plastic constructor Posted December 26, 2009 Share Posted December 26, 2009 I'm looking for photographic reference for WWI Ambulances, especially the Ford Model T prior to 1920. I have a kit in mind for the conversion, it's the Academy 1914 Ford Model T. Can anyone point me in the right direction for reference books and drawings? ... or do any of the members here own such a vehicle which may be available for photography? Nick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mazungumagic Posted December 26, 2009 Share Posted December 26, 2009 Hi Nick, Have a look at the Australian War Memorial site (once you're there click on Collections and type in whatever you are interested in seeing); http://www.awm.gov.au/ Here's one photo from that site, showing a pre 1917 Ford. I don't know that there were many 1914 ambulances - the bulk of the motorised stuff, came a little later during the War, I think. Jack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minesweeper Posted December 26, 2009 Share Posted December 26, 2009 Runflat is the guy to help you with this one! Tony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FWDTEXAS Posted December 26, 2009 Share Posted December 26, 2009 Also have al look at www.pioneerflightmuseum.org Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted December 26, 2009 Share Posted December 26, 2009 There is a least one about on the show circuit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shellshock Posted June 6, 2010 Share Posted June 6, 2010 I am currently building a WW1 US Army M1917 Ambulance. I'm using a 1920 Ford Model T as the foundation. You can see it on my website. http://www.ww1history.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
protruck Posted June 6, 2010 Share Posted June 6, 2010 Superb resto, keep up the fantastic work. Clive ............................. protruckservices.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Runflat Posted June 6, 2010 Share Posted June 6, 2010 Hi, a quick note before I go to bed. I see your website suggests there is a difference between the 1917 and 1918 pattern ambulance bodies. Can you elaborate? There are at least two genuine Ford T ambulances in USA. I'm not sure what year they are though. I can dig out the details if you are interested. There's also this one in France, which may be a replica: This was written up in one of the French magazines. Again, I can dig out details if you're interested. I hope you have luck finding the right body plans. Speaking from the other side of the pond, I'd love to know whether plans exist for the standard British T ambulance body - these were very different to the US ones. I don't know of any genuine British pattern survivors. As well as the standard patterns, all manner of locally made ambulances were also made. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shellshock Posted June 7, 2010 Share Posted June 7, 2010 MEDICAL DEPARTMENT OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY IN THE WORLD WAR VOLUME III FINANCE AND SUPPLY PREPARED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF MAJ. GEN. M. W. IRELAND Surgeon General BY COL. EDWIN P. WOLFE. M. C. U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : WASHINGTON 1928 CHAPTER XXIII FORD AMBULANCES 1917 MODEL During the visit of the French mission to the United States in April, 1917, there was presented to the War Department a request from the French Government for 100 ambulance sections, consisting of 20 machines and approximately 25 men each, for service with the French troops.1 This request seems to have been suggested by the presence of units of the American Ambulance Service (private organizations) with the French armies, maintained by volunteer subscription and enlistments in France and the United States. The Surgeon General received authority from the Secretary of War to raise the force and provide the equipment.2 The question of body design was at once taken up by the Medical Department ambulance board. Ford ambulances having been specifically designated in the request of the French Government, every source of information covering materials and design was investigated as fully as time would permit. Every individual who had seen service with the American Ambulance Service in France, and who could be located, was consulted and his views solicited. A special effort was made to elicit the reasons for the design developed by that organization during its many months of service in France. It was assumed that the design then in use was the most suitable. An attempt was made to duplicate it, as closely as could be done from the photographs and information available, and from the suggestions of those who had had experience in its use. Several sample bodies were ordered, mounted on standard Ford chassis, and compared, point by point, with the pictures and meager description of the French body. The design was finally completed and adopted in the latter part of