1921 Centerdoor Glass Seals

[Mike Silbert]

I added another Model T project car to my plate - this time a 1921 Centerdoor.
The restoration is quite far along with new paint and interior sitting on a running chassis but the progress stopped and got stuck on the windows. It i has lift strap glass on all 6 side windows. I did not disassemble the car so I am not sure of some of the details.
Where they got stuck is getting the windows to close. Two windows are missing and the other 4 are mixed up. The curves on top do not match the roof profile. I have to remove the installed ones and measure everything. The glass specs book will tell me if the existing glass is even cut correctly.

The problem I am looking for help on is the window seals. There seems to be a void in body parts for the centerdoor sedan.
I find no one selling the seal for the top of the windows. Brattons has one that might work?
https://www.brattons.com/WINDOW-SPONGE- ... nfo/31890/

The foam on the sides of the glass, where does this come from?

Where do you get windshield rubber seals?

Does anyone have 2 of the window glass bottom channels? Or do I have to make replacement ones?

And what is the easiest way to remove the glass from a fully finished brand new interior?

[RajoRacer]

We have a '19 Centerdoor and both sides & top windows have a felt lined channel. Have no idea where one would find replacements - perhaps for a high-end sedan of the era ?

[Rich in Colorado]

Mike,

I have a '22 Center Door that I replaced all the glass in once I bought it in 2019. It had all original plate glass in it. I replaced it all with safety glass.

Right or wrong, How I did it.

I Used the foam in the top of the windows you asked about. Glued it in, Works fine.
The glass side felts I got from Sniders I think they all use the same felts. The deal is the new felts are so much better than the originals I pulled out. They thicker, metal backed, so much improved. But being thicker, which makes the glass harder to move. Mine now, after a few years move pretty good. If I had to do it over I would have my windows cut a little shorter on the sides. Not much, maybe 1/4 inch.

I didn't use rubber in the windshield. I used a silicone tube sealant. The brass edging that Ford used is really thin and will be destroyed when you remove the glass. No one I know if reproduces that brass edging. You wouldn't want it if they did reproduce it. Its about as thin as tin foil. I don't know how Ford got it to work.

Window Glass bottom Channels.
My 1922 center door has brackets on the forward windows. They changed them that year. The only windows with straps are the rear two. You didn't say which window bottom channels you needed. Maybe they are all the same, I don't know, as like I said. have brackets on the front four windows.

But, When I bought a Touring car it came with some extra parts. See below. I have two windows, with glass, that I think are for the rear center door windows. Still have the original straps. If interested, let me know.





Removing the glass.
Take out the original side felts, window sills. Tight fit but you can get the glass out the top. When putting the glass back in put the glass in first and push the side felts in from the bottom.

Well that's how I remember doing it. I might have forgot some step, but that should get you started.

If I could help. PM or call me.
Rich

[Will_Vanderburg]

Nobody reproduces the original felt glass channels. That takes a specific industrial sewing machine.

You’ll need to use the available metal/felt channels. I was going to see if I could re-use my originals but I can’t because the thread is rotten.

The metal channels at the bottom of the glass will need to come from glass from another car as they aren’t reproduced either.

[Mike Silbert]

Thank you for the information.
The replacement window side seals that someone installed is glued to the glass with a soft seal with a tough outer shell so that it does not wear out sliding up and down the wood channels. It is not like any of the normal window felts I have ever seen. Looking at Snyders (and others) nothing strikes me and says it will work. Do you have a suggestion to which one might work?

I have an industrial sewing machine but not sure if what I have is a good sample or not.

The window glass bottom channel is length matched to the size of the window. On mine the front, door and back are different sizes.
The 2 that I am missing are somewhere about 17 1/4" long.
Rich - What size are the ones you have?

[Rich in Colorado]

The window glass bottom channel is length matched to the size of the window. On mine the front, door and back are different sizes.
The 2 that I am missing are somewhere about 17 1/4" long.
Rich - What size are the ones you have?

