MTFCA Forum

Is there a difference in Scandinavia band linings?
Going through some parts I found a box of linings.
In this set the wide brake band looks different than the others.
Also, should I seal the ends like I do the Kevlar?
It looks like they could start to unravel very easily.

Original Scandinavia band linings were woven in a tighter and finer weave than the later ones.
The company was sold and they are now owned by Cantex. Or they use to be.
There were some changes in the later ones in how they were made. For a while they had to much of a coating on them that gave them a tarry appearance. Supposedly they have gotten better and not any real issues.
Hadn’t bought any in a while. Others may have comments about them.

I have multiple sets of original Scandinavia lining and I have both, what appears to be a somewhat faded material (could be age related) and also the darker. ALL the original era linings have "Scandinavia" imprinted on them.

As John commented on above, Scandinavia brand was sold to CANTEX some time in the 70's, I believe - they kept the original tight weave pattern for some time as the original lining then, I'm guessing (WAG) as to extend profits, shortened each lining near an inch to 22 & 1/2" - originals are 23 & 1/2" - it's good lining BUT TOO SHORT !!! They could be segmented like Herman Khonke (RIP) suggested. They were soon to change the weave completely & treated with what seemed to be some petroleum based "GOO" but the weave doesn't hold oil as well and pedal fade was common and tightening caused premature lining wear.

The lighter colored ones have a softer engagement

When I bought my T, in 1980, it came with a new box of those Scandinavia band lining that were closer to a yellow color.

They were purchased about 1960, according to the previous owner.

I installed them, and was ready for a tour, around 1990.

I was stopping about every 10 miles to adjust low again and then the brake faded away.

When I got the T home and replaced the linings, I found they were totally dry rotted and were totally destroyed.

When I bought my latest T, in 2019, it came with 3 yellow boxes of those Scandinavia band linings and one set in the tour spares locker with no box.

These were all a dark brown color and do not appear to be dry rotted at all, but I will stick to Kevlar now.

I have always run Scandinavia lining, pre 1965 and recently, as of 2017 so I can’t speak to whatever variations different owners of the brand offered during the interim. One thing I have always done is to soak the linings in pure neatsfoot oil overnight after riveting them to the bands. This was recommended somewhere in the lore of the Model T “back in the day”. I don’t know if it makes a lot of difference, but like chicken soup, it sure “couldn’t hoit”. I’ve always had good service from them, good wearability, no problems and no complaints.