what happen to black

[dave in australia]

If it was an Australian bodied car, it would not be black. In 1929, 25 colour schemes were offered and not one was a black body. In 1930, it was 21 colour schemes without black as a body colour choice.

 

[pat in Santa Cruz]

We know black was used, as there are many originals and photos of black A's. Perhaps black was not listed as a "color" because technically it is not a color, it is the absence of color. The alternatives were colors. So you had a choice of black or some colors.

 

[Mike V. Florida]

We know black was used, as there are many originals and photos of black A's. Perhaps black was not listed as a "color" because technically it is not a color, it is the absence of color. The alternatives were colors. So you had a choice of black or some colors.

I stand by my original statment:

All black was an optional color. It seems Henry did not like the saying "You can have it in any color as long as it is black"

 

[Marco Tahtaras]

Perhaps black was not listed as a "color" because technically it is not a color, it is the absence of color. The alternatives were colors. So you had a choice of black or some colors.

As mentioned, black was available all years in the USA but Ford chose not to promote it after more than 10 years of black only cars. Ford didn't openly list it as an option until 1930 when black showed obvious gains in popularity. BTW, black is "the absence of color" only in electronics where color is created by light. In real life it's the opposite.

We know black was used, as there are many originals and photos of black A's.

Original photos are deceiving as they are in black and white (gray scale). Darker colors always appear black as shown below. Examples of this would be Brewster green, Maroon, Thorne brown, Lombard blue, Adalusite blue, and more. It's my understanding that the "20 millionth Ford" (160-B) was actually maroon but Ford Motor company wanted it black to match the perception created by all the original promotional photos.

 

[pat in Santa Cruz]

.[/QUOTE]
BTW, black is "the absence of color" only in electronics where color is created by light. In real life it's the opposite.

[/QUOTE]
Black is the absence of color in light wave physics, not just electronics. But that boils down to brain electronics too. I think a physicist would present quite an interesting argument as to what "the real world " is. The colors we see are light waves reflected back from the surface. The white light , which comprises all colors, has a portion of the color band absorbed by the surface and some portion reflected back to our eyes. In the case of black, while the pigments might be comprised of all "colors" what we see is the absence of any of the color spectrum.

So, from the perspective of pigments, black is a color that reflects back no light, while from the perspective of light wave physics, black is the absence of color. So when we ask," is black a color?", if we are referring to the physical paint , yes. But if we are referring to the light waves we perceive (taking into account the variable brain perception as you mention with dark colors) then I suppose it all depends on what your definition of "is" is

But I doubt Henry was so exacting as to argue light wave physics in his publicity policy... That black's low profile in advertising was a business decision makes more sense.

BTW, is your roadster Lombard or Washington? The Paint and Finish Guide states Hessian wheels were with Lombard, but that Deluxe Roadsters had Washington bodies and Tacoma wheels. Do I assume the Guide is incorrect or that you are aware of an exception to what I read in the color charts?

 

[Steve Ciccalone]

That car is a 498pt Henry Ford Award winner, the highest scoring car in fine point judging ever (before someone says there have been 500pt cars understand they are TOURING class and NOT fine point). Please refer to the Paint and Finish Guide, Rev 3. You will see that Lombard Blue/Hessian Blue was available for special order on deluxe roadsters and phaetons in Sept '30. This rev 3 guide is very accurate and was the product of a lot of hard work by a dedicated group of Model A experts.

 

[shawnhorton2960B]

I would not be surprized if a lot of the cars in those ads were andulucite blue mine was

 

[Steve Ciccalone]

This is my unrestored '30 standard coupe in Andulusite blue and black. An altered b&w pic to eliminate the majority of color and a color photo. In a true era photo, the car would look all black, especially if taken inside.

 

[pat in Santa Cruz]

That car is a 498pt Henry Ford Award winner, the highest scoring car in fine point judging ever (before someone says there have been 500pt cars understand they are TOURING class and NOT fine point). Please refer to the Paint and Finish Guide, Rev 3. You will see that Lombard Blue/Hessian Blue was available for special order on deluxe roadsters and phaetons in Sept '30. This rev 3 guide is very accurate and was the product of a lot of hard work by a dedicated group of Model A experts.

aha, thanks for that. I do not have rev 3. I know the car, that's why I questioned the Paint and Finish Guide or my reading thereof. Now I guess I am going to have 3 paint and finish guide books, 2 of which are obsolete.

 

[allen]

Thanks guys great answers, we are doing a 30 Tudor and he wants black so black is what we will go with thanks for ever thing as usual