learn something new every day

[hiball3985]

I'm probably the last person on the planet to learn this but I never knew Ford had alternators as an option starting in 1949. They were available in 30, 50 and 100 amps. I'm guessing they only ended up on police/taxi models? This is the parts page for 56-59 model cars.

[Ford Blue blood]

Yup, my 57 Ford service manual has alternator info in it as well as the electrical/vacuum manual.  My 58 Edsel factory service manual also has alternator info.  The Ford book says heavy duty service.  I expect that might mean police/taxi?

[lalessi1]

I would have lost money on that bet! Cool to know.

[hiball3985]

I would have lost money on that bet! Cool to know.

I almost did  What blew me away was the 49-55 but I don't have a page for them, they must have been 6V?

[Jeff Norwell]

Wow!..That's pretty interesting Jim......

[RICH MUISE]

Now that I know that, I'm going to have to wonder what I forgot I knew today.
Rich

[Ecode70D]

   What Jim says X2.
   I remember them first hand  on the 55 - 6 volt and 57 - 12 volt Mass State Police cars that we had.   They also had a funny looking thing that looked like pieces of metal sandwiched together mounted up by the radiator.  We used to call that a rectifier.  It looked more like an oil air cooler.   We never had any problems with them, but that was back in the old days.

[hiball3985]

   What Jim says X2.
   I remember them first hand  on the 55 - 6 volt and 57 - 12 volt Mass State Police cars that we had.   They also had a funny looking thing that looked like pieces of metal sandwiched together mounted up by the radiator.  We used to call that a rectifier.  It looked more like an oil air cooler.   We never had any problems with them, but that was back in the old days.

Jay, from what I understand they were a rectifier with a heat sink. Were they mounted on the front side of the radiator support for cooling?

[Ecode70D]

Jim
   I do believe that they were some sort of a heat sink for those early Ford 1950's alternators.
Jay

[Jeff Norwell]

Man..I gotta keep this tidbit  of info for the hardcore traditional 25 year olds that will tell you Alt. really never came until the early 60's.....ha ha ha

[slumlord44]

I picked up a neat factory brochure last year at a swap meet for '57 Ford Police and Fire vehicles. They list the alternator as an option. New to me at the time. Also the chrome side trim was slightly different than what is on the production cars.

[djfordmanjack]

Does anybody own one or have a pic of the actual item ?

[Hoosier Hurricane]

I believe those were built by the Leece-Neville company.   John

[hiball3985]

Does anybody own one or have a pic of the actual item ?

I was hoping when I posted this someone would come up with a picture. I've never seen one.

[Ecode70D]

Jim
    My memory is a bit foggy, but I remember that they looked like a generator.

  I clearly remember that the 6 volt ones were huge compared to a normal 6 volt generator.

  The 12 volt ones were larger in appearance also as I recall. 

   They had steel cases and didn't look anything like a modern aluminum alternator.

   I also remember that they had a big electric harness going into the rectifier.   Jay