!!! Thank you for SHARING it.
Bill W.
 
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