Can you help me get a handle on this?

[Barry Wolk]

The 1932 Ruxton I've done a mechanical restoration on is awaiting the return of the engine so I went ahead and stripped the body and have fitted the doors.

In reassembling the latches I noted that I was having trouble getting the interior door handles to fit. One of the handles was a reproduction and fit perfectly while the 3 purported "originals" would barely seat on the spline shaft before the threads jammed up.

I came to discover that the threaded receiver in the door is 20 threads per inch and the threaded escutcheon is 18 threads per inch. With the quality and thought that went into the rest of the car I highly doubt whether Ruxton would have used parts with mis-matched threads.

The originals may have been of this style, but even that seems to be unknown as different handles show up on pictures from the factory. Be that as it may, at one time someone made a reproduction that worked. It unfortunately lacked the fine detailed of the original, but it worked.

I believe I have scoured every nook and cranny of the internet and Hemming's and have come up dry on what cars used this threaded base and who makes reproductions handles, regardless of style. The window cranks in the factory pictures appear to be the same square-shank winders as the Model-A, but I can't find handles that thread in like these.

The reproduction handle has a separate bezel.

Who makes these?

[keiser31]

Can we get a look at the face of the handle, please? Have you tried these guys???

http://www.vintageandclassicreproductions.com/

[Barry Wolk]

I looked there when I was looking for a 3.5" grease cap and found their catalogue kinda crazy to use as there's no generic search. I gave up after looking at 20 pages.

[Barry Wolk]

OK, I looked further. They have screw-in handles, but they seem to be the wrong thread. I will contact them. Thanks.

[keiser31]

Have you tried the "handlesman" who is on this forum quite often?

[Barry Wolk]

I thought that was his name. Did not associate. I just sent them a note asking what handles were available with 20 threads per inch as theirs appear to be 18 in the pictures.

Thanks for the lead.

[Mark Shaw]

Those look much like 1929 Buick interior door handles. The escutcheons have a male thread and hold the handle onto the mechanism so it can rotate. Try Bob's Automobilia for SS reproductions.

http://bobsautomobilia.com/

[Hudsy Wudsy]

Your picture sort of begs the question, "Who holds the record for the world's longest drag link?"

[Rusty_OToole]

World's longest drag link - I saw a cutaway picture of a Bentley big six from the early 30s (their biggest car, before the RR takeover). It had the longest drag link I ever saw. Most end at the end of the spring, this one was twice that long. It occurred to me at the time that this was bad design and must result in bump steer. If they were all so carelessly made, maybe this is why the English thought the only way to make a car handle was to install stiff springs and shocks. If they had any suspension travel they would be all over the road.

In the same picture you could see there was no room for the axle to move, it must have had about 2 or 3 inches of suspension travel before the axle hit the frame.

[Rusty_OToole]

It just occurred to me, the Ruxton used a Budd body originally designed for the English Wolseley. Is there any chance you have English hardware with Whitworth threads? I know it sounds crazy.

[sambarn]

Barry, That attachment method looks identical to the Marmon Model L and Model 78s of 27-29. Vintage reproductions item MAR 002 and MAR 003 for the Marmon model 78 looks like it would work. Check it out. I bought some this year for my model L. I'm very happy with the quality, not cheap though.

[Barry Wolk]

It just occurred to me, the Ruxton used a Budd body originally designed for the English Wolseley. Is there any chance you have English hardware with Whitworth threads? I know it sounds crazy.

My thread gauge pegs it at 20, but that's possible. I'm headed to the machine shop, maybe they could verify.

[sambarn]

[Barry Wolk]

Those would be perfect, except that looks like 18 threads per inch when I need 20.

I've bent e-mails to both their AU and US dealer and have received no response.:confused:

[Barry Wolk]

It just occurred to me, the Ruxton used a Budd body originally designed for the English Wolseley. Is there any chance you have English hardware with Whitworth threads? I know it sounds crazy.

Nope, the receiver is 20 threads per inch and the handle is 18, verified.