1913 Hood leather strips - blue varnish and sewn edges - why ???

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2013: 1913 Hood leather strips - blue varnish and sewn edges - why ???
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Dare - Just a little South West . on Tuesday, June 11, 2013 - 07:14 pm:

I took these two leather edge strips off my hood when l began the sand and repaint and only today had a good look.
Why or what reason would you need to sew the edge of the leather ??
The blue varnish remains are lighter in color than l had expected, casting a little doubt that original black/blue paint was as dark as we were lead to believe, it is still dark, but the blue is bluer than blacker -if that makes sense!!

I'm intrigued to say the least.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Dare - Just a little South West . on Tuesday, June 11, 2013 - 07:38 pm:

I just had a look at the other old 13 hood l have ( no good for any practical use )it has the same sewn lines on it, hidden inside the slot where it sits along the forward and back edges???
There is always something new or unfound during a restoration isn't there.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Charles W. Little South Paris, Maine on Tuesday, June 11, 2013 - 07:51 pm:

Just a guess. Maybe the stitching acts to increase the friction and holds the leather in position. Was the stitched edge placed closer to the back of the slot or the outside edge?

Do you think the blue is from rubbing on the metal, or was the leather painted with the hood?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Peter Kable on Tuesday, June 11, 2013 - 08:15 pm:

David that makes sense to me. I have been checking on the blue paint. It is made by mixing 3 pigments lamp black, Prussian Blue ( a very dark blue) and Ultramarine Blue which is a bit brighter.

The end result is a very dark blue, so dark it appears to be black unless in good sunlight. They added the blues to the black because the black pigment does nt last long by its self and has a grey tone.

You remaining blue is the blue black which like most colors has faded loosing its strength and becoming lighter.

I'm not sure that a lot of people will like this but indications are that all Model T's Canadian and American were this blue black until the 1920's.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Allan Richard Bennett on Tuesday, June 11, 2013 - 08:18 pm:

David, stitching the edges of leather is done to limit stretching. The better leather fan belts are stitched both sides for this reason. I cannot see why this was done on the hood strips unless it helped to stop the leather shrinking with the heat in that application. I have replaced the un-stitced strips on my hood because of this shrinking and drying out.

Hope this helps.

Allan from down under.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Dare - Just a little South West . on Tuesday, June 11, 2013 - 10:29 pm:

I was wondering if it was not done to hold it in the hood slots better than just a smooth leather edge ??


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Dare - Just a little South West . on Tuesday, June 11, 2013 - 10:33 pm:

Charles good question, was the leather inserted in after painting, l'd say yes, no signs of actual paint on any of the strips l pulled out initially, or the other hood, which just appears black.
I'd say you are correct with the stitching adding additional friction holding it in.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Dare - Just a little South West . on Tuesday, June 11, 2013 - 10:35 pm:

Thanks Peter and Allan.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Peter Kable on Tuesday, June 11, 2013 - 10:47 pm:

David, painting was completed before any upholstery was done. after the final varnish clear coat the body was set aside for up to 24 hours and then the upholstery was next in line to be done.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Dare - Just a little South West . on Wednesday, June 12, 2013 - 05:28 pm:

Peter- Black/blue till the 20's, wow that certainly changes a few things if true.

If you read thru ( as l would say you have ) the rear axle also mentions blue too.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Peter Kable on Wednesday, June 12, 2013 - 10:01 pm:

David,
Don't know about the rear axle being blue,
All the metal parts were dipped, brushed or whatever in the black Japan varnish which was then baked to dry them off faster and harder. all the chassis running boards, valances, axles, and even the hood (bonnet) were done this way. The rear axle was done assembled complete with tailshaft and radius rods.

But the body could not be baked because of the wood frame. it was flow coated with the blue/black varnish and finished off with a clear varnish.

When one of our members found the original Canadian 1919 chart with the blue/black color listed we all thought it was another "Canadian" only feature. but that does not appear to be the case. I always wondered why Canada would use a different finish than Detroit. It appears they didn't it was the same material, they just were more organized in noting it.

With the "any color as long as its black" being so well known I think everyone just assumed they all were always black.

I have references from the 1920's stating such as this one which is talking about USA not Canada cars.
"Originally the Ford finish is a two color job although the body is painted such a dark blue it looks almost as black as the baked on enamel of the jet black fenders."

There are others also.

I don't know if it matters one bit if its true or not. Some people still insist the original finish was a flat not a gloss black so how are we to convince them it is dark blue not black.

I would really like to see some period specific information one way or the other not statements from later on when people have written a history and stated they were black.


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