28/29 Pheaton top irons

[john charlton]

Restoring a 28 pheaton which came with no top irons.Thought I would go the used original route first rather than buy a repro set.After several years of seaching found of course they are like hens teeth. Whilst at the Chikasha Okla swap meet found as usual lots of T irons but nary a 28/29 set in sight.Just before closing on the last day I spotted a set which looked more like it.The vendor said he thought they came of an A pheaton but could not guarantee it but at 120 bucks I took a chance. He said it was a "Two man top" never ever heard of that. It was folded but the forward bow was not connected to the middle bow .I assume it was the only way it could fold. It looks old and is very well made but not identical to an original top on a friends car ,could it be 30/31.I have mouted it on the car and it fits perfectly just wondered what I have ,Washawsky/Sears ???.And will a new fabric top fit it ???

John in sunny weather England

 

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

A cut-down set of T irons? Maybe you are correct, a set of 1970's reproductions?



FYI, the true Two-man tops were on early cars where the bows had to be removed from sockets and moved to a lower hole to allow the top to stow with the wood bows stacking on top of each other. Below is a few pictures of my son's Model T showing some basic idea of how it is done. In the 3rd picture we have just moved it from the upper hole down to the lower hole on the front set of irons. Notice the cotter pin that is used, and how in the first picture that the bows are of different lengths and would not allow the wooden cross bows to stack in line with each other if the entire socket was not moved prior to stowing.

While some may argue with the term 'one-man', with the New Improved Ford of late '25 came the One-man Top which theoretically only required one man to grab it in the center of the front bow and lift upward while pulling it forward. Scratching paint in the process only happened the first few times (until the paint was all gone) and then it was no longer an issue!)

 

[Marco Tahtaras]

You didn't include any pics so there is not way to know what you are working with. These are pics of a '28 assembly.