R.White

Sorry Wayne. I seem to remember including them with the car when I sold it. Ray.

Hi Pete. Just to correct something. My tourer was imported from Australia where it was bodied. It may or may not have had saddles fitted in the past but I found no evidence of any mounting points. It is entirely possible that if any had been there they could have been either removed or covered up when the car body was restored. I bought my saddles from Iola U.S.A. about 9 years ago. They both have the number 436 (raised) but there is no name. I have checked and the total price including shipping was £222.16. They were incomplete but I have made a missing expander 'end' and extended the threads on two new 5" x 3/8" BSW bolts. Both saddles are now complete and working. If you wanted to fit saddles like mine with a straight 3/4" shaft, I think you would need to ensure that the mounting tubes are set at a suitable angle. They also need to be a fairly snug fit to enable the expander to grip when the bolt is tightened. Please let me know if you are still interested. If they can fit your car I would like you to have them. Ray.

With respect; I think they are one and the same car. Ray.

Something needs to be done about the cost of shipping. Here in the U.K. great store is being placed on a "trade deal" between our countries. There would not be much point in slashing tariffs if it still costs a fortune to send and receive goods.. Brexit has meant we really, really need to establish better trading conditions with the rest of the World. There are huge potential benefits to being an independent Nation so the U.K. had decided to walk away from the restrictive E.U. We had better start getting serious about International trade...and soon!!! Ray.

Hi Pete. I have tried sending you a PM but it won't allow me to send a message. I have tried to Pete Kesting./ Pete K/ Peter Kesting etc. but no go. You can email me: raywhite750@btinternet.com Cheers Ray.

I have the 18th edition. It covers 1926 but there are some older pictures used.

Hi Pete. Is there no private message function now?

The image may be an artist's impression, I don't know, but there doesn't appear to be any offset.

Hello again Pete. I will need to look into it having never posted anything to the States before. Please bear with me. I will be back in touch again in a few days. Kind regards, Ray.

Hello Ron. Yes, I had to part with my DB and I am not entirely sure I did the right thing. I was under pressure from swmbo to move it on and get something more "sporty" that she could enjoy driving too. I still have my Austin Swallow saloon but that is now joined by a 1949 MG TC. Unfortunately, the car was mutton cleverly disguised as lamb and requires a total rebuild including a new body. The DB went to auction as there was no interest privately. I have no idea who bought it but they got an absolute bargain. I hope you and yours are keeping safe and well! Ray.

Good morning to you Pete. Yes, it has been over a year now since the DB and I parted company but although I had bought the top saddles from a guy over your side of the Pond I never fitted them. The reason I didn't fit them was because it would have meant disturbing the interior leather and cutting holes in the body as it had never had top saddles fitted. You may remember this is not a standard body but a coach built version carried out by a firm in Sydney Australia. I had more pressing issues as you may remember! These top saddles were sold to me as Dodge Brothers but I found out early on that if I wanted to fit them then I would need to fabricate some steel tubes set into the body at an angle or the bows would not fit because - as you say - the curve of the body. If you don't have tube type fittings that are set at the correct angle then you would need to fit them. What d'ya think? Ray.

Hi Pete. It's been a while! I no longer have the car but I still have the top saddles. Would you be interested in them? Ray.

Hello John. I am saddened to hear your news and to be honest, I really don't have the words; except to say if you can manage to stay focussed on your projects, then I believe it will help. Kind regards, Ray.

Do your valve lifters have a flat contact surface or is there a radius? A flat surface has the effect of opening the valve fully for longer. The longer the inlet is open the more mixture that can be drawn in. The later the exhaust opens the more time there is for the combustion to work. ( Like in a good pub; the more one can imbibe the better! ) One of the tweaks that Austin Seven owners have resorted to in an attempt to improve performance is flattening the radius of the valve lifters. A further improvement can be made if slightly stronger valve springs are fitted. It is all marginal but something is often better than nothing. Ray.

I have kept all my late Dad's box spanners for precisely this sort of problem. It is surprising how often the old stuff comes in handy! Ray.