Model T
Resfurbishing
Tallahassee Museum of History & Natural Science
Apr 12, 2008
Our club has a long history of helping the Museum with the restoration and care
of the car.
Like the Museum itself, the Model T is rich with Tallahassee history.
“John Henry,” as the car is called, was purchased in 1919 by the Eppes
family, who had a hardware store in Tallahassee.
It was purchased “up North,” then disassembled for shipment to
Tallahassee, where it was reassembled.
It is reported to be the very first Ford in our area to be equipped with
an electric starter (1919 was the first year Ford offered a starter on its
vehicles). The car spent its entire
life in our city, where it was used by the Eppes family for personal and
business purposes until it was retired and donated to the Museum.
Our club restored John Henry for the Museum in the 1970s, then it was used on
the Museum grounds and in parades and events.
In the early ‘90s it was moved to John Schanbacher’s shop, where TRAACA
members refurbished its mechanics and put it back in tip-top condition.
When it was returned to the Museum, it became the centerpiece of the new
general offices. Since its return,
it has been stored on jack stands and not started.
Several months ago Russell Daws, the Tallahassee Museum’s CEO, asked me if the
club might refresh the car’s mechanics, so it could be driven on the museum
property once again. I brought the
matter up at a TRAACA meeting, where it was met with great enthusiasm.
On April 11th, John Henry was pulled onto Neal Davis’s trailer and
transported to his shop in Quincy to be refurbished mechanically once again.
On April 12th about a dozen TRAACA members, myself included,
swarmed over the car at Neal’s shop.
A bad tire tube valve was replaced and the tires were properly inflated.
Bolts holding the car’s wooden-spoke wheels were tightened, and one
stripped bolt was replaced. The wheels
needed to be removed to grease the wheel bearings, so a special wheel puller was
ordered.
The radiator water and the crankcase oil were drained and refilled and the
battery was charged. While one club
member cleaned up the spark plugs in the glass bead blaster, several others
disassembled, cleaned and reassembled the carburetor.
Under the front seat sat the fuel tank, still partially filled with
ancient gasoline. This gas had
solidified in the tank bottom and the sediment bowl, so the tank had to be
removed for restoration.
Although we could not finish our work in a single day, we decided to try to
start the Model T. The battery was
connected, and a temporary gas supply was fitted to the carburetor.
We had to pick the lock to turn on the ignition, since the key was still
at the Museum. After repeated
attempts at starting, the car’s long-dormant engine rattled to life!
Our day’s work was done.
Neal sent the gas tank to Henry’s Radiator Shop to be boiled out and repainted.
A few parts were ordered for our next Model T workshop session.
Our next “T-party” took place on May 3rd.
Eight TRAACA members continued the repair work, hoping to finish the job
and test drive the car. The gas
tank sediment bowl was reassembled and attached to the tank, and the tank was
bolted back under the front seat and connected to the fuel line.
Wheels were removed, repaired, re-greased and replaced.
Fluids were once again checked and fuel and fuel stabilizer were poured
into the gas tank.
This time, we had John Henry’s ignition key and starting the engine was easier
than before. I had the honor of
starting the engine and taking the car around the block, with several club
members riding as passengers. Upon
returning, we discovered that the carburetor was leaking fuel profusely.
The gas supply was shut off, and we disassembled the carb to see what the
problem was. We discovered that the
float valve was sticking---sometimes starving the carburetor of fuel and other
times allowing it to overfill and dump gas on the ground.
We would need to order a rebuild kit for the carburetor and resume our
work another day.
Working on the Tallahassee Museum’s historic Model T has been a learning
experience and a fun time for all involved.
Soon the 89-year-old vehicle will be returned to the Museum, where it
will be enjoyed by many people and driven sparingly.
It is great that our club can help preserve and maintain this wonderful
part of Tallahassee’s motoring history.
Many thanks to Neal Davis for his help including safely transporting the
“T-Model” and for the use of his shop.
Thanks also to Dave, Neal’s assistant, and, of course, to all club
members who volunteered their time and effort for this project: Richard Alcott,
Ed Davis, Gene Densmore, Bob Finley, Jack Hanbury, Jack Herzog & son, Bobby
Hollingsworth, Phil Palmer, Reuben Plachy, Bill O’Rourke, John Schanbacher,
David Taylor, Bill Thompson and anyone I might have missed.
 Norm at the wheel, taking her out for a test drive. |
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 Everyone pitches in to get "John Henry" back in shape. |
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 John Henry back home after a real freshening up! |
