From:Steve Marks
E-Mail:<steve@microdesign.ltd.uk>
Subject:RE: 1920 Model K horn mounting bracket
Response to:1108
Date:Fri Jan 6 06:43:27 2006
Hi guys. Thanks to Perry and Nick who both emailed me direct
with help on this one. For the benefit of any one else
interested, here's an update

There has been some speculation that the model K horn should
be on the handlebar. This is backed up by the photo
currently on ebay #4600254814 which shows a narrow frame
(though they were used on early Deluxe production too so
might not be a K) and Nick has a photo of some new 1920 K's
that had recently been delivered to the Maine State Police.
All show the horns fitted on the handlebars. Both Perry and
I agree that this is not right for the Model K. I know that
many police orders had a number of changes - twistgrip
clutch for instance - which were 'special order' mods. I
know that over the years the horn migrated to the cross bar
on the handlebars and then onto the top of the front
mudguard. But all my paperwork (and some from Perry)on the
Model K (newspaper ads, factory advertising for 20 and 21,
advertising book and owners handbook) all show the horn
mounted under the left hand side of the tank just in front
of the dynamo.
Some extracts from my 1920 parts list (unfortunately text
only)
X-K-7066    Horn complete
X-K-4666    Horn bracket, large
X-K-4667    Horn bracket clamp
XK-2785    Horn bracket clamp screw 10-24x1/2"
301   Horn bracket clamp screw lock washer
  and deluxe list (with pics)
K-7066    Horn complete
K-4666    Horn bracket
K-4667    Horn bracket clamp
XK-2785   Horn bracket clamp screw
XK-3610   Horn bracket clamp nut
301-W   Horn bracket clamp screw lock washer

So the numbers are similar, very similar in fact but I do
know that some revised parts kept the exactly the same part
numbers (check out the numbers used for the various pistons
in the Deluxe parts book!) so that's not entirely
conclusive. The numbers for the screw and lock washer imply
that they were the same. But it's interesting that the K
list doesn't include a nut - was the clamp itself tapped to
take the screws? If the bracket for the K does fix the horn
to the horizontal frame tube then a bracket pressed out of a
flat plate would need to have a 90 degree twist in it
somewhere I guess. Or did the bracket wrap around the
circular body of the horn rather than the more common method
of using the screws holding the horn itself together? Maybe
this was considered difficult/over complicated/expensive (?)
compared to the handlebar one shown in the Deluxe book.
Maybe the horn suffered from the heat generated by the
engine so they had to move it? Another thing I've noticed is
that the model K pictures do not show the thumb operated
horn/cutout switches as used on the Deluxe. Certainly the
handlebars which came with my 1920 K didn't have any
provision for them. The owner's handbook shows that the
magneto cutout is on the end of the magneto itself so that
solves that one but I haven't seen any reference to the horn
switch.  Deluxe switch is part number K-427 (good cross
sectional drawing in Richard Shultz's book) whereas the
Model K lists the horn switch as X-K-1893-A. Totally
different numbers so, to me, that implies that the switches
must be different.  The 1919 list gives the number H-7099
for the horn switch assembly so whatever the model K switch
was, it would appear to be fairly short lived. Where was it
located? what did it look like? As always, lots of questions
so if anyone has any answers I would be very grateful
Thanks in advance
Steve


----- ORIGINAL MESSAGE FOLLOWS -----
Hi guys - happy and prosperous new year to you all. Can
anyone help with a picture and/or drawing and/or dimensions
for the horn mounting bracket on the 1920 Model K please?
The period literature shows it mounted underneath the left
hand side of the tank. Looks too far back to be clamped to
the frame down tube so I am assuming it clamps to the
horizontal frame tube under the tank. Then again I might be
totally wrong. Any help much appreciated. Thanks guys -
Steve