Snyders catalog incorrectly states that the seat cushion in the 1913 Touring and Runabout are the same. They are not. The runabout is 1" wider from front to back. I have checked 3 different runabouts, with two different body makers, and they are all the same. The tourings are 18", and the runabouts are 19".
So which size do they sell?
Larry... Have you confirmed which dimension the new replacements are made to? It could possibly explains why my replacement lower seat cushions in my 13 touring don't fit properly. They were replaced by the previous owner and they don't sit down within the front metal lip.
Another question, are the current replacement seat covers made to fit the correct size seat frame, or the the reproduction that doesn't fit? Does it even matter?
All '13s have a metal lip in front of the seat platform. Measure from the back side of that lip, or seat spring retainer, to the wood that the back rest leather is nailed to. The touring is 19" and the roadster is 20". I wish I could rebuild my cushion, but who ever owned my car had a VERY heavy wife, and ruined the coil springs on the passenger side. If such a spring was available today, I would buy it, and rebuild my springs, but there is nothing quite the same, so I'm having Snyder built be a new custom spring, even though according to their catalog, they should have it already!
Hi Larry,
We re-built the front and rear lower seat cushions in our 13 touring. The seat cushions did not sit down within the front metal lip. Before doing anything, I compared my cushions to those in John Wilson's original 13 touring. My front seat cushion had the same outline/shape as his....the rear did not.
I made a tracing on heavy paper for each lower seat cushion using John Wilson's car as being correct. After removing the leather cushion from each seat, we determined the front spring assy. as probably being original. The rear was not correct.
We replaced several springs in the front seat spring assembly, reshaped it and mounted the seat spring to 1/2" plywood. By doing this, we were able to tie/adjust all springs so they were in straight rows and all the correct heights. The plywood bottom was drilled with a hole saw to allow movement of air. The springs were individually secured to the plywood using plumbers tape/sheet metal screws which is hidden inside. The leather was them put back in place with tacks/staples secured to the plywood base. Some extra hogs hair was removed from the lower back seat pleats to allow the re-built lower cushion to properly fit in place. The lower seat cushion now fits tightly behind the front metal lip. Having a plywood backing, the lower seat cushion keeps it's shape and does not distort when removing it to fill/check the gas.
The rear seat spring assy. was completely disassembled. The lower and upper spring wire that provides the outer seat cushion edge was shaped to conform to what John Wilson's car had. After we got the spring wire shaped correctly, the springs were located, tied and secured to a plywood base like was done with the front cushion. Now, both front & back cushions snugly fit in place correctly.
I know you may no-longer be standing and may be in the ER after finding out that what I have done was an improvement and not totally original. The seat cushions can now be removed/replaced with out distorting them out of shape. The plywood base is not seen unless you remove the lower seat cushions. It's like having aluminum pistons, Scat crankshaft, Stipe camshaft or some other internal engine modification that is hidden inside. Smile!