I found one of the original rear curtain straps today, and decided to make a couple. What is interesting about them, is they are TWO pieces sewn together. One piece is leather, and the other is top material, or door panel material. The stitches are very close together, I think I used 14 to do it. Came out as good as the original would have been. Something new every day.
Larry-
Here is the original rear curtain strap I have.
It is the same material construction as yours, but my stitches as farther apart. There are only about 6 stitches per inch.
Total length is 10-1/2”
This is one of the parts that came with the car. I have no way to prove that it came off of my car, but I have reason to doubt it. I also have two original buggy pins.
I have photos of the car from 1928-1932 and the photos show the top had been replaced. There is a rectangular back window that looks like it is actually glass. The edge of the glass looks like it is beveled. In the photos I cannot see the curtain straps, nor if the back panel of the curtain even rolls up! Maybe the photos are just too dark to see the details.
Are these like yours?
-Keith
Here is a copy of an original strap that I made this morning.
Which side goes front? Leather or top material?
Larry - Here is a photo of the rear window straps in my 13. The straps are original and so is the cloth covering on the top bows. Pads are also original. Top was replaced in the 50's. Has anyone ever seen four straps hanging from the rear bow and is it common to have the pins inside from which to hang them? Also, I have two straps hanging on the other bows which appear to be for rolling up the side curtains. Those, however are not original - but I don't know if someone made them to replace something that was originally hanging there...
Keith, the strap was broken off, and laying in the turtle deck when I got the car. Here is the latest troubling part of my new top installation. The nail holes for tacking the top to the sockets are not consistent. Had I have known that, I would have welded up the inconsistent holes, and made them all the same. Every day is an adventure!
James - On my '14 Touring, I also have 4 straps hanging from the rear bow. The 4 corresponding pins are on the outside of the rear bow. I also have straps on the side bows, apparently for storing the side curtains. I must say though, that I think my top was replaced along the way, maybe in the '50's or '60's. I've owned the car since 2006.
Keith
My 13 has 4 straps also and the pins are inside.
How do you roll up the window and strap it on the inside?
Can you post a pic of those hanger pins.
David-
Here are my original pins.
Notice the area were the diameter is slightly smaller, presumably where rear curtain strap would naturally seat.
Tom and Keith, would you guys post some pics of your rear curtain and side curtain straps?
: ^ )
Keith
I have heard these called buggy knobs, buggy pins, curtain knobs, curtain pins...
I guess the Patent office called them "carriage curtain knobs."
http://www.google.com/patents?id=V5VWAAAAEBAJ&pg=PA1&source=gbs_selected_pages&c ad=2#v=onepage&q&f=false
http://www.google.com/patents?id=lnlsAAAAEBAJ&pg=PA1&source=gbs_selected_pages&c ad=2#v=onepage&q&f=false
Does anybody know what Ford called them?
: ^ )