1925-1927 Buick Touring car door straps

[Hubert_25-25]

 The big book of Buick parts shows door straps for my touring car are made of Black Harness leather.   So I bought some 1 3/4" wide leather that is just over 1/8" thick.   Now I am not sure of a couple of things.  I would think harness leather is on the thicker side of the leather spectrum, but you would not be able to fold this.   The sport model straps are "Black long grain" and the strap is 1/32" wider.  It is supposed to be stitched on the 2 sides which would suggest that perhaps it is made from thinner material than bridle leather so that it folds easier.  So would these be made from leather that is 3 1/2" wide?  Does anyone have any photos of original straps.  What thickness or weight should I be using?  I read that each oz of weight was 1/64".   Should this be 6 oz leather?   

Also wondering if this is a wrapped and stitched part, if I should use some webbing or something else inside that would be better at taking stress than leather so that the strap would last longer and would not just snap when the leather wears thru. 

Thank you,   Hugh 

 

Edited March 22, 2019 by Hubert_25-25 (see edit history)

[dibarlaw]

Hugh:

My Master touring has the same "Harness Leather". 2 straps had been worn thru. I used an old black belt I had. This one I re-dyed.

For Beulah I copied the type that my friend Dave had on his 1928-25. Folded over (vinyl that I used for the top boot)on webbing as your first drawing.

  The sliding door pulls I modified to make the strap retainers as there was nothing on my car to start with.

 

Leif then called me out on it to say it was to be harness leather. 

 

[Mark Shaw]

On my 15 Speedster, my upholsterer used the same leather he used on the seats to make the door straps.  They are plenty thick and strong.

[michealbernal]

Herbert 25-25

So I went out to the barn and climbed up into the attic where my dad had hung several complete harness sets at least 65 years ago.  I brushed the accumulated dust off and measured the thickness of the leather.  On the "tugs" which are the parts that transfer the horses pulling force to the object being pulled the leather is a good 1/4 inch thick and in three layers and stitched at 1/2 inch intervals along their entire length.  Next I measured the thickness of the leather on a set of reins and found it to be 3/16 inch or less.  Be aware that different leather making processes result in very different leathers  depending on what characteristics are desired [toughness, limberness, hardness],  My suggestion would be to go to a good saddle maker and consult with him about appropriate leather for this project  Mike.

[dibarlaw]

Fresh processed leather 1/8" thickness is fine. It will stay flexible for years. And it is what fits in the retainer. The worst of the wear on the cars upholstery will be at the bottom left kick panel edge where one is prone to drag their feet getting out of the car.

 Below is how I made my retainers.

   

Drilling holes placed in a hardwood fixture.                               Setting the countersink with a punch an die I made.

   I used a leather punch to make the holes in the straps.

Finished strap sets. I was disappointed with the job done by the shoe repair shop I took these to. Could not make a straight stitch. It took 2 weeks and then he lost the original Dave gave me as a pattern.

[Hubert_25-25]

Larry, Mark and Michael,   Your comments and help are very much appreciated.  My biggest sticking point is that the Big Buick book says Harness leather, and the drawing shows stitched which would indicate not harness leather but the folded and stitched design.  Harness leather is a pretty general term, but to me it always meant a single usually thick piece of leather.  Then Leif says it should be harness leather to you.   He did send me this photo a long time ago (attached), but again I was struggling with being told one thing and reading another thing in a factory book.  Hence the search for another person that might have another verification.

I was looking today into foot rests for Jim Boland's 1925-28 and I happened to grab my original 1925 Buick Standard Book of parts.  I usually use my electronic copy that I received from Leif.  Lo and behold is a page in my book that got missed in the electronic copy process.  On that page is the door strap.  It looks like a single piece of harness leather.  Now looking in the 1926 and 1927 book of parts, it is the same part number and photo.  Looking real close at the marks on Leif's leather strap, I think they are also showing faintly in the parts book photo when it is blown up.  I think if Leif's had been replaced, a person would not have just randomly added the 2 line impressions on the edges.

 

Larry, you will want to add this page to your electronic copies.  It is page number 92.  Either I never had it or it got deleted one day by accident.  Thank you for the details on making the strap plates.  I am short 2 of them so I have a feeling how you made yours. This will come in handy to recreate the last 2.    Hugh

  

Edited March 24, 2019 by Hubert_25-25 (see edit history)

[Mark Kikta]

Hugh,

 

I may have shared these before but just in case I have not, here are pictures of my 22-45. I believe it to be all original and the book calls for Pebble Grain for the model 45.  These were clearly not a leather strap in 1922.

[Hubert_25-25]

Mark,  

    Thanks for the photos.  Those are correct for your car.  1922 did not use the metal plate on the ends of the straps in the touring car.  The metal end plate came out in 1923.  So that would make sense that your straps are type X which are sewn on the sides and the ends.   I may be interested in a couple of your nails that they used to install the door panels.  Those heads do not look like anything we use today, and my car used that same nail.  I don't need a sample any time soon, but I may come calling one day.    

 

I also found the door strap photo in the 1925 Master parts book, and it is definitely the single piece harness leather with the 2 indentations along each side.  Same part number. 

Hugh 

Edited March 24, 2019 by Hubert_25-25 (see edit history)

[ROD W]

The straps on my 1920 are also stitched along  the side and look to be of the same material as Mark,s

[dibarlaw]

Hugh:

 Just general leatherwork 101. I taught Industrial Arts and during my college classes I did have Leatherworking. Just a very typical of finishing off a leather strap. Many times even with out stitching we would just roll a decorative line or 2 on the leather to give it a more finished appearance.

[Mark Shaw]

1 hour ago, dibarlaw said:

Many times even with out stitching we would just roll a decorative line or 2 on the leather to give it a more finished appearance.

I had Kim Dawson (former upholsterer for the Nethercutt Collection) do my 12 Roadster top & he did this on the leather straps.

[27donb]

These were remade (not by me) to copy original design. 

 

24-45

 

27-54CC