I am pretty sure my extra windows are rears. See below, channel is about 18 3/4 inches. Don't think they are what you are looking for.



Good luck in your hunt for the right parts!

Rich

[Will_Vanderburg]

Thank you for the information.
The replacement window side seals that someone installed is glued to the glass with a soft seal with a tough outer shell so that it does not wear out sliding up and down the wood channels. It is not like any of the normal window felts I have ever seen. Looking at Snyders (and others) nothing strikes me and says it will work. Do you have a suggestion to which one might work?

I have an industrial sewing machine but not sure if what I have is a good sample or not.

The window glass bottom channel is length matched to the size of the window. On mine the front, door and back are different sizes.
The 2 that I am missing are somewhere about 17 1/4" long.
Rich - What size are the ones you have?Window Seals.jpg

This is the stitch that the original felts used. I’m not exactly sure the technical name for the stitch. The stitch itself causes the felt to be sewn at a 90 degree angle. It appears to be one piece that has had two 45 degree pie pieces cut and then the machine folds it and stitches to make a channel. AFAIK there is no machine on the market today that does this.

[Mike Silbert]

That original seal is very interesting, How and where is it supposed to be fastened?
The glass goes up and down plus in and out during normal operation. Quite different from normal car windows.
It is nothing like what is on the other windows of the car.
And I can not find a match to what the other windows used, not that they fit properly anyway.
One answer leads to lots more questions.
I have more research to do and maybe someone will chime in with a "This Works Good"

The original seals look they were done on a serger or hemming machine machine, which I do not have.
For those that want to understand what that is here is some information:
https://weallsew.com/serging-101-unders ... ou-serger/

It is a nice car and deserves to finally be finished and back on the road again.
But right now it is fighting me, my normal luck

[Will_Vanderburg]

It definitely appears to be a overlock stitch.

The felt seal I showed goes down each side of the pillars for the glass to ride in. It was attached with a large nail top and bottom. There was nothing remaining in my window headers for sealing.

[ronnaab]

Just purchased. 1915 Center Door. Windows were replaced with Plexi-glass and wood frames. Trying to find hardware so i can put glass back in. Would appreciate any info for this project

[Russ T Fender]

I have a '22 Centerdoor with original interior in good shape and have yet to figure out how I can replace the plate glass with safety glass and not disturb the interior panels. While I have replaced the windshield, I am uncomfortable using it with all that plate glass, even with the windows down most of the way. Can it even be done and if so how?

[Will_Vanderburg]

I have a '22 Centerdoor with original interior in good shape and have yet to figure out how I can replace the plate glass with safety glass and not disturb the interior panels. While I have replaced the windshield, I am uncomfortable using it with all that plate glass, even with the windows down most of the way. Can it even be done and if so how?

As I understand, to replace the glass, especially the door and quarter glass, the interior panels must be removed.

[Russ T Fender]

Will that's what I was afraid of. I doubt my original interior could survive that. I wonder if anyone has tried a clear mylar over the glass as a way of keeping the plate glass from shattering? I spoke with a window tinting guy who said it could be done but he said they use a lot of water in the process and was afraid that would ruin the interior panels. Kinda caught between a rock and a herd place!

[mike37 cdn]

Hi I have a 1922 center door Canadian original I had to replace the door class in mine i used 1/2 round foam the dense one cut it in half clued three strips to each of the three sides of the frame of the window frame then rapped a black canvas cloth around the foam and glued it to the inside of the frame then slide the new glass in the frame with some silicone to hold the glass in place works real good my window frames us a wood channel to slide in i have no steel channels you raise the glass then push outward to lock the window up in place with the straps it what I did hope it helps mike

[ronnaab]

Try " restorationspecialties.com " they have an excellent variety of automotive glass moldings / trim / channels etc. i just ordered window moldings and channels for my 1915 Center Door