License plate clamps

[Mike]

Which way do the license plate clamps go ? I think 28/29 face down and 30/31 are facing up. Need clarification please.
mike

[Patrick]

They really only go on one way. Don't know about the 28-29s but pretty sure they all face down. 30-31 face down if I'm interpreting what you mean correctly. There is a notch on the bar the clamps fit over. The plates mount under the bar.

[Ed Saniewski]

Since this is a fine point section of the forum, the answer should come from the restoration and judging standards. Page 18-3 has a drawing that shows the nut and bolt on top of the headlight bar, with the bolt head and flat washer facing forward, then the licence plate. The two clamps, and the lock washer and nut toward the radiator.

[Mike V. Florida]

Since this is a fine point section of the forum, the answer should come from the restoration and judging standards. Page 18-3 has a drawing that shows the nut and bolt on top of the headlight bar, with the bolt head and flat washer facing forward, then the licence plate. The two clamps, and the lock washer and nut toward the radiator.

[Grit Kid]

This thread was started not in the 'Fine Points' section of the Model A Forum but was transferred to the 'Fine Points' (Judging Standards) after I made my comment. I have since deleted my response. Maybe this sub-forum should reflect that 'Fine Points' is actually 'Judging Standards'.

[Grit Kid]

Since this is a fine point section of the forum, the answer should come from the restoration and judging standards. Page 18-3 has a drawing that shows the nut and bolt on top of the headlight bar, with the bolt head and flat washer facing forward, then the licence plate. The two clamps, and the lock washer and nut toward the radiator.

Good answer but shouldn't the answer come from the directions given by Henry coming off the assembly line or does the Judging Standards include those directions. If so, the Judging standards must have quoted those directions from somewhere.

[Patrick]

Mike beat me to a reposting. There is a tutorial along with that, but, the picture Mike posted says it all.

[Mike]

Thank you all for your input.
mike

[Foxfire]

That illustration is from June '29 to end of production. Is there an illustration from beginning of production to end of May '29 or a description? My "A" is a Jan ''29.

[Mike V. Florida]

That illustration is from June '29 to end of production. Is there an illustration from beginning of production to end of May '29 or a description? My "A" is a Jan ''29.

Ribbed clips that hung the license plate below the bar
were used from the beginning of production until May
1929. The radius of the curved portion ofthe clip which
attached to the head lamp bar was 15/32" and the height
of the bolt end of the clip was 1/4". In June 1928 the
height of the radius of the curved part of the clip was
increased to 112 ". The clips were attached to the head
lamp bar with unfinished 1/4"-20 x 1" hex head (3 /8" x
1/4") bolts, unfinished lock washers and cadmium plated
1/4"-20 (3/ 16" x 112") hex nuts. Very early vehicles may
have been assembled with raven finished hex nuts. The
bolts were installed from the radiator side of the head
lamp bar. The assembly sequence was bolt, clip, head
lamp bar, clip, lock washer and nut.

If anyone reading this does not have one, get the Restoration Guidelines sold by most vendors and the national clubs. You will not be disappointed. Even if you do not want to have your car judged, this book will still allow you to find the "correct" part as opposed to just any part. As an example how hard would it be to paint a part the correct finish as it would be to just leave it alone?

[Tom Wesenberg]

That illustration is from June '29 to end of production. Is there an illustration from beginning of production to end of May '29 or a description? My "A" is a Jan ''29.

Here are 3 pictures I just took of my 1928 original clamps. All 4 clip parts are identical. The bolts and nuts are also original.
I should have also taken a side view, and will do that the next time I go to the garage.

[Mike]

Thank you Tom! Please look me up at the Gettysburg meet.
Mike

[Mitch]

Tom is not going

[Mike]

Well that is a bummer! I wonder how many cars are registered ?

[peter mendola]

Well when someone finds out what the " STAMPED STEEL " headlight bar use for a license plate clamp [ let me know] L.O.L.] ...U can see what i used on my car at Gettysburg meet in Fine point judging... The 180A group is having a open meeting there ..

[Ed Saniewski]

Hello Peter, good to hear from you. I haven't seen you post on the other site in a while. Nice to see you still have the 180A up for fine point judging. Hope to see you in Gettysburg.

[Mark Maron]

Well that is a bummer! I wonder how many cars are registered ?

we now have close to 500 registered and more coming in everyday..this is going to be another FANTASTIC MEET!!!

[Mitch]

I did not see it listed or maybe i missed it, but was the proper finish on the license plate clamps themselves on a late 30? I see the hardware would be raven finish

[Tom Wesenberg]

Here's a picture of the second style license clamp. I only show one part, but all 4 parts are the same. These are painted gloss black.

[Mitch]

A lot of cars at the meet had them installed upside down

[Mike]

28-29 were installed down and 30-31 are installed facing up.
mike

[Mitch]

oh thanks Mike i didn't know that :;


now looking at the bible
the pic above is for 6/29 to the end of production

In the JS i don't see where it says they hang down on 28 or 29 to 6/29??

[Beauford]

what's up and what's down for '29. The bolt?

[Beauford]

I'll crack open the holy book when I get off work.

[Mike V. Florida]

Beauford page 18-3 Revised 2011 has the picture.

[Beauford]

Thanks Mike!

[Mike V. Florida]

Mitch wrote "In the JS i don't see where it says they hang down on 28 or 29 to 6/29?? "

"Ribbed clips that hung the license plate below the bar
were used from the beginning of production until May
1929."

The key here is "below the bar" later the plate had some of it above the bar.

[Mitch]

Thanks Mike V i missed that one completely, so on 29 half of the year was down (till 5/29) and after that they were up. geeez