Are the buttons on the upholstery , say for 1911-1912, supposed to be covered or are the buttons plain steel painted black?
It is my understanding the buttons are painted black not covered.
I did notice that Macs now sells kits for the diamond tufted upholstery and within the description of the kit it says, "The kits are fitted & stitched and have covered buttons installed like the originals".
Strangely, elsewhere on the site, they are selling the powder coated steel capped upholstery button and describe them as "authentic". That seems to be a contradiction.
Ask Kieth Townsend. He researched that for his 1911 that turned out so well.
Roy-
The original buttons are plain steel painted. #22 lignes, which is about 9/16" They are a double prong button with prongs 1-1/4" long.
I had some #22 double prong buttons made that were 2-1/2" long. The prongs are covered inside the upholstery, so no one will ever know they are a little long.
The heads were a brushed brass finish. I painted them with Dupont Centari A-99 Pitch black.
Here are some pictures:
These are original buttons and the new buttons.
These are original buttons and my new buttons painted.
These are my new painted buttons in my upholstery work in progress.
The powder coated buttons are close, but spendy.
Covered buttons are just plain wrong!!!
: ^ )
Keith
Super nice Keith!
Thanks Keith.
So that means Macs is selling the authentic , powder coated buttons but they are also selling their kits with the incorrect leather covered buttons included....