Model A Instruction Books
By Rick Black Las Cruces NM
US Versions
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.
- Figure 2 – emergency brake to the left of the driver’s compartment
- Figure 2 – a round gear shift knob
- Figure 2 – emergency brake to the left of the driver’s compartment
- Figure 2 – a mushroom gear shift knob.
- Figure 2 – emergency brake in front of the shift lever
- Figure 2 – squeeze grip emergency brake handle
- Figure 6 – the multiple disk clutch – View Photo Figure 6
- Figure 2 – squeeze grip emergency brake handle and mushroom shift knob
- Figure 6 – shows the single disk clutch
- Figure 2 – push button emergency brake handle and round gear shift knob
- Figure 6 – shows the single disk clutch
- Emergency brake is forward of the gear shift lever
- Emergency brake is to the right of the gear shift lever
Refer to Page 7 Figure 2 – Instruments and Control Levers
Left image: Version 1 – Instrument panel has oval speedometer
Right image: Version 2 – Instrument panel has round speedometer
There were two other versions printed that included AA information that was not in the first two versions.
1931 – Two original versions (See “Reprints” below) – Copyright Date is 1931 on page 1.
Refer to Page 20, Figure 11 – Fuel System
and Page 22, Figure 12 – CarburetorVersion 1 (early 1931)
- Page 20 Figure 11 – Gas Tank/engine – Fuel Shutoff Valve on passenger side of the firewall under the gas tank and sediment bowl attached to firewall.
- Page 22 Figure 12 – Carburetor – no sediment bowl. Gasoline inlet at front of carburetor.
Version 2 (Late 1931)
- Page 20 Figure 11– Gas Tank/Engine – Fuel Shutoff Valve on indented firewall.
- Page 22 Figure 12– Filter bowl is attached to carburetor. Gasoline inlet in center of carburetor.
US Reprints
1928 Reprint
Original 1931 Book
1931 Reprint
Originally distributed by Keith Johnson, Duluth, MN – 2019 sells on eBay from “worldinspector”
1928 Reprint (Version 3)
1929 Reprint (Version 2)
1930 Reprint (Version 2)
1931 Reprint (Version 2)
Title page has year of the manual in large type
Copyright page has “Reproduced under license of Ford Motor Company 1994” in small print
Ford Logo and Ford Script are the original size.
Paper used on this reprint is semi-glossy like the originals.
These are very hard to tell from an original except for the differences noted above.
1928 Reprint (Version 4) Reprinted by Lincoln Publishing, Lockport NY.
- Back Cover still has oval Polyprints logo!
- Cover is light tan instead of grey-tan.
Ford Logo and Ford Script are the original size. - Has blank page between pages 2-3 and between 50-51.
- Paper used on this reprint is matte finish and not semi-glossy like the originals.
- Illustrations don’t have as much gray as original manuals do.
1928 Reprint (Version 5) Reprinted by Polyprints, San Francisco CA
- Cover is light tan instead of grey-tan.
- Ford Logo and Ford Script are the original size.
- Has blank page before page 1 (the Title Page).
- Page 2 has copyright 1928 at the top and the Polyprints address at the bottom with “Reprinted with the permission of the Ford Motor Company”.
- Page 47-48 shows AA Truck. Back Cover does not have Polyprints logo.
- Paper used on this reprint is matte finish and not semi-glossy like the originals.
- Illustrations don’t have as much gray as original manuals do.
1928 Reprint (Version 5) – Reprinted by Polyprints, San Francisco CA
- Cover is light tan instead of grey-tan.
- Ford Logo and Ford Script are the original size.
- Page 2 has copyright 1928 at the top and the Polyprints address at the bottom with “Reprinted with the permission of the Ford Motor Company”.
- Has blank page AFTER page 1 (the Title Page).
- Page 47-48 shows AA Truck.
- An Index to Illustrations and Table Of Contents are the last printed page.
- Back Cover does have Polyprints logo and book id “A-3”.
- Paper used on this reprint is matte finish and not semi-glossy like the originals.
- Illustrations don’t have as much gray as original manuals do.
1931 Version 2 (Late) manual – Reprinted by Polyprints, San Francisco, CA
- Notice printed near the end of the manual.
- Cover is light tan instead of grey-tan.
- Back Cover has oval Polyprints logo.
- Paper used on this reprint is matte finish and not semi-glossy like the originals.
- Illustrations don’t have as much gray as original manuals do.
1931 Version 2 (Late) manual – No evidence of name of reprinter.
- Cover is chocolate brown instead of grey-tan.
- Ford Script in the Oval on the cover is 1.5″ wide instead of 2″ wide.
- Ford Script in the Oval on page 1 has visible horizontal lines in the background instead of a solid
gray background. - The words “Ford Motor Company” at the bottom of the cover is 3″ wide instead of 2.5″ wide.
- Paper used on this reprint is matte finish and not semi-glossy like the originals.
- Illustrations don’t have a much gray as original manuals do.