Pete Phillips Posted March 22, 2019 Share Posted March 22, 2019 I just learned that LeBaron-Bonney Co., maker of many 1930s and 1940s Buick upholstery and interior kits, has filed for bankruptcy. What a shame. Probably a symptom of the declining interest in old cars, and Pre-War cars in particular. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian_Heil Posted March 22, 2019 Share Posted March 22, 2019 https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2019/03/22/upholstery-supplier-lebaron-bonney-files-for-chapter-7-bankruptcy/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpecialEducation Posted March 22, 2019 Share Posted March 22, 2019 Crap. I hope SMS doesn't buy their assets...😭 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1939_Buick Posted March 22, 2019 Share Posted March 22, 2019 (edited) Main thread here----> https://forums.aaca.org/topic/324147-lebaron-bonney/ Edited March 22, 2019 by 1939_Buick (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Phillips Posted March 23, 2019 Author Share Posted March 23, 2019 Well, after reading the article, it looks like a decline in the quality of their customer service may have had something to do with this, also. Still, very sad and it makes life more difficult for those of us who are trying to restore these cars. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Gelinas (XP-300) Posted March 23, 2019 Share Posted March 23, 2019 Where do those of us who have or are restoring pre war Buicks go now? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Harwood Posted March 23, 2019 Share Posted March 23, 2019 19 minutes ago, Dave Gelinas (XP-300) said: Where do those of us who have or are restoring pre war Buicks go now? Is Jenkins still up and running? I heard they were struggling, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Gelinas (XP-300) Posted March 23, 2019 Share Posted March 23, 2019 14 minutes ago, Matt Harwood said: Is Jenkins still up and running? I heard they were struggling, too. My understanding struggling also but now doing only interiors. Do they have pre war interiors? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Welch Posted March 23, 2019 Share Posted March 23, 2019 A real shame for the hobby. They were / are located in the Biddle and Smart Carriage factory in Amesbury MA. I always found them to be very helpful. They were not cheap, but they had what you needed, and that has a price tag sometimes. They were really helpful to local Clubs and willing to let groups go through their facility. When the Minute Man Chapter , BCA held the 2011 Danvers Meet , they stored all our goodie bag stuff as it came in and then stuffed our goodie bags for us. I for one will miss them. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B Jake Moran Posted March 23, 2019 Share Posted March 23, 2019 2 hours ago, Jack Welch said: A real shame for the hobby. They were / are located in the Biddle and Smart Carriage factory in Amesbury MA. I always found them to be very helpful. They were not cheap, but they had what you needed, and that has a price tag sometimes. They were really helpful to local Clubs and willing to let groups go through their facility. When the Minute Man Chapter , BCA held the 2011 Danvers Meet , they stored all our goodie bag stuff as it came in and then stuffed our goodie bags for us. I for one will miss them. I hate to see it too. Not cheap is interpretive since in this case just having an option to authentically replicate the interiors was so valuable. Hampton Coach ? Or is that all part of the same company? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Welch Posted March 23, 2019 Share Posted March 23, 2019 13 minutes ago, B Jake Moran said: I hate to see it too. Not cheap is interpretive since in this case just having an option to authentically replicate the interiors was so valuable. Hampton Coach ? Or is that all part of the same company? It is all the same company. LeBaron Bonney started with all Ford products and then they bought out Hampton Coach, which at the time was a Chevy supplier. They did started to replicate some Buick stuff, while still Hampton catch and then after the merger, they went big into Buick stuff. I have also bought the fabric for a 41 Cadillac that I am restoring there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_Mereness Posted March 23, 2019 Share Posted March 23, 2019 On 3/22/2019 at 3:07 PM, Pete Phillips said: I just learned that LeBaron-Bonney Co., maker of many 1930s and 1940s Buick upholstery and interior kits, has filed for bankruptcy. What a shame. Probably a symptom of the declining interest in old cars, and Pre-War cars in particular. More likely bad management verses hobby declining. 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B Jake Moran Posted March 25, 2019 Share Posted March 25, 2019 Additionally, I was reading on the Cadillac LaSalle Club website that Miller literature is going out because of health. I believe he has a large stash of items. Someone said it went from several million items on ebay to zero overnight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
