One of the LARGEST debates online is: What exactly do the 1917-1923 "splash aprons" for a Sedan look like? There is a camp that believes they are the same as every other model built for those years. However, there is the opinion that they are completely different for those years and look nothing like the other models. The MTFCA Encyclopedia is a bit vague on this subject as well. So....let's see.
Only one company makes these: Rootlieb in California. I know, I know, "But what about Howells in Texas?" you ask. Howells is a distributor. They do manufacture some items, but not these. Also, every Model T parts vendor that carries the splash aprons, all carry the same ones: Rootlieb.
Below are what I believe to be the correct sedan "splash aprons" for my car. They are significantly different from the regular Touring and Roadster model types. I got them from a contact in Oregon and they match or are close to the images of aprons in the vendor catalogs.
Also below, is a picture from the MTFCA forum that purports to show what the aprons look like. While they have cutouts on both pieces, mine above only have cutouts on one piece. Some put forth a guess that the one's shown here were actually two different years. They made this assumption based on one of the panels having two holes at the front instead of just one. You can see this in the photo.
I have not yet visually seen an original pair (mine are earlier reproductions). A local friend has a Centerdoor, which I am not proud to say, I haven't checked out the aprons. (I was more concerned with how the wood was assembled to the frame). I suppose another trip to his house is in order. Then I can somewhat have a more accurate idea.
Muddying the waters further, the Encyclopedia states that the rear fenders for the Centerdoor and the Touring and Roadster models are the same from 1917-1923 (before the change to the new Sedan came in late 23), and the change to a different fender for Sedans that happened in late 1923.
Touring and Roadster fenders have an attachment bracket to screw the aprons to. The splash aprons shown do not have holes drilled to accept mounting bolts to the fenders. Maybe they were left off to allow final fitting to the car. Maybe they never had them. Maybe...maybe...maybe.
EDIT: Since this post was created, I have gotten photos from two different Centerdoor Sedans: one near me and one in Florida. They are two years apart (a 21 and a 23), and several thousand motor numbers apart. Neither of them have Splash Shields like those described here. Both of them have the same shields as a Touring/Roadster from the same years. So, exactly what ARE the ones I have? We may never know....
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