Big Stick

[R. J. \(Bob\) Van Horn]

Friend sent me pictures of restored Ford Tri-Motor. What appears to be a
mid-30's manual transmission shift lever is mounted between the pilot and
copilot's seats. He asked if I knew what it was for and I'll admit, I'm a
geezer but not that old. I haven't got a clue. Anybody out there that
might know what it's for?????

--
R. J. (Bob) Van Horn

Long Beach, California

[Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe]

"R. J. (Bob) Van Horn" > wrote in message
...
> Friend sent me pictures of restored Ford Tri-Motor. What appears to be a
> mid-30's manual transmission shift lever is mounted between the pilot and
> copilot's seats. He asked if I knew what it was for and I'll admit, I'm a
> geezer but not that old. I haven't got a clue. Anybody out there that
> might know what it's for?????
>
> --
> R. J. (Bob) Van Horn
>
> Long Beach, California
>

dunno what it is (but I would GUESS brake lever), but here is a picture that
shows the lever (for those of us who don't have the photo you are looking
at):

http://thehenryford.artehouse.com/perl/options.pl?imageID=22302&productTypeID=1

--
Geoff
The Sea Hawk at Wow Way d0t Com
remove spaces and make the obvious substitutions to reply by mail
When immigration is outlawed, only outlaws will immigrate.

[Morgans[_2_]]

"Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe" < wrote

> dunno what it is (but I would GUESS brake lever), but here is a picture
> that shows the lever (for those of us who don't have the photo you are
> looking at):
>
> http://thehenryford.artehouse.com/perl/options.pl?imageID=22302&productTypeID=1

Nah, everyone know that is to shift into second gear for take-offs! <g>

That sucker sure does look like a gear shift, doesn't it?

How about flaps? Anyone got a picture of the overhead inside the cockpit?
If there is a flap lever up there, it wouldn't be a flap lever.

I'm going with your guess of a brake lever. As short as they can stop upon
landing, a long lever makes sense.

Of course, they never stop for the flagmen at OSH, so unless they are about
to run into something, we always just stood back and crossed our arms behind
our back and let them do what they want to! ;-)
--
Jim in NC

[J. Severyn]

"R. J. (Bob) Van Horn" > wrote in message
...
> Friend sent me pictures of restored Ford Tri-Motor. What appears to be a
> mid-30's manual transmission shift lever is mounted between the pilot and
> copilot's seats. He asked if I knew what it was for and I'll admit, I'm a
> geezer but not that old. I haven't got a clue. Anybody out there that
> might know what it's for?????
>
> --
> R. J. (Bob) Van Horn
>
> Long Beach, California
>

Yep... It is the brake lever. Page 48 of the 1929 POH "Book of Instruction"
shows how it works.
Forward: No Brakes
Left and Partially back: Left Brakes
Right and Partially back: Right Brakes
Fully back in the center: Both Brakes

The POH is available for download at:
http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/other-mechanical-systems-tech/ford-tri-motor-manual-5566.html
You gotta register first and it is almost 23Mbytes long, but very
interesting.
Here are some better photos of a restored TriMotor:
http://www.ipass.net/ginkgo/N9612home.html
It is for sale.

Regards,
John Severyn

[R. J. \(Bob\) Van Horn]

Got several replies about either shifting gears on takeoff or flushing
something enroute! Glad to see that it was the suspected brake handle and
hat rack!
Thnx to all who responded, both in the newsgroup and via email.....

--
R. J. (Bob) Van Horn

Long Beach, California
"J. Severyn" > wrote in message
. ..
>
> "R. J. (Bob) Van Horn" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Friend sent me pictures of restored Ford Tri-Motor. What appears to be a
>> mid-30's manual transmission shift lever is mounted between the pilot and
>> copilot's seats. He asked if I knew what it was for and I'll admit, I'm
>> a geezer but not that old. I haven't got a clue. Anybody out there that
>> might know what it's for?????
>>
>> --
>> R. J. (Bob) Van Horn
>>
>> Long Beach, California
>>
>
> Yep... It is the brake lever. Page 48 of the 1929 POH "Book of
> Instruction" shows how it works.
> Forward: No Brakes
> Left and Partially back: Left Brakes
> Right and Partially back: Right Brakes
> Fully back in the center: Both Brakes
>
> The POH is available for download at:
> http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/other-mechanical-systems-tech/ford-tri-motor-manual-5566.html
> You gotta register first and it is almost 23Mbytes long, but very
> interesting.
> Here are some better photos of a restored TriMotor:
> http://www.ipass.net/ginkgo/N9612home.html
> It is for sale.
>
> Regards,
> John Severyn
>