The dreaded arm rest thread.. 42 Mercury

[signsup]

When I got the car from Bubba with the wall to wall carpeting door panels, no arm rests attached, but in the box of parts, two front and two rear arm rest sheet metal. Reading about how at least the fronts attach using retaining clips on the rear of the door panels and then they clip into a inner door support to provide strength. Don't know how the rears attach. And. they would appear to bolt through the door panel and the bolt heads would get covered with the fabric somewhow
I've seen some threads on arm rests, but most appear to be earlier years or pick em up trucks, so didn't know if the sedans were any different.
So, any direction greatly apreciated or pics. I'm going to make my own door panels, so starting from scratch on this.
If I do need clips and there are any out there, I'll be needing them. Sandblasting them and priming them today, so I'll hang up and listen.

[ScubaChief60]

I WILL BE WATCHING THIS THREAD FOR IDEAS FOR SURE.

This is one of the tasks I have yet to complete on my '35 Fordor. I have the front doors driver and passenger side arm rests but have yet to install them.

I've not settled yet on what would be best to attach them.

[V8 Bob]

You might want to look at the re-pop '32-'48 arm rests from Bob Drake. Well made, with the OE brackets designed to capture the diagonal door brace.


These are a bit more involved when building new panels, but when finished simply drop in place on the door brace before perimeter panel attachments are made. The big advantage is the arm rest pulling on the door instead of the panel. Adding finger pulls to the rests prevents damaging door handles when closing doors!
https://bobdrake.com/products/1932-4...i8K0-QodOsyyik


Bob

[tubman]

Originally Posted by V8 Bob

You might want to look at the re-pop '32-'48 arm rests from Bob Drake. Well made, with the OE brackets designed to capture the diagonal door brace.


These are a bit more involved when building new panels, but when finished simply drop in place on the door brace before perimeter panel attachments are made. The big advantage is the arm rest pulling on the door instead of the panel. Adding finger pulls to the rests prevents damaging door handles when closing doors!
https://bobdrake.com/products/1932-4...i8K0-QodOsyyik


Bob

Same ol' Bob Drake story : "availability: Out of stock"

[V8 Bob]

I would try some of his suppliers, before giving up. The rests are very nice and worth looking for, imo.

[TJ]

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CW Moss has them, but they are made from aluminum. They mount the same way as the stock ones. I used them on a '40 and once covered they look just fine.

[signsup]

I believe I has pictured what I believe to be stock arm rest metal. So I'm confused as to why I would hunt down reproductions unless what I have pictured is incorrect for a 42 Mercury. I may or may not find mounting clips, or may just fabricate some on my own, but I am pictureing the same process, mounting the arms to the door panel and during the panel installation, the panel will slide up or down or left or right and catch behind the inner door support and provide strength to the assembly.

[petehoovie]

[FortyNiner]

The pieces shown look very much like those on my '46 Deluxe Tudor. Let's assume that the installation on your Merc is similar.

You are correct that the fronts are held to the door panel with simple clips. I have a picture of the rear arm rest in my Ford. Unfortunately, I don't recall exactly how they attached to the panel. Have a look:

(I used a full upholstery kit from Cartouche before their demise.)

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by FortyNiner

The pieces shown look very much like those on my '46 Deluxe Tudor. Let's assume that the installation on your Merc is similar.

You are correct that the fronts are held to the door panel with simple clips. I have a picture of the rear arm rest in my Ford. Unfortunately, I don't recall exactly how they attached to the panel. Have a look:

(I used a full upholstery kit from Cartouche before their demise.)

[signsup]

So, newbie question here...with some earlier models only havving one on the drivers dor and with them being called arm rests, not things to grab hold of to close doors, I see no finger slots or way to grab to close the door. So are they intended to be only arm rests for the door in the closed position and the passengers were still bragging the interior metal door handle held on with a tiny pin to close the door? If so, then I may consider just installing them to the door panel with backing plate, but they really don't get pulled out for any reason by the end user. I guess I'm thinking modern cars with the slotted arm rests that are used to clam the door shut and then possibly rest your arm on..
Of course, back in the day, most passengers had the doors opened and closed for them from the outside by their gentleman escorts.

[TJ]

They are arm rests only, but still need the brackets on the backside to hook on the door. Not having the brackets can eventually damage the door panel.

[Bruce_MO]

TJ is correct… the clips on the inner door panel are important and will give the panel a better and more solid feel. The door opening lever is what was used to pull the door closed. And that’s why most cars have replacement handles. It’s pretty hard on them to take frequent hard pulls. Signsup, I sent you a note with an image of the clips from Drake’s catalog.

[signsup]

Went through my arm rest parts today and never picked up the second front arm rest. Sure enough, original clips and remnants of the original door panel, Bubba just cut it off. Some remnants of the original jute, batting and leather upper and fabric lower. But the clips are the keeper. One arm rest had them that I think would be the frivers front and one did not, but I can always fabricate a second set of clips.
Heres pics if anyone needs a reference for the clips. Hope they help.