Closed Car Top Material...

[Steve Plucker]

Am I understanding this correctly that when the MARC/MAFCA RG's and JS's talk about "Coarse Long-short grain artificial leather" that they are talking about the two types of black artificial leather with either a "long" grain and/or a "short" grain apparence...is that correct?

OR is the "Coarse Long-short grain artificial leather" referring to just one type of top material?

Is there such a thing as "fine" long-short grain artificial leather?

Thanks.

Pluck

[DaveB]

Steve I don't think they are talking about leather at all for the top. I think the top material was long or short grain based on the model vehicle and was the regular black top material sold by L.B. and the other dealers. I am getting close to doing a top for a '31 "leather back" Vicky (I know not leather) but not sure what kind of material they used since most of the cars I have seen are not black material.

[Jim Mason]

my understanding is the the grain is made up of two ridges (strokes, whatever) one long the other short, or all short...IiIiIi or iiii fwiw,jm

[jkcrosson]

Originally Posted by Steve Plucker

Not that I recall.

All I know is this...my early Feb./Mar. 1929 Tudor had the "long" grain top material; and my September 1929 Standard Coupe had the "short" grain top material.

Apparently, and this is just my thinking on just how it is worded in the MARC/MAFCA RG's and JS's, is that when they refer to Closed Car Top Material as being "Coarse Long-short grain artificial leather", page 9-3, Top, Revised 1997) is that the top material could either be the "long" OR the "short" grain material on the top.

Anyone else with any thoughts on this?

Thanks.

Pluck

I have read the JS and RG and sadly think it is open to interputation. I installed short grain on my 29 tudor in the mid 90s because at the time I was told the by a well meaning friend that Short Grain was for 28-29 and Long was for 30-31. I know now that that is not correct. I wonder if it has anything to do with Long Grain on Sedans and Short Grain on Coupes. Is there known original sedans with short grain? or Coupes with Long Grain? Just a thought.

[real550A]

James- Were you ever able to ascertain the correct material for the later coupes?
I'm in the process of ordering a roof kit for my '31 Deluxe, and am still not sure if the Long, or Short grain is correct. Snyder's sells both, Mac's only the long grain.
Can anyone familiar with the judging standards enlighten us? Thanks in advance!

[theHIGHLANDER]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

I'm under the assumption that either was used based on supplier and location. I prefer the stuff that's a bit finer and less glossy, but both are acceptable in my view. I'm basing this off of the "...As Henry Built It" book. And they are both considered long/short grain mat'l. There's some info in some of the online catalogs too.

[Steve Plucker]

What do some of these original cars have?

My early 1929 Tudor had Long Grain...My September 1929 Coupe had Short Grain.

Pluck

[real550A]

Thanks for the quick reply...I prefer the finer, short grain also.

[Marco Tahtaras]

Originally Posted by real550A

Thanks for the quick reply...I prefer the finer, short grain also.

For the record, the ONLY models that used the fine or "short" grain were standard open models. Ford never used it on closed cars.

[real550A]

Thanks Marco....That's the definitive answer I was looking for. I just don't want to spend the $$ on a kit and end up doing it twice. Long grain it is.

[mot]

here is a nice tool pouch made from top material
i need some comments on it,
i have the original material on my tudor but painted over it decades ago