I've never been Model A judged, so all I have to go on is "reports."
Reports are that cast iron brake drums are "overlooked" in judging - in the interests of safety.
This holds back originality - but it aids survival of both the cars AND the owners - hence the rationale.
My other hobby other than Model A is stationary steam engines. I have been a long time volunteer at New England Wireless & Steam Museum. This in addition to a life's career as a licensed 1st Class Steam Operating engineer. So needless to say I have a special insight into the safety requirements for a Code Steam Boiler and the possibility of a developed danger.
NEWSM jumps through hoops each year to assure they have an inspected, insured, and state (RI) assured boiler. It's a sizable expense for the museum - and has resulted in "scrapping" and replacing a boiler obviously beyond its normal life with better. The museum relies on "experts" to maintain their personal own and the public safety.
Some are not nearly so expert. The case of the Traction Engine (steam) that exploded in Medina, OH in 2001 comes to mind. Parts of that boiler were worn to less than 1/10th inch thickness - less than 1/4 the original thickness. It is a wonder that the boiler even survived as long as it did. 5 dead.
https://www.farmcollector.com/steam-engines/tragedy-at-medina-county-fairgrounds/
We, any of us, in our Model As could be Medina engine owner Cliff Kovacic who was operating/owning beyond his skill/knowledge level.
And there are failures of more qualified boilers. An example related to my own career involves three Power Plant Staff who were killed in 2008 at Salem Harbor Station while waiting for the elevator: as they stood there the boiler header immediately over their heads ripped loose flooding them with superheated water. They were dead in milliseconds.
Like the boiler at NEWSM, the Salem Harbor boiler had previously met ALL the state and insurance inspections and licensing requirements. Ultimately the explosion was determined to be the fault of the then Station Chief Engineer - who was young - and apparently had "lost" knowledge of this particular boiler's intricacies and proper long term care. Another (hidden) cost of reductions in plant staff and generation competition? And this young engineer now lives his life knowing his indirect responsibility?
https://www.salemnews.com/archives/...cle_4b9ee761-4205-530e-9749-cf38c19f01ad.html
The engineer's soliloquy: Everything has a life. This life might be extended even indefinitely if cost is removed as an object. The Model A judging may be close to requiring this as a standard. But - even when you're done, has every cost been spent to augment safety?
This is not to critique Brent - what you describe to "recover" a fan seems possible to do - but is it truly practicable? And will it provide positive assurance against failure?
So we look at these automobile components and make a decision as we go along. This is good and doesn't need replacement, this can be upgraded/fixed, this can be evaluated and repairs made. When we're done we hope to have a car that is at least equal to the original Ford production, and if it's better, we'll take that too?
I'm glad the committee is adopting a position for original fans similar to brake drums, if indeed that is the case.
Joe K
That comment makes about as much sense as saying 'The JSC needs to let ppl use auxiliary gas tanks because most original tanks have rust in them.' The issue is most restorers choose to overlook restoring an original fan just like many do gas tanks. If you tell people you have a Restored Model-A, then restore ALL of the car ...and quit blaming your oversight on original component failures.
