Door Handles

[Cape Codder]

I have a '30 or '31 Blindback that needs door handles. In the attachment I the door handle on the left is magnetic and the brass/cooper looking one on the right is non-magnetic. I have always thought that these handles where stainless although have been unable to find a book with the correct information.
Thanks for your time.
Cape Codder

 

[1930artdeco]

If I remember correctly the Sedans and the Vicky's shared handle styles, but the shaft length is different. And mine are clad in Stainless(?) One has the chrome wearing off just like your right one. Ebay is a good source also try Berts in Col.

Mike

 

[steve s]

According to the judging standards, the 28-29 door handles were nickel plated, except for the 29 Town Car's which were chromed after April.

"Some models built between October and December 1929 may have either nickel or chrome ..." It's not gramatically clear (to me) whether this refers only to Town Cars or to all A's. My '29 town sedan has chromed handles--who knows if they're original.

30-31 exterior handles are said to be stainless.

Don't know why your "right" handle is not magnetic--it looks like the nickel plating is just worn off.

Also, fwiw, the earliest Fordor handles were mounted "upside down."

hope this helps a bit.

Steve

 

[steve s]

... I wonder just how many were installed "Upside Down" in production. I frequently see where a restorer has unknowingly installed them "upside down".

A fellow in our club has a Fordor, which he asserts is a town sedan, with the upside down handles. His hasn't been restored, or at least not much, so he was claiming that mine were backwards. My research led to the same photo you cited and settled the issue for us.

Steve

 

[Cape Codder]

Where are the " 30-31 exterior handles are said to be stainless".
If the 30-31s are really statinless, then they wouldn't be magnetic,right?

Thanks for your time.
Cape Codder

 

[Marco Tahtaras]

Ford transitioned from chrome plated brass to stainless handles in early-mid 1930 (generally April/May). It's not unusual to find a mix during this time period but your car is surprisingly late for such a mix. Although it doesn't really show in this pic, my April built Deluxe Fordor has a mix. On BOTH sides of the car the handle on the right is stainless and the left handle is chrome plated brass. Oddly that is just the opposite of your example.

My first reaction was the same as Don's as it relates to the steel core. however I checked both pairs of handles on my car and the stainless handles have a fairly good magnetic pull while the brass handles have absolutely none. The brass handles use the same steel core.

 

[Jerry Parr WI]

Ford transitioned from chrome plated brass to stainless handles in early-mid 1930 (generally April/May). It's not unusual to find a mix during this time period but your car is surprisingly late for such a mix. Although it doesn't really show in this pic, my April built Deluxe Fordor has a mix. On BOTH sides of the car the handle on the right is stainless and the left handle is chrome plated brass. Oddly that is just the opposite of your example.

My first reaction was the same as Don's as it relates to the steel core. however I checked both pairs of handles on my car and the stainless handles have a fairly good magnetic pull while the brass handles have absolutely none. The brass handles use the same steel core.

Marco

I find that time reference interesting as my Nov 29 built 30 Town Sedan has stainless handles, also magnetic. While I was checking I noticed the stainless running board trim is also magnetic, all edges.

Maybe an expert will chime in but I believe some grades of stainless are magnetic.

Jerry

 

[Cape Codder]

So Marco what you are saying is that ALL Fordor door handles starting in April / May 1930 to end are Stainless. Is that information in the service letters or some other source?
Again, the attachment that I submitted shows the REAR door which looks like Stainless is Magnetic and the FRONT door looks like Brass is non Magnetic.
Thanks for your time.
Cape Codder

 

[N ReedBen]

Having been a toolmaker for almost 40 years, I can tell you that not all stainless is non-magnetic. The higher the quality of stainless the less magnetic it is. The nickel content is the determining factor. The more nickel is the steel the higher the quality, thus it is more expensive. Also, most of the highest quality stainless will not heat treat.

N. Reed

 

[Marco Tahtaras]

Marco

I find that time reference interesting as my Nov 29 built 30 Town Sedan has stainless handles, also magnetic. While I was checking I noticed the stainless running board trim is also magnetic, all edges.

Maybe an expert will chime in but I believe some grades of stainless are magnetic.

Jerry

Yes some of the stainless that Ford used was magnetic. For some dumb reason I didn't expect it to apply to the door handles. I just checked my Roadster and those handles are magnetic as well. When I showed the Roadster in Dallas I got docked a full point for my cowl band being repro because it was magnetic. This cowl band is the best one I've EVER seen as it didn't suffer some of the manufacturing issues almost all original bands suffered. How much experience does it take to distinguish an original band from a junk repro visually? Jeez!!!

So Marco what you are saying is that ALL Fordor door handles starting in April / May 1930 to end are Stainless. Is that information in the service letters or some other source?
Again, the attachment that I submitted shows the REAR door which looks like Stainless is Magnetic and the FRONT door looks like Brass is non Magnetic.
Thanks for your time.
Cape Codder

My source is simply studying silly little details on unmolested cars for almost forty years.

You missed one of my points. Unless your car picked up a "stray" along the way, the other side of the car should look the same. To look the same then the other side should have stainless on the FRONT door and brass on the REAR door.

Jerry's car is worth a case study in itself as it has some unusual things that I don't recall from other similar cars. I'd like to get another look at Bob Holleran's November '29 Murray Town Sedan to see if I just overlooked those things twenty years ago. That car was semi-local to me from about 1974 to 1998. Now it's 2000 miles away!