60FlatTop Posted March 25, 2019 Share Posted March 25, 2019 Businesses, almost any kind, proprietorships or corporations tend to mature and experience their own version of senility. At about 40 years they lose their founder and are taken over by "the board" or begrudging heir, most of whom rarely have the vision of the founder. I have been studying this since the early 1980's. These hobby support industries were formed in the 1970's and '80's. They are due for the creeping inept management problems of the 40 year mark. Large or small, it happens. George Eastman, in my town, made film. He had a plant that made cameras to give away so people would buy film. Forty years after his death, 1962, they built a new plant to make cameras and each department was profit driven. The inheritors didn't get it. Most of the company is gone now. Many other companies have or are following the same path. Mergers, if you generalize, are a pooling of weaknesses and hasten the end of both companies involved. It is just a life cycle. Bernie 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old-tank Posted March 25, 2019 Share Posted March 25, 2019 On 3/23/2019 at 2:12 PM, John_Mereness said: More likely bad management verses hobby declining. A few years ago I called for samples of cloth material for my 51 Ford truck. It has perfectly functional vinyl, but I hate vinyl. I asked for period samples of cloth. Three calls later and no samples! On the forth call I was told that even if I did order, it would be so small that it was not worth the trouble. (still looking for cloth). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gene Brink Posted March 25, 2019 Share Posted March 25, 2019 3 hours ago, old-tank said: A few years ago I called for samples of cloth material for my 51 Ford truck. It has perfectly functional vinyl, but I hate vinyl. I asked for period samples of cloth. Three calls later and no samples! On the forth call I was told that even if I did order, it would be so small that it was not worth the trouble. (still looking for cloth). I'm with you cloth is much more comfortable than vinyl/leather and have spent hours doing the same thing for a '58 Apache pickup truck and did find the correct cloth at SMS albeit pretty pricey. Have not ordered yet but there are some other options that get pretty close to matching the original (thankfully I have a somewhat tattered original seat in the truck to match to) at a much lower cost. Probably go with original weave but who knows. SMS will send samples. Here are some other options - Kovi - https://www.kovifabrics.com. Tons of choices, prices are decent and they will send samples. I was not looking for Ford materials but if you know what you like could probably find something suitable. Hobby Lobby - surprisingly they have lots of upholstery fabric (at least in the store near me) and have a number of suitable fabrics that would look correct in my daughter's '65 Rambler Classic that is need of new seat covers (although she wants the original weave that SMS has) Joanne's Fabrics (may not be in your area) - also has a good selection of upholstery fabrics to pick from. Good luck. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Harwood Posted March 25, 2019 Share Posted March 25, 2019 Use care with SMS. They often have the right fabrics, and they do nice work on the door panels and the fabric they have made, but they have far more samples of fabric than they have actual fabric available. If you order some they don't have in stock, they'll take your money (run your credit card) then sit and wait for enough additional people to order that fabric to justify running a bolt of it. That could be months or even years if it's something unusual. If you order, make sure it's in stock, although they seem to answer "yes" every time I ask, regardless of whether they actually do. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_S_in_Penna Posted March 26, 2019 Share Posted March 26, 2019 23 hours ago, Gene Brink said: ...Here are some other options... Hobby Lobby - surprisingly they have lots of upholstery fabric (at least in the store near me) and have a number of suitable fabrics that would look correct in my daughter's '65 Rambler Classic that is need of new seat covers (although she wants the original weave that SMS has) Joanne's Fabrics (may not be in your area) - also has a good selection of upholstery fabrics to pick from. Be careful, Gene: I've read that automotive upholstery fabrics have to be much more durable than other fabrics. Think how often the driver slides all his weight across the cushion. And if you're spending money to have seats redone, I don't recommend spending your money on an approximation of the correct fabric. Incorrect material will be noticed by others, especially if you sell the car, and will actually detract from the car's value. You won't regret getting the correct material. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gene Brink Posted March 26, 2019 Share Posted March 26, 2019 True, John. Kovi (and perhaps other sites) have information on wear resistance on all of their materials (as well as several hundred specifically for automobiles). I should have mentioned that both Jobby Lobby and Joanne's have automobile as well as furniture fabrics. Matt, Good reminder about SMS. I've read a number of comments over several years about them not delivering in a timely manner... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superbuick Posted March 27, 2019 Share Posted March 27, 2019 On 3/25/2019 at 12:27 PM, Matt Harwood said: Use care with SMS. They often have the right fabrics, and they do nice work on the door panels and the fabric they have made, but they have far more samples of fabric than they have actual fabric available. If you order some they don't have in stock, they'll take your money (run your credit card) then sit and wait for enough additional people to order that fabric to justify running a bolt of it. That could be months or even years if it's something unusual. If you order, make sure it's in stock, although they seem to answer "yes" every time I ask, regardless of whether they actually do. Second to what Mat said. I have ordered product for 6 cars. Always was promised product was in stock. Cloth for my 1960 Invicta took 21 months. full payment was made when ordered. I called every 2 months and was told it would be soon. You feel trapped when they have your money. Cant cancel the order with the bank after several months. Another order was two years. I am grateful for the correct patterns and product even though it is costly. I dont understand why they cant be up front when they dont have enough to fill an order when the take your money. I still recommend them and use them. I tell other to order as soon as you decide to do you seats, as it can be a loooooooooooooooong time before you receive it. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Restorer32 Posted March 27, 2019 Share Posted March 27, 2019 We recently had to dispute a $1000 credit card payment we made to SMS. We were repeatedly told there was many yards of the fabric we wanted in stock yet once we paid suddenly there was only a couple yards in stock but they were "going to weave more". We called BS and disputed the charge successfully. We will not deal with them again unless there is no alternative. We ended up buying fabric from Hirsch. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Stoneberg Posted March 27, 2019 Share Posted March 27, 2019 Wow I thought mine took a long time. I am glad I only had to wait 2 -3 months now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malo48 Posted March 27, 2019 Share Posted March 27, 2019 So, is there a preferred/recommended interior and carpet seller now? I want to replace a rotten rubber floor mat with carpet, and last year looked at a set from L-B but didn't buy because I had to repair other things first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The 55er Posted March 27, 2019 Share Posted March 27, 2019 I've used material from Joann, SoFro and other local fabric stores with very satisfactory results. I've never checked Hobby Lobby but I will next time. I realize that the exact 60-year old automotive material won't be found there but I visit a lot of stores to get the closest match I can find. My upholsterer has no problem with it but he does tell me to keep it out of the sun as much as I can as fading can be a problem with some of the fabrics. Also the selection of green colors is somewhat limited. Worked well for me on quite a few cars. My daily driver has 6-year old Joann fabric on the front seat and shows no wear at all. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
60FlatTop Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 I have had to order parts overnight at times. If that happens I will call the vendor, ask for the part, and say "I will give you a call back in half and hour to confirm you have actually touched the part". Lenny, the counter guy, at Northwestern Auto in Grand Rapids will do that. And they all should. When I asked the nice woman at SMS if she would do that for Packard material I needed she said she would. I sold the car before I got to that point, but I wouldn't have ordered unless she said she had seen it herself. Bernie 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bryankazmer Posted April 2, 2019 Share Posted April 2, 2019 I worked down the street from Northwest Auto - they are a small, old time parts store and can certainly touch the stock before their coffee stops steaming. Had good luck with them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gdmn852 Posted April 13, 2019 Share Posted April 13, 2019 I had ordered a top boot for my 49 Buick, as LB was the only maker of the correct on out of same material as top, tan stayfast .after not receiving it after 6 months,they said they didn’t have the material but only after contacting them several times. I finally canceled the order, and still don’t have a top boot. That was about a year ago. I wish ARO 2000 made one a good source for tops. Gary ps I seen the same thing happened in tool and die shops , the owner dies or retire and someone else takes over, and not in business long after that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lancemb Posted April 16, 2019 Share Posted April 16, 2019 On 3/25/2019 at 2:27 PM, Matt Harwood said: Use care with SMS. They often have the right fabrics, and they do nice work on the door panels and the fabric they have made, but they have far more samples of fabric than they have actual fabric available. If you order some they don't have in stock, they'll take your money (run your credit card) then sit and wait for enough additional people to order that fabric to justify running a bolt of it. That could be months or even years if it's something unusual. If you order, make sure it's in stock, although they seem to answer "yes" every time I ask, regardless of whether they actually do. I have only had positive experiences with SMS. I need fabric for front seat of a 57 (being painted now) and they used a factory sample to make me a batch. I had it a few weeks later and it looks perfect. They only required I pay first since they were making it special. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC1968Riviera Posted April 16, 2019 Share Posted April 16, 2019 (edited) 1 hour ago, lancemb said: I have only had positive experiences with SMS An acquaintance of mine in Turkey ordered seat covers, a padded dash and door panels for a 69 Impala four door sedan from SMS over two years ago. It took them most of that two years to get him the dash pad and door panels and he is still waiting on his seat covers. Every time he inquires about the status of his outstanding items, they keep telling him it will be 3 more weeks. It's been two years of 3 more weeks. I don't know if SMS farms out such jobs or if they have that big of a backlog of work. Edited April 16, 2019 by NC68Riviera (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lancemb Posted April 17, 2019 Share Posted April 17, 2019 On 4/15/2019 at 8:54 PM, NC68Riviera said: An acquaintance of mine in Turkey ordered seat covers, a padded dash and door panels for a 69 Impala four door sedan from SMS over two years ago. It took them most of that two years to get him the dash pad and door panels and he is still waiting on his seat covers. Every time he inquires about the status of his outstanding items, they keep telling him it will be 3 more weeks. It's been two years of 3 more weeks. I don't know if SMS farms out such jobs or if they have that big of a backlog of work. I have only ordered materials from them. Seems like those that have had issues were waiting on things premade. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cabnut Posted November 16, 2019 Share Posted November 16, 2019 On 3/22/2019 at 3:35 PM, SpecialEducation said: Crap. I hope SMS doesn't buy their assets...😭 Apparently SMS just did buy the assets. I guess the material will be available but not sure if they will provide interiors. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpecialEducation Posted November 17, 2019 Share Posted November 17, 2019 On 4/15/2019 at 7:04 PM, lancemb said: I have only had positive experiences with SMS. I’m glad someone has. I get long wait times. With the large variety of colors & materials used over the years, I understand not stocking many materials. What I don’t appreciate is being treated like a jerk because the material they sent wasn’t even close to the samples, the quality was awful, and the replacement material was just as bad, if not worse. My upholstery shop had to borrow my phone because SMS quit answering his calls. I’ll do every car for the rest of my life with the wrong material before SMS sees a dime from me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Gelinas (XP-300) Posted November 18, 2019 Share Posted November 18, 2019 On 11/16/2019 at 10:39 AM, Cabnut said: Apparently SMS just did buy the assets. I guess the material will be available but not sure if they will provide interiors. Cabnut How did you learn of this? I went to their web site, nothing shows of this yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCHinson Posted November 18, 2019 Share Posted November 18, 2019 (edited) While I too had heard a rumor that SMS had bought them a few months ago, I don't think that SMS or anybody else has bought the assets of LeBaron Bonney quite yet. I am in contact with the guy who currently has possession of the storage containers contain those assets and who had been trying to sell them. This was his email reply to me this morning. "I received word this morning from our lawyers that the LeBaron Bonney assets are currently tied up in litigation and are still technically in the bankruptcy attorneys hands. We won’t know until the second week of December regarding ownership of the assets." Edited November 21, 2019 by MCHinson (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gdmn852 Posted November 18, 2019 Share Posted November 18, 2019 Hello I hope someone would continue on with the upholstery kits , but people don’t seem to be restorations of pre war cars like 20 years ago.LB were the only ones to offer the correct top boot for a 49 Buick,I had ordered one but never got it,fortunately I did get the money back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
38Buick 80C Posted November 18, 2019 Share Posted November 18, 2019 there was a petition filed in the State of Mass. Bankruptcy court... google it.. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beemon Posted November 19, 2019 Share Posted November 19, 2019 On 11/17/2019 at 1:28 PM, SpecialEducation said: Those are authentic holes in the headliner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cabnut Posted November 21, 2019 Share Posted November 21, 2019 On 11/17/2019 at 7:51 PM, Dave Gelinas (XP-300) said: Cabnut How did you learn of this? I went to their web site, nothing shows of this yet. It's all discussed on the VCCA chat site. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Gelinas (XP-300) Posted November 22, 2019 Share Posted November 22, 2019 6 hours ago, Cabnut said: It's all discussed on the VCCA chat site. Thank you. Just checked it out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B Jake Moran Posted November 22, 2019 Share Posted November 22, 2019 On 11/18/2019 at 9:10 AM, gdmn852 said: Hello I hope someone would continue on with the upholstery kits , but people don’t seem to be restorations of pre war cars like 20 years ago.LB were the only ones to offer the correct top boot for a 49 Buick,I had ordered one but never got it,fortunately I did get the money back. I know. It is tough not to understand how and why they went out of business but what a service it is for a company to provide kits that normal guys can install vs. trying to find an upholsterer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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