Model A Instruction Books - US Manuals
By Rick Black
Las Cruces NM
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.
1928 1929 1930 1931
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
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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
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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 |
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
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US Manuals | US Reprints | Non-US Manuals
Consult the MAFCA/MARC Restoration Guidelines and Judging Standards, Area 17 - Tools, for additional information.