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Model A Instruction Books - US Manuals

By Rick Black
Las Cruces NM

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There were at least 13 different versions of the Ford Model A Instruction Book published for US-built cars and trucks: 5 in 1928, 2 in 1929, 4 in 1930, and 2 in 1931. The following paragraphs outline the differences in the manuals so that owners of Model A Fords looking for a manual that matches the production date of their vehicles can identify which version might have been supplied with the vehicle when new.

The first and easiest way to identify the manuals is to look for the copyright date, which was always printed on the first or second page of the manual (although the first 4-5 pages were unnumbered.) Once you have identified the correct year, the version can be ascertained by noting the pictures in the manuals.

Consult the MAFCA/MARC Restoration Guidelines and Judging Standards, Area 17 - Tools, for additional information.

1928192919301931

1928 - Five versions - Copyright Date is 1928 on title page or page 2.
The key to telling them apart is to study the photos in the book. Specifically, the following:
Refer to Figure 2 Page 7 - Instruments and Control Levers
        and Figure 6 Page 15 - Transmission and Clutch

Version 1 - View Photo
Figure 2 - emergency brake to the left of the driver's compartment
Figure 2 - a round gear shift knob
Version 2 - View Photo
Figure 2 - emergency brake to the left of the driver's compartment
Figure 2 - a mushroom gear shift knob
Version 3 - View Photo
Figure 2 - emergency brake in front of the shift lever
Figure 2 - squeeze grip emergency brake handle
Figure 6 - the multiple disk clutch
Version 4- View Photo
Figure 2 - emergency brake in front of the shift lever
Figure 2 - squeeze grip emergency brake handle and mushroom shift knob
Figure 6 - shows the single disk clutch - View Photo
Version 5 - View Photo
Figure 2 - emergency brake in front of the shift lever
Figure 2 - push button emergency brake handle and round gear shift knob
Figure 6 - shows the single disk clutch - View Photo

1929 - Two versions - Copyright Date is 1929 on page 2.
The key to telling them apart is to study the photos in the book. Specifically, the following:
Refer to Page 7 - Figure 2 - Instruments and Control Levers

Version 1
Figure 2 - emergency brake is forward of the gear shift lever - View Photo
Version 2
Figure 2 - emergency brake is to the right of the gear shift lever - View Photo

1930 - Four versions - Copyright Date is 1930 on page 2.
The key to telling them apart is to study the photos in the book. Specifically, the following:
Refer to Page 7 Figure 2 - Instruments and Control Levers

Version 1 - Figure 2 - Instrument panel has oval speedometer - View Photo
Version 2 - same as Version 1 but includes section on AA Trucks

Version 3 - Figure 2 - Instrument panel has round speedometer - View Photo
Version 4 - same as Version 3 but includes section on AA Trucks


1931 - Two original versions (See "Reprints" below) - Copyright Date is 1931 on page 1.
The key to telling them apart is to study the photos in the book. Specifically, the following:
Refer to Page 20, Figure 11 - Fuel System
        and Page 22, Figure 12 - Carburetor

Version 1 (early 1931)
Figure 11 - Gas Tank/engine - Fuel Shutoff Valve on passenger side
of the firewall under the gas tank and sediment bowl attached to firewall. - View Photo
Figure 12 - Carburetor - no sediment bowl. - View Photo

Version 2 (Late 1931)
Figure 11 - Gas Tank/Engine - Fuel Shutoff Valve on indented firewall - View Photo
Figure 12 - Filter bowl is attached to carburetor - View Photo
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Early and late Firewall Comparison
Click on the photo to Enlarge
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Early and late Carburetor Comparison
Click on the photo to Enlarge

 

US Manuals   |   US Reprints  |   Non-US Manuals

Consult the MAFCA/MARC Restoration Guidelines and Judging Standards, Area 17 - Tools, for additional information.


Last Updated: 05/27/2020
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