32 Bumpers

M

motordr

Well-known member
Hi guys, this is my first post on the new barn. Question regarding original 1932 Ford bumpers. I realize that there were different manufacturers back in the day...large or small knuckle on the ends.
I picked up two original bumper bars at Hershey this fall, one with a large knuckle and the other with a small knuckle. One of the bars is very straight between the mounting holes, while the other has a gentle outward curve.
Can any of you Ford experts shed some light on this? Were they all straight when manufactured or did any come out with a curve? Thanks.
 
They should be straight between the mounting holes. I am guessing someone bent it by towing.
 
A gennie 32 bumper should have a very slight bow, or curve, in it between the bolt holes. I have a NOS one and it is that way. However, I've had or seen other gennie bumpers which had little if any bow. All repo bumpers I've seen are straight between the holes.
 
i have large knuckle and slightly smaller knuckle original bumpers but all the repros have a lot smaller knuckles than the smaller originals. the originals have a deeper concave or valleys on the bar than the repops. you are starting to see alot of old rusty repops being passed off as originals for the unsuspecting. i first seen repro bumpers in 1972. my how time flys
 
Stick your finger in the ends of the bumper and feel for a washer that was put there to make the knuckle. If there is a washer....it is more than likely a reproduction. Pat
 
Mine are original and are pretty flat in between the brackets
 

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Thanks for the info guys. Carl, if you were to put a straight edge across the back side of your NOS bumper, from bolt hole to bolt hole, what would the gap measurement be?
Anyone else have info on this?
Thanks, and Merry Christmas to you!
 
By laying a straight edge across the backside of the bumper between the holes, the distance between the straight edge and the bumper is 5/16" inch at the center.
 
Thanks everyone, especially Carl for measuring your NOS bumper bow. Mine has a bow of about 3/4" and I now see that it has some non-symetrical bending. It's back to the plater in the new year. Anyone have a nice original core they would part with?
 
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