Info for a model Fordson F

[Chuck Doan]

I am working on a 1/16th scale Fordson F.
It has the PTO option and I have a question:
What was the pulley made out of? Was it non-metallic? Where there metal versions?

I would like to paint the pulley face correctly.

Thanks for any help.

Chuck

 

[Maine Fordson]

Hi, Chuck --

The belt pulley on the Fordson F was made of laminated paper, odd as it sounds. I believe when it was brand new, the paper was a reddish color, but after a day or two of use & some belt dressing for the old flat belts, it wound up being dark brown or black.

Steel belt pulleys were used on the N models starting in the early 1930's, as far as I know. I have seen literature on a newly-designed cross-hatched steel pulley that was introduced in 1927 or '28, but these were not common.

There is a company in Tennessee that still makes the old-style paper pulley and does restorations for tractor enthusiasts also; I've included a link at the end of this posting.

Hope the project is coming along nicely. Would love to see some more photos if you have a few minutes to post them...

Best regards,
-- Maine Fordson
Paper Pulleys Inc. of Tennessee

 

[Chuck Doan]

Thanks so much for that info and the link! Wish they had some pictures. That is weird, but it must have worked. I've seen wood used on indoor line shaft pulleys, but not outside. Would the surface be smooth, or would small grooves appear after a while, or?

The one on the model is metal, and I turned it smooth thinking it should have a polished metal look. Glad I asked!

I am hoping to get more time soon so I can post some progress pics.

Thanks again!

 

[Maine Fordson]

Chuck --

The paper pulleys work just fine with a little belt dressing every now and then, as needed. The surface is generally smooth, although not bright or shiny. If you look real close you can see the lamination. If the belt is running true you won't get any grooves, unless you use, say, a four-inch belt (it's designed for a six-inch belt).

Biggest problem with them, though, is that they don't like being left outdoors. Many paper pulleys rotted away over the decades, leaving just the hub, a small tin ring and the rivets that held the paper on. (Good for business for the folks in Columbia, TN, though!)

I have an original Rockwood pulley that was taken from a Model F long ago and put into storage until a couple of years ago. (Rockwood was a major producer of belt pulleys for the Fordson F and other tractors of the 1920s, and Paper Pulleys, Inc. is a direct descendant of Rockwood according to the "about us" page on their website.) The pulley is at my folks' place, though, which is a couple of hours away, so I won't be able to take a picture for you for a little while.

-- Maine Fordson

 

[Chuck Doan]

MF, thanks again.

I saw a picture of a rotted one on Ebay and I couldn't figure out what it was made of. At least I know not to make it polished steel looking!

Chuck