May, 1917. The request by the French for 100 sections, was increased by them to 120 sections, requiring 2,400 ambulances, before the work on the body design had been completed. The sources from which bodies could be obtained were investigated and their maximum output determined. A survey was made of the total output of all the ordinary sources of supply. This survey showed those sources to be totally inadequate to produce so great a number of bodies within the available time. It was thought, in view of its facilities, organization, and reputation for quantity production, that there was no company so well equipped to produce the completed ambulances as the Ford Motor Co. itself, if it could be induced to undertake the task. This the company readily agreed to do. California redwood was considered the best material to inclose the sides; yellow pine as best for the floor; and oak or ash as best for the subsills. Investigation by the Ford Motor Co. showed that delivery of the redwood lumber could not be had under 60 days, which placed it out of consideration. The possibility of using a composition board for the sides, in place of redwood suggested by a member of the ambulance board, received prompt consideration, was fully investigated by the engineer of the company, and found to be satisfactory. It could be obtained immediately in sufficient quantity. A body was constructed of this material, in accordance with the design adopted, inspected, its riding qualities for both sitting and recumbent patients tried out over unfavorable roads, and found satisfactory.3 It was accepted and a contract given the Ford Motor Co. for the full 2,400 ambulances, boxed for export shipment. The price paid for the complete ambulance was $475, for a set of spare parts for each machine $22.72 per set, and for sets of additional spare parts for 20 machines, $561.81 per set.4 Production began in July and proceeded with such rapidity that considerable difficulty was experienced in moving the output from the factory to the seaport, due to lack of storage at the port of embarkation. In order to relieve the congestion, 100 complete ambulances were ordered to the newly established motor ambulance supply depot, Louisville, Ky., where the majority of them were assembled and shipped to various organizations in the United States. A few, boxed for export, were shipped to organizations about to proceed overseas. The contract was completed in the early part of September, and 2,350 ambulances had been shipped to France by October 15, 1917. The remaining 50 were shipped to the United States Army Ambulance Service at Allentown, Pa., for training purposes. That service was being organized for service with the French Army. The body design was shortened as much as possible, even to the extent of requiring the front end of the litter poles to project under the driver’s seat and the rear ends of the poles to project through the tail gate of the ambulance, the apertures being covered with canvas, thus causing a great overhang of the rear end of the body beyond the rear axle line. This overhang was the cause of much criticism by all who saw it, but no means of avoiding it could be found which still secured that short turning radius, regarded as so essential by all who had seen service with Ford ambulances in France. Many devices for lengthening the wheel base, to avoid this overhang, were submitted and the ambulance board was importuned by sales agents of those devices to adopt them. But it adhered to its decision to make the type supplied conform to that used in France, if material and construction available could effect it. The composition board body received considerable criticism from the units overseas to which they were assigned; due largely to the use of ¼-inch material in the side walls instead of 3/8-inch material, as used in the standard closed-type ambulance body of 1918; and to the belief that it would be readily broken and could not be patched. Nevertheless this type of body stood up well. Machines so equipped were found to be in good condition in 1919. The advantages of having the work done by a firm with facilities as extensive and an organization as efficient as the Ford Motor Co. were many; but the operations of an organization as efficient as that company are not always coordinated and harmonized, as was evident from the difficulties encountered in assembling the bodies of the lot shipped to the motor ambulance supply depot at Louisville. It was found that the jigs used for boring the holes of the woodwork were neither uniform nor correct, requiring many new holes to be bored.5 To remedy some of the difficulties experienced in assembling these ambulance bodies, the Ford Motor Co. prepared and forwarded to the Surgeon General in September,1917, 2,500 copies of instruction for setting up Ford ambulances.6 These instructions were promptly forwarded overseas. The Ford Motor Co. gave assurance that defects in