Wanted: sheet metal mfg person

[Barry Loucks]

Hi folks,

I purchased some rough fenders yesterday. They are perfect for patterns. Any recommendations for a person who can reproduce these?
Preferably they would be located in Michigan, northern Ohio, or Indiana.

Barry Loucks

[Mark Gregush]

https://www.modeltford.com/pl.aspx?t=s&v=fenders&page=1
Don't know which of those shown in Langs catalog may or may not be in stock.

[Barry Loucks]

Thanks Mark. I’m aware of the parts Langs and Rootlieb sell. The parts I need aren’t reproduced by anyone.
So the question is:

Does anyone have a contact of someone who can make my unique sheet metal parts preferably in Michigan, Ohio, or Indiana?

[Oldav8tor]

Why don't you try contacting some of the folks at places like the Gilmore Museum, Stahl's, Henry Ford, etc. They may know of craftsmen that have done that kind of work for them. SMHnat on this forum works for Stahl's in restoration, I'd ask him.

[Barry Loucks]

Tim,

Great suggestion. That’s what I’ll do.

Barry

[TRDxB2]

Hi folks,

I purchased some rough fenders yesterday. They are perfect for patterns. Any recommendations for a person who can reproduce these?
Preferably they would be located in Michigan, northern Ohio, or Indiana.

Barry Loucks

You might try to contact this guy. He is making all the body parts for a 1913 Touring. Has multiple YouTube video's on his progress )also has many other video's on Model T) https://www.youtube.com/@onewhocollects6781
This the first video on making body parts
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00z6xB-hH-A

[Wayne Sheldon]

You could and might get better responses if you let people know what you want or need to have made? Big sheet metal or smaller pieces? Mostly flat work? Lots of beads and crimping? Or large compound curves requiring English wheel or a lot of stretching and shrinking. All of these parameters require different skillsets and tooling.
How can anyone seriously recommend a craftsman if they don't know what you need?

Most model T fenders are available at a fairly reasonable cost, certainly less than what anyone would consider custom making them for cost-wise. So I would imagine that what you need are not factory model T fenders. Making a fender for a 1935 custom Cadillac is a lot different than making a fender for a 1912 Cadillac.

[Barry Loucks]

Thanks Wayne, I’ll be discussing all those things with the fabricator. Yes, I’m aware that beads, size and form will impact the cost as to whether it’s a Ford or a Cadillac.
BTW these are early Canadian Model T fenders that use a different construction than the American ones. I believe they didn’t become common until 1915.
I can take it from here. Thanks for everyone’s input.

Barry

[Wayne Sheldon]

Canadian T fenders, very interesting. I recall reading of some of those differences in past forum discussions, but I do not remember the details of those differences.
Rootlieb used to custom make early car fenders for almost any HCCA era car, although I do understand that they aren't doing that much anymore. I of course cannot speak for them, but have you checked to see if this is something they would still do if you provided all the specific details they needed?

[Barry Loucks]

I did not enquire if Rootlieb or anyone would make them. I only got these on Saturday. I could see from the photos “some restoration would be required” but since they are so scarce there was no question I would buy them. Well they are not restorable. They are however great patterns. They look like they were stored in a swamp for the last 50 years. No doubt they were beaten up before being disassembled from the car.
Tom Rootlieb identified them from a Facebook post last Friday. He posted a photo that was on that site on the Forum, and I was notified. Look for the post from Tom on Friday. You’ll get an idea of the differences. The attachment points to the car are the same, the big difference is the 2nd bead that crimps the outboard downward facing flange to the fender. American cars don’t have that second bead which is on the top of the fender. Many restored Canadian cars of this era have the American fenders. I have a really beaten up set on my car, one which is also undesirable. I believe Canadian cars after 1915 MY got the same fender as the American ones.
I could ask Rootlieb if the would make me a set, but I’d be just as well off reviewing the construction techniques with a competent sheet metal tech and have them made locally. There will be someone who asks why don’t I learn to do it myself? Not in this lifetime, maybe the next.
I took some better photos after I got them home on Saturday but this Forum with me and photos don’t get along so well.
I’ll try again.

Barry

[TRDxB2]

Hi folks,

I purchased some rough fenders yesterday. They are perfect for patterns. Any recommendations for a person who can reproduce these?
Preferably they would be located in Michigan, northern Ohio, or Indiana.

Barry Loucks

How about Tom Rootlib, he retired to living in Ohio. He may know someone.