MTFCA Forum

The cotton linings look a lot like cotton web you can buy by the roll off Amazon, can I use cotton web that's the right width and length of course? (I need to just replace my low band)

Steve Jelf wrote: ↑

Mon May 19, 2025 3:19 pm

They're not all the same. What year?

1917, I'm no expert hence my asking but cotton web looks just like Scandinavia cotton linings and are a good deal cheaper.

Whatever current "cotton" webbing you are looking at, in no way has the same weave pattern as original Scandinavia & some later Cantex lining - the latest Scandi "tar babies" have a weave like modern cotton webbing - all I looked at online has the weave that "fades" under pedal pressure.

Hi Lucas,
The labor to change bands is not worth the savings. Ask around many may have a extra band they will part with, I sold a single cotton band some
time ago when someone was just looking for 1 band. If you buy a set then you have spares. Remember you use the low band going down steep hills
& to slow the car before you brake.
Craig.

Craig makes a valid point. Changing bands is a labour intensive and time consuming task for even the more experienced T owner. To that end, to push the process further down the line, I don't bother with cotton linings at all, preferring to use longer lasting Kevlar linings. Others have different opinions about using Kevlar linings.

Allan from down under.

Thanks everyone, those are all valid points, I'm going to see if I can track down a single nos band. Would be nice if someone manufactured new cotton linings because nos would run out one day. Anyways is anyone per chance selling a band?

I would not suggest using nos cotton bands. They are usually dry rotted and will quickly fail in use. Been there, done that.

Stephen

I have one available if needed. Removable ear on the band. Doesn’t appear to have been used.

I don't see the mention of several other things such as the weave and thickness of the belting. Most of the woven belting is going to be too thin and a loose weave.

I got three set of the NOS cotton bands in the yellow boxes.

They were al 20 t0 30 years old.

I got 40 miles out of low after stopping about every 5 miles on a 40 mile tour.

I was more surprised to see the mid section had burned for about 4 inches on the brake band, when I put in Kevlars for a replacement.

A friend ran part of an old Boy Scout belt for lining for many years.

Are we comparing Kevlar bands (bullet proof vests) and hickory bands (wheel spokes) to unknown Amazon cotton as being comparable?

My Great Grandma, who owned a shop in Burbank CA in the teen/20's, told me many stories of things they saw from rural owners...not just leather belts, but pig skin! She said pig skin was also common as a quick fix for burned out bearings.

Has anyone had experience with cotton woven linings made by Mark Auto Company, Layton N. J..... Currently out of business. I have a set of those linings for the improved Ford with the instructions copyrighted in 1974.

Moxie26 wrote: ↑

Fri May 23, 2025 5:23 pm

Has anyone had experience with cotton woven linings made by Mark Auto Company, Layton N. J..... Currently out of business. I have a set of those linings for the improved Ford with the instructions copyrighted in 1974.

I've installed several sets of those. They're excellent bands. The hold up well and are very smooth.

Stephen

Moxie26 wrote: ↑

Fri May 23, 2025 5:23 pm

Has anyone had experience with cotton woven linings made by Mark Auto Company, Layton N. J..... Currently out of business. I have a set of those linings for the improved Ford with the instructions copyrighted in 1974.

Best linings I ever used and had long life out of them. Sadly, they haven't been available for at least 20 years.