Technical Help me identify this transmission

I had a friend bring this 3 speed overdrive transmission over to identify. I am not sure but am thinking early-mid fifties Ford. Can anybody tell me for sure?

 

I'd say more early than mid.... Definitely looks Ford.

 

'49-'53 Ford Borg-Warner 3 speed overdrive. Good running flathead will deliver it a First Round knockout.

 

How can you tell the year? and what is a First Round knockout?

 

The threaded boss in the lower right corner of side door tells it's First generation (49 up) ford. That boss went away in 1957.
The Wizzard

 

Take a look at this thread ....Good info there and you can and follow the link posted there for a good description of models and usage.
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/borg-warner-t-85-questions.359103/

 

Those are light-duty boxes; it doesn't take abuse well at all. You can break gears in these with a stock six, I've done it...

 

First round of match racing: Pop the clutch and "BANG!" Knockout. Usually low-reverse slider and cluster.
Count as slow as you like...You're goin' home in 2nd & high.
"What happened?" "Heck. I 'knocked out' another ******..."

I used those ******s behind stockers, mild rebuilds, and one 276" '53 Merc, the 276 opened the bottom of the case like bomb bay doors, and the cluster dropped out! It bounced up and durned near knocked a hole in my floor of my '50 Ford Coupe. "BOOM!" (Second gear....)
But I was able to drive it 9 miles home, in high. (3rd gear) LOL
I was a 17 year old with all my money in the big engine.
The trannies were almost 'gifts' from Don Atlas, who owned Santa Clara Auto Wreckers.
At the last, (7th? 8th one?) he said "This is getting old..."
I installed a '37 Packard box, home made adaptor, Packard disc...Ford T/O brg and welded sleeve, Whoopee! Real floor shift!
Then I blew the spiders out of the rear end.
The guy I sold it to installed a '50 Pontiac rear, ran it at Fremont Drags for a long time, said it was the best Ford he ever had. (Grrrrrr...)

 

10-4 on the weak link. The innerds (gears) are almost the same as 39-48 boxes (same identical sincro hub). Ford had not stepped up for the added weigh of the new cars. That didn't happen till 1957 and then it wasn't much.
The Wizzard

 

Thanks for the info guys!