series1buff
5th November 2008, 12:33 PM
I found this site interesting:
1949 Series One 80 (http://www.quothquan-workshops.co.uk/1949_description.html)
The use of a Rover 4 cyl. car head . I believe the 4 cyl. cars are rare here .. and not common in the UK as well.
The canvas top is the 'in between' type with the rope rear curtain fixing .
After studying the parts list , it appears they modified the top three times .
1. has strap type rear curtain and flat bows
2. has rope type rear curtain and flat bows
3. has strap curtain and curved bows.
I've seen some tops with a BRASS gauze material for the windows , rather than clear plastic , these are the early type I think. The later type ( 52 ? ) went to a larger one piece plastic back window . And , they refer to metal frames as an option for the rear windows .. and they list side windows for the 'export' version. Confused yet.
Some notes on the original top: the canvas is around 18 to 20 oz., rather heavy ...its 100% duck cotton with a very coarse weave . Traces of the original colour is seen beneath areas not exposed to light., it's a medium grassy green which has faded to the present light yellowy straw colour - the dye has actually almost totally gone .The binding is natural undyed herringbone twill cotton. Thread is a darkish green. Stitch length is 6-7mm .They used small brown suede patches on the door flap/seals above the doors. The rope eyelets have a unusual dome shape profile . The side rope is natural manila rope with little brass hooks one end, and a steel band the other end...
The stitching is generally neat, but they did it on a machine without reverse as you can see how they have tied off the ends of a stitch run by lifting the foot and pulling the work back, then stitching over the same line about 1" ... they didn't bother to cut off the length of thread left behind ! it looks messy . In some areas they are sewing through 6 layers of that heavy canvas , as multiple seams are folded under each other .. You need a heavy duty machine for this work ...
Mike
EDIT: the semi opaque material in the windows is brass gauze ..not cotton .
1949 Series One 80 (http://www.quothquan-workshops.co.uk/1949_description.html)
The use of a Rover 4 cyl. car head . I believe the 4 cyl. cars are rare here .. and not common in the UK as well.
The canvas top is the 'in between' type with the rope rear curtain fixing .
After studying the parts list , it appears they modified the top three times .
1. has strap type rear curtain and flat bows
2. has rope type rear curtain and flat bows
3. has strap curtain and curved bows.
I've seen some tops with a BRASS gauze material for the windows , rather than clear plastic , these are the early type I think. The later type ( 52 ? ) went to a larger one piece plastic back window . And , they refer to metal frames as an option for the rear windows .. and they list side windows for the 'export' version. Confused yet.
Some notes on the original top: the canvas is around 18 to 20 oz., rather heavy ...its 100% duck cotton with a very coarse weave . Traces of the original colour is seen beneath areas not exposed to light., it's a medium grassy green which has faded to the present light yellowy straw colour - the dye has actually almost totally gone .The binding is natural undyed herringbone twill cotton. Thread is a darkish green. Stitch length is 6-7mm .They used small brown suede patches on the door flap/seals above the doors. The rope eyelets have a unusual dome shape profile . The side rope is natural manila rope with little brass hooks one end, and a steel band the other end...
The stitching is generally neat, but they did it on a machine without reverse as you can see how they have tied off the ends of a stitch run by lifting the foot and pulling the work back, then stitching over the same line about 1" ... they didn't bother to cut off the length of thread left behind ! it looks messy . In some areas they are sewing through 6 layers of that heavy canvas , as multiple seams are folded under each other .. You need a heavy duty machine for this work ...
Mike
EDIT: the semi opaque material in the windows is brass gauze ..not cotton .