1927 open car door latch

[53 effie]

I have a 1927 Roadster I am collecting parts for. My body sat outside for many years in the Sand Hills of Nebraska. I want to put new door latches in it to get the doors working.

I ordered new latches from Snyders without looking at the shape of my old latches first. Their website said their latches fit 1926 and 1927 open cars so I ordered a pair. When I got them and went to compare them to my car, they are completely different. My latches go up under the inner door panel on the top of the latch. The ones Snyder's sent me were "square" - like their picture showed. I called Snyder's and they said they'd heard of my style latches, the guy called them "pyramid" style. But they didn't have any like that they sell for 1927 open cars.

I looked on several other vendors websites and the only latches I find close are the 1928 Model A open car latches. Does anyone know if they will fit or where I can get the 1927 latches?

I asked the same question over at the HAMB but didn't get much of any response..

 

[tmodelman]

Those latches are part 5680BX right, and 5679BX left. But about the only way is to adv. on-line or check eBay.

Good place to put a free classified is MTFCA site, free to place add, and put the picture of what you are after. Link below:



http://www.mtfca.com/cgi-bin/discus/show.cgi?3487/3487

These photos should help. The right one has a piece of baling wire looped on it, the left one (drivers' side) shows best, the little cutaway triangle (pyramid) is the hint, and the hole for the door panel fastener socket for the ringed nail used to fasten the cardboard panel.

 

[53 effie]

Yes, those latches pictured are the style I have.

The part numbers you gave come back to the ones that do not work on my doors.

 

[Randy in ca]

I've never done an actual interchange of the latches, but I'm pretty sure that the 1928 Model A latches will work on the 1926-27 doors. Definitely worth a try if you've run out of options. The only difference I can see is the shape of the handle - the Model T is flat whereas the Model A is round and is threaded for a screw on knob. When I was working on my "A" Roadster I noticed the similarity of the reproduction latches I had purchased and some "T" latches I had at the time. Attached are some pictures I took at the time. The beat-up Model A latch in pictures 3 & 4 is an original that's had the handle cut off. I've heard of some poor quality problems with the Model A reproduction latches, but I think it applies to the 1929 version which were different so as to incorporate an outside handle as well. The 1928 repro latches on my Model A have worked flawlessly for several years. If you decide to go this route and try the 1928 latches on your Model T let use know how it works out. Good Luck.

 

[53 effie]

I'm not concerned about the shape of the handle for my use. I'm after the fitment and function.

Thank you very much for your information. The last two pictures of the two latches side by side is exactly what I was looking for.

 

[53 effie]

I ordered a pair of 1928 open car door latches. I installed one in my T door and it fits and works just like it belongs there.

 

[redmodelt]

Thank you for the update. Great when things work out.

 

[Karl Wescott]

For everyones information, we do make the "1927" style latches.

The part that extends up into the door is the socket for the side curtain rod ("1926" had the socket inside the door). They are a little bit different than the common "1928" style latch due to the vee notch for the dovetail type striker plate. There were a few transition latches used on very early 1928 which had the model T body with the model A handle.

Karl Wescott
Wescotts Auto Restyling
www.wescottsauto.com