and if so was it like the standard transmission we all know today?
The transmission in all Model T's were manual transmissions. Ford didn't install any automatics for quite a few years down the road (pardon the pun). These old transmissions didn't have synchronized gears. as was mentioned. The modern manual transmissions do. Also as was mentioned, the controls were different than from the cars and trucks of today. making them odd to drive if you aren't used to them. They're also slower than a 7 year itch too. even if it's kinda cool to go for a drive in one. My advice there? Do it. it's quite an experience. People will stare like crazy too so act like a goom-bah if you go. It's hilarious! :-P Best wishes!
No in fact it was not it was a 2 speed epicyclic or planitary gear. This used 3 sets of gears to gain different ratios ( link below). This is the kind of gear systems used in modern automatic transmission. It was the grand father of the 2 speed powerglide transmission. You simply selected weather you wanted low gear or high gear Also the model T did not have what we would thing of as normal control arrangement: the accelerator is a hand controlled lever on the steering column. there are 3 pedals where you would expect the accelerator to be was the brake where the brake would be was a pedal for selecting reverse where the clutch would be was a pedal for selecting gears. and there was a lever similar to a hand brake that was also used in gear selection. in low gear you had to keep your foot pressed down on that third pedal which feels like a very very heavy clutch. and to get it into top gear you put the lever down and lifted your foot off the pedal. It was very complicated but no one knew any better cause the layout we are familiar with didn't come around till Cadillac thought it up in the 20's then it was copied by the Austin Motor company and put on the Austin 7. then it was copied again by datsun in japan. So it is not at all like the manual we know today because it was like nothing we know today. The actual transmission itself was very similar to our automatics. Also i don't know who told that guy that they had a clutch and gear leaver but people that know nothing should not be answering these questions.
It was a manual but it was a little different than our current ones. Modern transmissions have synchronizer gears that help ensure the gear teeth line up correctly. Those did not exist in early cars so you had to make sure the engine speed matched almost exactly to prevent incredibly rough (on you and on the car) shifts.
