DETERMINING DATE WHEN KEYS AND THEIR …

1 1 DETERMINING DATE WHEN KEYS AND THEIR CODES CHANGED IN MODEL A PRODUCTION (AND JUST WHERE DID ALL THOSE ENGINES GO)? BY STEVE C. PLUCKER AS OF DECEMBER 28, 2013 ( * REPRESENTS DEALERSHIP AS ASSEMBLY PLANT IS UNKNOWN) ( C means CROWN) ( ** means AA Truck Engine) There are four great research articles: in The Restorer, Vol. 30, No. 4, PP. 10-15 (1985) about Model A Keys and Locks by Mr. Cal Allan and Phil Allin (A); AND in Model A News, Vol. 36, No. 6, PP. 13-15 (1989) about Model A Ignition Locks by Jerry Parr (B); and Model A News, Vol. 56, No. 2, PP. 26-30 (2009) about Keying Your Model A by Jerry Parr (C); and The Restorer, On Authenticity , Vol.

2 36, No. 5, PP. 25-27 (1992). Instead of using early and mid , designations for when one type of key was changed to the other type of key, I have taken it one step further and used original Ford Factory (Assembly Plant) and Dealership Bill of Sales and Titles. The key codes and the engine number, which were on the titles, were used, and recorded below, to determine a true cutoff date. If you have any Factory Bills of Sale or Dealership Bills of Sale with key data on them, please let me know so we can incorporate the data off of them. Thanks. WHAT IS THOUGHT BELOW STUDY TO BE RESULTS For Ignition keys: 1928 through mid 1930: A801 to A1050 (Grove 1) {Jan.}

3 1928-May, 1931} Mid 1930 through 1931: A1301 to A1550 (Grove 5) {Oct. 1930 thru 1931} For door, deck lid, and tire locks: 1928 through mid 1930: A1051 to A1300 (Grove 3) (A-1) {Jan. 1928-Mar. 1931} 1928 through 1929 (digit): 11112A to 33332A (Grove 1) {June 1929-Oct. 1929} Mid 1930 through 1931: A1301 to A1550 (Grove 5) {Oct. 1930 thru 1931} Crown keys: 1929 to April, 1931 F500 to F1000 {Nov. 1929-Mar. 1931} (C): KEYING YOUR MODEL A : Crown locks used codes F551-F800 . Tire locks only: 1928-1929 Miller or Yale, Jr.: AG501 to AG750 (A-1): Door key A922 was used in a late 1930 Tudor Sedan, A4113525 2 ENGINE # DATE IGNITION DOOR DECK TIRE ASSEMBLY STAMPED KEY KEY KEY KEY PLANT (B): MODEL A IGNITION LOCKS : Lock A-11582-A was used from start of production in 1927 until the instrument panel changed in mid-1930.

4 This lock was operated by key A-11586-A. This lock had the code number stamped on the side of the plated cap. These locks used the code number series A800 through A1050 . 0006017(3) 01/05/28 A855 SAN FRANCISCO, CA 0008329(9) 01/12/28 SOMERVILLE, MA 0009603(9) 01/16/28 SOMERVILLE, MA 0015404(15)

5 01/27/28 DETROIT, MI 0016157(7) 01/30/28 KEARNY, NJ (C): KEYING YOUR MODEL A : A Ford change letter dated March 1928 called for the removal of both names (Ford and Briggs and Straton Corp.) from keys and only the B in a diamond remained. 0068794(9) 04/02/28 SOMERVILLE, MA 0092582(42) 04/19/28 A917 A1191 0123436(9) 05/08/28 SOMERVILLE, MA 0124811(39) 05/09/28 A1002 A1055 ST.

6 LOUIS, MO 0131920(3) 05/14/28 SAN FRANCISCO, CA 0134808(2) 05/15/28 A959 A1269 CHESTER, PA 0135405(12)** 05/16/28 A884 0144865(6) 05/22/28 A1022 A1194 MILWAUKEE, WI 0151666(37) 05/24/28 SAN FRANCISCO, CA 0167266(9) 06/01/28 A988 SOMERVILLE, MA 0185435(34) 06/12/28 SAN FRANCISCO, CA 0198453(9)

7 06/19/28 A890 SOMERVILLE, MA 0199467(3) 06/19/28 SAN FRANCISCO, CA 0228783(15) 07/02/28 buffalo , NY 0234842(9) 07/06/28 A1022 A1073 SOMERVILLE, MA 0246602(9) 07/12/28 A827 SOMERVILLE, MA 0253724(9)** 07/16/28 A1018 SOMERVILLE, MA 0271551(3)

8 07/20/28 SAN FRANCISCO, CA 0288290(9) 07/27/28 A742 A1226 SOMERVILLE, MA JULY 28, 1928, FORD SERVICE BULLETIN: The spare wheel and tire lock along with the spare wheel lock for fender well jobs were introduced as accessories for the Model A Ford. 0290100(12) 07/30/28 A802 A1257 0297383(12) 08/01/28 A831 A1172 A1076 0328977(9) 08/14/28 A960 A1064 SOMERVILLE, MA 0349062(41) 08/21/28 A906 A1224 OMAHA, NB 0352579 (44)

9 08/22/28 SAN FRANCISCO, CA 0362080(9) 08/24/28 A840 A1086 SOMERVILLE, MA 0374147(9) 08/29/28 A968 A1062 SOMERVILLE, MA 0390909(9) 09/05/28 A884 A1108 SOMERVILLE, MA 0404057(9) 09/10/28 A928 A1096 SOMERVILLE, MA 30405449(15) 09/10/28 A1009 A1121 buffalo , NY 0417892(9)

10 09/13/28 A1038 A1130 SOMERVILLE, MA 0430688 (45) 09/17/28 A926 A1146 A1152 TWIN CITIES, MN 0449871(9) 09/21/28 A971 A1170 SOMERVILLE, MA 0450027(3) 09/21/28 SAN FRANCISCO, CA 0450037(3) 09/21/28 SAN FRANCISCO, CA 0450