the first lot had been noted and corrected in later production and that trouble with only a few need be expected.7 In May, 1918, a contract for 100 Ford ambulances was made with the Ford Motor Co. The Medical Department needed a light ambulance at many of the smaller posts, where ambulance service was not extensive and where such ambulances could be used to advantage. The prices paid on this contract were, for ambulances complete, $500 each, and for sets of spare parts for individual ambulances $50 per set.8 These ambulances were shipped to the Ford branch in Louisville where they were assembled and delivered to the motor ambulance supply depot. The local branch also experienced difficulty in assembling the bodies owing to the improper location of bolt holes in the materials received.9 To overcome the extensive overhang and the side sway, and to improve the riding qualities, it was decided to equip this lot of chassis with a Hay Dee 15-inch extension. Changes in the chassis by the application of this extension were made by the personnel of the motor ambulance supply depot before the bodies were mounted. This extension was criticized by the depot personnel as being a rather crude piece of work.9 Improvements in design of the cross members were devised at the depot. 1918 BODY MODEL The type of body designed in 1917, and supplied with Ford ambulances shipped overseas in the summer of 1917, was criticized by the chief of the United States Army Ambulance Service with the French Army.10 The principal complaints about the body were that it was too small in all directions; that the internal arrangements were defective, especially the runner for the upper litter; that the tail gate was too wide; that the protection of the drivers was poor; that the tool boxes was fragile, and that the material of which the body was made was too fragile. The body constructed in France was heavier, made of wood, and the top was sufficiently rigid to carry the spare tires. One of these bodies was shipped to the United States as a sample of the accepted design. It was carefully examined by personnel of the finance and supply division of the Surgeon General’s Office. The standard specifications were modified to correspond in dimensions to this body. A new AA type body for the General Motors Co. ambulance had been designed, built, and perfected. Contracts for the estimated needs of the Army had been let and work on them begun when information was received in June, 1918, that it was the intention to equip one of the ambulance companies of each division with Ford ambulances. The qualities and conveniences of the new AA body were sufficient to justify the extension of the principle to the Ford ambulance. Instructions were issued on July 1, 1918, to the Medical Department representative on duty with the Anderson Electric Car Co. to construct an experimental Ford ambulance body combining the most desirable features of the special French Kellner body and the old-type Ford body.11The criticisms of the old Ford body by the chief of the United States Army Ambulance Service with the French Army were furnished as a further guide.12 Work on the new design was pushed rapidly. The Kellner body was brought to the Anderson factory and studied. The sample body was finished by the end of July.13 This new body was patterned after the new AA body in most of its details. The length of the experimental body was 6 feet 10 ¾ inches over posts, and conformed to the Kellner body. Its weight was 636 pounds. The weight of the Kellner body was 811 pounds. The experimental body was designed for either the standard Ford wheel base or with Hay Dee 15-inch extension.14 Certain changes were made in the experimental body. A sample body was mounted on a special Ford chassis with a 15-inch Ford extension and the job driven to Washington and returned to Detroit.15 The design of the body was accepted with a few minor changes.16 The new design Ford ambulance, with extended wheel base and special body, was officially approved by the War Department October 18, 1918.17 One of the important improvements in this body was the device for loading and suspending the third patient. In the old-type ambulance the shoes of the litter ran in channels on both sides of the rear opening. The narrowness of this opening caused considerable difficulty in loading the upper patient and gave rise to complaints. In the new body the entire rear end was inclosed with a curtain as in the AA body. The trolley system of loading and suspension of the upper patients in the AA body was adapted to the Ford body. The trolley tracks were placed along the upper part of the inner side of the side walls. The rollers of the trolley were attached through proper extension to a wooden bar or yoke. This yoke had a slot cut in its upper margin at a proper place for the reception of the right handle of the litter. This slot was of a size to receive comfortably the litter handle. Another