Seat Belts Save Lives

Randy in ca said:
From their webpage:

"The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulates interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories. A U.S. government agency overseen by Congress, the Commission is the federal agency responsible for implementing and enforcing America’s communications law & regulations".
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Thanks for that, Randy.

IMO, the FCC shows huge temerity by taking it upon themselves to censor people in other parts of the world. As I pointed out earlier, "***" means a donkey here - nothing else. I am aware that it has other connotations in the US but not here. When it comes to those of us outside the US, maybe they should pull their head in. I am offended by their actions.
 
bkensinger said:
Plain seatbelts mounted to frame bolts on outside, grade 8 bolts with large fender washers on inside.
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I take it, they were lap sash rather than lap only.
The steering wheel looks like it took an impact.
I assume a taxi was constructed fairly substantially.
 
What amazes me is the integrity of the body. It looks like the front of the car absorbed the energy of the crash and maintained body integrity, like a modern car is designed to do
 
nkaminar said:
I would like to know how that accident happened and how it could have been avoided. After almost being run into my a semitruck I would like to learn more about how to avoid accidents.
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I would like to know the same. Rear-ending someone happens all the time. I love my cast iron drums, with equalizing wedges.

As for adding the seatbelts comments I'd like to add something. If the coach bolts snap and the coach separates from the frame you do not want your body to be holding the two main structures (frame, coach) together. (Per the late Ed Johnson) Those bolts are about 100 years old. They are not even graded bolts. We have had a few discussions at out local chapter meetings about adding belts. We even added some to a car one evening. Tudor, or Fordor you might bolt the lap belts to that U-channel in the floor between the front floorboard, and the rear floorboard, at the rear of the seat. That steel channel thing is solidly attached to the sides of the coach from the factory, and is not sheet metal. As for trucks, and roadsters I do not know where might be a good attachment point.

Remember, Rick Allen (Def Leppard) lost his left arm in a New Year's Eve car crash in 1984. The shoulder belt cut his arm right off. The edge of the belts can cut like a knife.

Moral of all this is attach your lap belts to a sturdy point on the coach, not the frame.
 
Gene F said:
If the coach bolts snap and the coach separates from the frame you do not want your body to be holding the two main structures (frame, coach) together.
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I’ve heard this many times but I have yet to see a modern Model A accident photo showing the body and frame separated. The chances of this happening are so small that it’s not worth degrading the strength of the safety system. The body-to-frame bolts are stronger than the body. If you think your bolts will snap on impact, you should replace them with ones you have confidence in.
 
The seat belts in my '28 Tudor and my '29 Phaeton are specially made for the application. There is a strong box section that goes right accross the bottom of the rear tub. I had made a "Y" shaped belt that attched to a grade 8 bolt through that box section and came forward, dividing just behind the driver and a belt over each shoulder. There is a lap belt component to the harness threaded through the shoulder straps. The lap is attached to a strong angle iron brace that runs across the car from chassis to chassis, all secured with garade 8 bolts. IMO, It is a pretty decent 3 point harness.
That is for the driver who is at risk of impalement on the steering column. The other seats have similarly strong lap belts only,
In my 1930 CCPU, I made a frame that bolts to the chassis just behind the B pillar up to the top of the door and a support going forward above the door and attaches to the top of the A poillar. To that, I have attached the belt mount at shoulder height for a lap/sash belt. Lap belt for the passenger.
In my "barn find" Ute, I fabricated the subfloor frame from 3 mm (1/8") steel sheet to which I welded a bracket to hold the lower attachment for a retractung lap/sash belt.
Seeing as how it is MY life that relies on them doing their job, I cut no corners.
 
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Synchro909 said:
The seat belts in my '28 Tudor and my '29 Phaeton are specially made for the application. There is a strong box section that goes right accross the bottom of the rear tub. I had made a "Y" shaped belt that attched to a grade 8 bolt through that box section and came forward, dividing just behind the driver and a belt over each shoulder. There is a lap belt component to the harness threaded through the shoulder straps. The lap is attached to a strong angle iron brace that runs across the car from chassis to chassis, all secured with garade 8 bolts. IMO, It is a pretty decent 3 point harness.
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Can you post a pic of how you did the shoulder belt in the phaeton?
 
It's hard to tell on the photo but it appears to have pushed the left side over to the right somewhat. In the direct head on collision photos I've seen, the engine gets pushed into the cabin somewhat with the front end pushed under the car to a certain degree.

Harold Hicks went fully through the windshield when he was in the prototype wreck back in 1927 since there was no thought of safety belts back then. Model A cars never did well in collisions no matter what body they had. Harold survived but he was hospitalized for a good while.

Original Taxi cars aren't common since there weren't many made. They generally had the partition between the driver and the back seat that added a rear facing jump seat. They also had special flicker lighting and the big meter in there. Variations are always interesting on those rare types. I've heard that some were converted town sedans used in various cab companies in Metro Detroit. Some cab companies purchased the Fordors & Town Sedans from Ford and did their own conversions.
 
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