Judging Standards

Tiny

Tiny

Well-known member
I frequent the Barn often. When on here I try and be as helpful as possible and not stir the pot.
Most of the questions I answer I reference the JS's to make sure I know what I'm talking about. They are a wonderful and I believe needed part of owning a Model A. The service bulletins are also very important.
My belief is that no A owner should be without them.
This being said there are a bunch of questions asked here that could be easily answered by looking in them.
So here's the question.
Do you own a copy?
If not, why not?

Disclaimer;
I'm not try to upset anyone, just curious as I use the Standards a whole bunch and my car is neither a blue ribbon car or under restoration, it just a fun driver.
 
I have a copy of both and try to state in my response that they are the source of the information. Hopefully people will learn that is where much of the information is coming from and they should have a copy. Another reason to have one is that when you buy a part at a swap meet the correct part is often he same price (or less) as the incorrect part. Even if not a show car (mine definitely isn't) a car with more correct parts will eventually sell for higher price when it is sold.

Charlie Stephens
 
Charlie
I photo copy pages and take the info to swap meets with me if I'm looking for a specific part. I'm not a blue ribbon guy but if I can get the correct month part like you said even cheaper sometimes why not.
 
Several copies. The twenty three page 1970's version. 1 of the 97 version. 2 of the new version in full size (both purchased). 1 for the shop, 1 for the house. One 5X7 Swap meet copy. 1electronic ocr'ed copy on my phone.... i do recommend them
....
 
I own 5 copies ALONE in my house, and a mini complete copy that i carry all the time to swap and in my A and i PDF of the complete on every computer and Ipad i have......Its the bible of the Model A!
 
yea that would be good for my ipad. how can i get it
i do own the latest revisions
much appreciated
i guess i can genius scan every page
 
Tiny said:
I frequent the Barn often. When on here I try and be as helpful as possible and not stir the pot.
Most of the questions I answer I reference the JS's to make sure I know what I'm talking about. They are a wonderful and I believe needed part of owning a Model A. The service bulletins are also very important.
My belief is that no A owner should be without them.
This being said there are a bunch of questions asked here that could be easily answered by looking in them.
So here's the question.
Do you own a copy?
If not, why not?

Disclaimer;
I'm not try to upset anyone, just curious as I use the Standards a whole bunch and my car is neither a blue ribbon car or under restoration, it just a fun driver.
Click to expand...
Oh Great.:confused: Now I must be a nimrod:mad: Do I own a copy?:confused: No.
If not why?:confused: Heck,,,i am having trouble enough trying to decide on whitewalls or blackwalls.:D:D
But seriously,,,,,,,yes I did just buy some repop service bulletins. Just have to find time to look at them. I am not into restorations, just daily drivers and keeping them as runners. Just my preference.:cool:
 
I guess I always thought that the Judging Standards were for folks who are interested in accurate reproduction or restoration to original to satisfy the requirement of high point judging.

I have Les's books ( book1), Catalogs, including Brattons, Jim Shild's Book, and the Service Bulletins.

Would the JS Books add value if I only care for a well run and well tuned driver?
 
Tiny said:
How do get a copy for the phone Jim?
Click to expand...

Buy a full size. Scan every page. Run it through a character recognition program (i use textbridge). Make a million corrections from the results. Save in a format that will work on your device...bobs your uncle....
 
QGolden said:
I guess I always thought that the Judging Standards were for folks who are interested in accurate reproduction or restoration to original to satisfy the requirement of high point judging.

I have Les's books ( book1), Catalogs, including Brattons, Jim Shild's Book, and the Service Bulletins.

Would the JS Books add value if I only care for a well run and well tuned driver?
Click to expand...

My car is a "well tuned driver" but a little rough (I just call it patina). If a part needs to be replaced I replace it with the correct part. If I see a part that is incorrect, I keep my eyes open for it at swap meets. This approach will increase the value of the car when it is sold (I have had it since 1970 with no current plans to sell, almost every part on my vehicle is correct). Often the correct part costs the same as the incorrect part.

Charlie Stephens
 
There are a lot of folks out there that prefer to ask questions rather then do their own research by buying books and reading them.

Now.......I do NOT understand this practice. Whenever I get a hobby, or go to fix the furnace, or the clothes washer, or my new car, or the Model A, I prefer to buy some books, read them, and try to be educated about what I am doing. I feel this saves me quite a lot of time, and ultimatly saves me a lot of money as well, as it prevents me from making expensive mistakes.

But.......that is just my opinion.......
 
zzlegend said:
Oh Great.:confused: Now I must be a nimrod:mad: Do I own a copy?:confused: No.
If not why?:confused: Heck,,,i am having trouble enough trying to decide on whitewalls or blackwalls.:D:D
But seriously,,,,,,,yes I did just buy some repop service bulletins. Just have to find time to look at them. I am not into restorations, just daily drivers and keeping them as runners. Just my preference.:cool:
Click to expand...

No your not a nimrod.
Always black walls. :D
I'm not sure if they really apply to your car much.
Yours is more of a hybred or hotrod dare I say. ;)
I try not to use 28-29 parts on my car if possible. I like the hunt to find the right part and going over my car I have been surprised how much of it is correct for its date. It's fun to hunt down the right stuff for December 1930.
I'm also a book junkie so if it means I need another book I'm in :)
It just seems that there are a bunch of will this or that fit questions or is it right.....
 
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Hey Tiny. My farm truck is pretty much going to stay as is. :) Just my driver. But I have another 31 that I have been gathering parts for. Have a nice running gear, radiator, hood, and cowl. Looking for a decent roadster body for it now. And yes,,,,,,,,,its the hunt that counts.:p x-nimrod.:D
 
Own the judging standards and all copies of service bulletins as well as every "A" book on the market. I have a driver but she is maintained as she would have come off the assembly line with all the period correct parts that I have studied about thru the research books.

Several hard to find pieces were obtained thru fordbarn members!!
 
Fair question, Tiny. I would think that for some guys $25 pushes the budget, and maybe they only have one question, and maybe $25 for a book that answers that one question seems extravagant. Or maybe they look at the JS and think that they are never going to be judged, so why own the book. Or it really isn't pertinent to their particular car what the correct finish is for the left-handed 17-23 wiper screw nuts on an A400. There is a ton of knowledge available here, and most of us are glad to share what we know, and for me this site often answers questions that are essential to making the car run but have nothing to do with the JS. If a guy can afford an extensive library, great. It's important to have those resources close at hand. But I think there are myriad reasons why someone might not have the JS in their library. Now, Les Andrews's book(s), that's a different situation. ;)
 
It is true that many of us do not need a book called "Judging Standards". So who would want a book about 'Judging" if you don't plan on having your car 'Judged' - you just want a little help - guide lines, as it were - in the restoration of your Model A.

Luckily there is such a book - well, many of them. But of the many guidelines on restoration, one book I found especially helpful is called "Model A Restoration Guidelines". Now this is a book worth having - useful in so many ways. It comes in a dark blue, gold-trimmed loose-leaf binder, to simulate the look of the original "Service Bulletins" for the Ford Model A.

Oh, yes - there is another line, the last line, in the title - 'Judging Standards'.
 
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OK. My wife edited the '97 Revision. One day she said to me "they have the title backwards." It should be "Restoration Guidelines and Judging Standards". It is for everyone restoring a Model A. The individual can decide how far he or she would like to restore their car. Whether it be a daily driver, 14 point vehicle or a fine point restoration. The information is there. We have all found that original parts in a lot of cases are the only way to go. We have all had the thrill of finding a unique part for our vehicles at a swap meet!
 
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