slot, of the same depth but considerably wider was cut in the yoke to receive the left handle. The width of the slot permitted the use of litters of different widths. When not in use this yoke was fastened to the roof near the rear end. When the upper patient was loaded, this yoke traveled forward with the litter until the handles were against the rear of the front end of the body. The rear handles of the litter were supported by straps attached to the rear side post near the top. The lower end of these straps passed through rings of sufficient size to slip easily over the litter handle. Side sway and rear thrust of the loaded litter, when in position, were prevented by two check straps with snaps fastened one to each rear side post near the bottom. The snaps of these check straps were snapped into the ring of the upper strap after it had been placed in position. These check straps anchored the rear end of the litter and held it securely against side sway. 1918 CHASSIS MODEL The rear overhang of the old-type Ford ambulance had always been considered undesirable and objectionable. This overhang had been materially reduced by the application of a 15-inch Hay Dee extension on the 100 Ford ambulances purchased in May, 1918. The lengthening of the wheel base proved very satisfactory and improved both the appearance and the riding qualities of the vehicle. The experience gained with this lot of ambulances indicated the desirability of extending the wheel base on the ambulances to be purchased for France in conformity with the requests and estimates above noted. The Ford Motor Car Co. agreed to lengthen the wheel base of their standard model T chassis 15 inches in preference to having the Hay Dee extension applied, and to equip the chassis with demountable rims, Gabriel snubber, and Timken front-wheel roller bearings.18 The changes in body design and wheel base made the new ambulance an easy-riding vehicle and greatly improved its appearance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Runflat Posted June 7, 2010 Share Posted June 7, 2010 Thanks for that David, although it's non too easy to decipher! For your interest I attach some US T ambulance photos from my collection: The first shows an ambulance with a short body, which seems to match well with the description of the 1917 model. But you seem to be building the second example, which clearly needs the sort of chassis extension mentioned in the text - a 1918 type body, not 1917(?). The last is a variation on a theme - it also uses a chassis extension but has subtle variations compared to the second example: the size of the forward window, the configeration of the body frame uprights to match, slight changes to the rear mudguard position, and the use of a fixed canopy over the driver. I imagine this is a development of the type in the second picture. I'd welcome your thoughts as to whether the second picture is a 1917 or 1918 type and I guess more impotantly for you whether you are trying to find info on the 1917 or 1918 pattern. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted June 7, 2010 Share Posted June 7, 2010 Fantastic info. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Runflat Posted June 7, 2010 Share Posted June 7, 2010 (edited) There are at least two genuine Ford T ambulances in USA. I'm not sure what year they are though. I can dig out the details if you are interested. There's also this one in France, which may be a replica: This was written up in one of the French magazines. Again, I can dig out details if you're interested. Just been unearthing the details... There is one that matches the second photo I posted earlier (141427). Back in 1998 it was owned by Sam Jaffe of Sam Jaffe Autos, NY (MVPA, Army Motors, #83). The other turned out to be the French one, which matches the third photo I posted. The rebuild was covered in Vehicules Militares Magazine, No.8. There's also another example at Chateau de Blerancourt. http://www.museefrancoamericain.fr/homes/home_id24923_u1l2.htm (click on "premiere guerre mondiale"). Another picture of it here: http://www.ourstory.info/3/Bler/images/pj19.jpg And there's this one (140196): http://www.pbase.com/goldwing/image/69254801 And this one (141252): http://travelforaircraft.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/blog-model-t-ambulance_mg_8756_dxo_raw.jpg , http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/photos/051019-F-1234P-013.