[DavidG]

Mike,

What is and what isn't original '33 (or '32 or '34 on up) wood graining is a slippery slope. It starts with the photos. You effectively cannot depict the true colors of original closed car dashes without the kind of professional photographic lighting equipment to avoid lightening the image to the point where it is distorted. That's clearly shown in the photos in this thread. As for original open car wood graining, who could reasonably assert that that dash wasn't exposed to sunlight both direct and reflected and its debilitating effects on colors and gloss?

I have previously saved ford33's photo in #23 as I believe it to be a good example of the grain pattern used in both Canada and the U.S. on '33 model deluxe dashes. Overall, it is understandably on the light side given the use of a flash for the photo. I base that on several NOS glove box radio doors, ash tray covers, and glove box doors that I have/had of both the '33 and '34 grains. (The base coat appears to be the same on all '32-'34 dashes, ash trays, and garnish moldings.)

If you happen to have copy of the DeAngelis/Francis book, please look at page 59. The two photos were made by Ford's photographic department and while they are black and white they lack the brightening effect of ordinary flash photos. Both the '33 and '34 examples are fairly dark.

In my readings of various Ford literature I have not yet encountered the term butt grain. Further I'd rather not be in the middle of a dispute between two third parties.