[michaelod]

Hello everyone,

A recent question from Dwight about the construction of the rear window area of his car brought to mind an additional question I have in that same general area. I have a 1930 Buick model 68 5-window coupe that is missing much of its interior. Although I believe I have most of the garnish mouldings around the windows, I am missing the armrests in the rear seat and don't really know what they look like. From what I can gather there is an attachment point between the body and edge of the seat cushion and shown in picture #1. Picture #2 shows what I think is the forward attachment point at what appears in the photo as a triangular metal bracket with a dogleg. Could someone post a photo of the actual armrest itself from the backside or minus upholstery so I can get an idea of what the part itself looks like and what I am missing.

Thanks for all your assistance,

Michael O'Docharty

[Dwight Romberger]

Michael,

Here are some 1930 arm rests. The ratty one is mine. A definately original model 47.

The other two belong to others a 1930 -57 and a 61 restored.
Maybe someone can tell you if your 68 armrests is the same.

Dwight

P.S. I'm uploading pics to this site for the first time, so no promises.

[Dwight Romberger]

Michael,
Here's another one of mine without the classy plaid seatcover!
It is a better shot of the armrest.
Dwight

[Dwight Romberger]

Michael,

Lebaron Bonney has one in their catalog for a 1931 Buick that looks just like it.

osCommerce

Dwight

[Dwight Romberger]

Sorry, 1931 Chevy, but it still looks the same.

[Dwight Romberger]

Michael,

By the way, LeBaron Bonney makes a complete interior kit for a 1930 model 68 in period correct materials. Hardboard panels, upholstery panels, seatcovers, headliner, cowl panels, the whole thing.

Dwight

[michaelod]

Dwight,

Thanks for the pictures of the armrests and the heads up on the Chevy armrest form. There must be some sort of metal mounts for the front and rear of the armrests that one needs to make the connection with the metal brackets in the car. Hopefully someone will be able to post a picture of what those look like as there is a probability that I may need to fabricate something due to the fact that mine are gone. It would be even better to locate some originals, but locating parts for this car thus far has been challenging at best.

My interior was totally stripped with the exception of some worn out replacement seat covers when I bought the car although most of the metal garnish mouldings had been saved by a previous owner. Apparently that person had intended to re-do the interior, but after ripping everything out gave up on the job. Nothing was saved for patterns. The armrests, handles, window cranks, light covers, and other miscellaneous pieces were lost as the car passed through several short term owners before I bought it.

Michael

[Tinindian]

Attached are photos of my rear arm rest mount. The metal on the armrest is 1"x1.5" with two countersunk screw holes, the piece that you see is 1.25" x 1.25". It is bent not quite to 90 degrees. When the point of the quarter circle enters the bracket on the quarter panel and you push down and back this angle draws the armrest tight to the quarter panel. There is no rear mount at all. The metal seems to be 1/16' thick.
The photos seem to be too large to post here. I will pm them to you.

[Tinindian]

I emailed the photos to myself and managed to make them small enough to post.

[michaelod]

Reid,

Thank you for describing how these armrests work and posting some photos of the back side. This is exactly the kind of information that I was looking for. Seems like it will be fairly easy to fabricate some mounts and apply them to the armrest forms that Lebaron Bonney has in stock for chevys, or just make my own if they are not close enough. While I have not done an automobile interior before, I have reupholstered about a zillion pieces of Victorian furniture, and am certain that I will have no real difficulty translating those skills to my 30 Buick. In reality upholstery is still a couple of years of as I still have mechanical and paint work to do first.

Michael O'Docharty