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp%3Fid%3D983&usg=__YUqdzedBhSa9ZILR1b038xo_tag=&h=1197&w=1800&sz=328&hl=en&start=20&sig2=Grkmn8qjh46_L9NzIMELEw&itbs=1&tbnid=r--gb3Une9oAfM:&tbnh=100&tbnw=150&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dambulance%2Bford%2Bt%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26sa%3DG%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-GB:official%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:1&ei=TmoNTJnMLoj44Aazi_B3 , Edited June 7, 2010 by Runflat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Runflat Posted June 7, 2010 Share Posted June 7, 2010 (edited) Some more online photos: http://wallpapers-free.co.uk/background/history/world_war_one/American-ambulance-field-service/ http://www.afsnzl.org.nz/nzl_en/view/learn http://www.vlib.us/medical/FriendsFrance/images/ff097.jpg http://www.afsindiana.org/graphics/voiture1.jpg http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/ambulanceservice.htm http://www.ourstory.info/library/2-ww1/Keplinger/kepTC.html http://www.neam.org/lafescweb/americansinfas.html http://history.amedd.army.mil/booksdocs/wwi/fieldoperations/ch6fig44.jpg http://history.amedd.army.mil/booksdocs/wwi/fieldoperations/ch6fig45.jpg No doubt there are loads more out there... Edited June 7, 2010 by Runflat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shellshock Posted June 8, 2010 Share Posted June 8, 2010 Your top picture appears to be a Model T pressed into service as a support vehicle, probably for Service Of Supply. The Middle picture is clearly a model 1917 US Army Ambulance. The bottom Picture appears to be the French Model Ambulance that the 1917 was modeled after. On the 3 pictures I posted the top 2 pictures are the 1918 version. The bottom picture is the experimental 1917 with the rear wheels moved 15 inches to the rear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Runflat Posted June 8, 2010 Share Posted June 8, 2010 (edited) Many thanks for that. The horizontal waist rail, is a quite distinctive visual reference for the 1918. From what you say, that makes most of the survivors/replicas either 1917 or French pattern models. Best wishes with your project. Edited June 8, 2010 by Runflat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charawacky Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 For Sale this week Tom http://www.rmauctions.com/FeatureCars.cfm?SaleCode=HF10&CarID=r142&fc=0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 Bugger! No lottery win. :banghead: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gustaf Posted October 7, 2010 Share Posted October 7, 2010 This is a reproduction, and they expect to get $15,000 to $20,000 for it. Shellshock is well on the way to having an example as good as this one. Best Gus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gustaf Posted October 13, 2010 Share Posted October 13, 2010 This example sold for $40,700 US, that is over double the top estimate, of course being US$s, it is not like it is real money:) BEst Gus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enigma Posted October 13, 2010 Share Posted October 13, 2010 A lot of money for a repro on original chassis. Still, I'd see myself driving it, I have original WW1, US uniforms to go with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Great War truck Posted October 14, 2010 Share Posted October 14, 2010 Yes, that seems to be an awful lot of money for a replica. Mind you i heard a rumble that the value of all WW1 stuff is beginning to go up (not that actually very much of it comes up for sale). Not too worried about this as we have no plans on buying anything else or in fact selling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gustaf Posted October 18, 2010 Share Posted October 18, 2010 WWI stuff is not beginning to go up, it has sky rocketed in the past 5-10 years, for example, a German helmet that could have ben purchased for less than $100 US can cost up wards of $1,000 now. In the US we saw a similar inflation of historical items in the late 1950s as we approched the centenial of the US Civil War (War between the States for those who live in the South). Many said that prices would fall after the centenial passed, but they were wrong, I suspect that the same will hold true for WWI items. 40 grand seems like a crazy price, I hope to assemble something similar for under 6 grand, I thought it would make a nice backdrop for my display. Best Gus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plastic constructor Posted May 5, 2011 Author Share Posted May 5, 2011 Many thanks for your posts chaps. I've not been on here for a while so I'm slowly catching up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gustaf Posted May 9, 2011 Share Posted May 9, 2011 Hey Plastic Constructor Dave's (shellshocked) ambulance replica has been finished for some time, it has been used as a basis for a new model by Squadron, and the only thing I can see that is wrong with it is that it is parked in his garage and not mine. Best gus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tse5a Posted May 14, 2011 Share Posted May 14, 2011 This link might be of interest. Its a digital copy of a Ford Times Booklet on Model T ambulances in the Great War. There is a variety of rear body styles. http://www.mtfca.com/books/ford_times.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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