Guest Posted April 29, 2003 Share Posted April 29, 2003 Hi everyone, "Mr. Woody" (27 DB Woody Depot Hack) is almost finished. It is going to the upholsterer next week for curtains but we cannot find a supplier for Isenglass. I have called from Boston to Calif. with no luck and wonder why I didn't ask here first. Please help me!! We do not want new plastic windows...we want the real isenglass it had originally. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1937hd45 Posted April 30, 2003 Share Posted April 30, 2003 Ok, I'll be the first to ask, why? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 30, 2003 Share Posted April 30, 2003 Why? To keep it original, of course! I am restoring Mr. Woody for my father and he insists it upon having isinglass. At this point I would rather give up the search and go with plastic but he won't go for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 30, 2003 Share Posted April 30, 2003 Well now, if you mean "isinglass" i,e, sheet mica, I get mine from VanDyke's Restorers,Woonsocket South Dakota, I use it for everything from talking machine diaphragms to the windows on base burning coal stoves, how's that for obscurity with a capital O. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 30, 2003 Share Posted April 30, 2003 YOU ARE THE BEST!! Got a phone # and contact or am I pushing my luck? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29 Chandler Posted April 30, 2003 Share Posted April 30, 2003 Keep pushing! 1-800-558-1234 or www.vandykes. Sorry, but I could not find any in my current catalog. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 30, 2003 Share Posted April 30, 2003 They are online and have a web address which if I knew how to post I would. Just go to google and key in VanDyke's Restorers. I have a catalogue downstairs, I can give you the phone# if you have trouble. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoadsterRich Posted April 30, 2003 Share Posted April 30, 2003 Van Dykes... awesome place!URL is: http://www.vandykes.com/ I would use the website to request a catalog, they have some great stuff.Their 800 numbers is: 1-800-558-1234 Hope that helps,RichPS: Isinglass is great for repairing antique headphones and speakers for circa 1920-1930 radio's, as well as the odd antique coleman style (pre-coleman) lantern one runs across as well. The quality of some of their other items varies, but they do have a myriad of things to oogle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 30, 2003 Share Posted April 30, 2003 sounds like you've used this stuff before...is this the flexible kind that would work in curtains that would be rolled up? It's kind of like a boat canvas with a window. I ask because it says it's for stoves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 30, 2003 Share Posted April 30, 2003 All isinglass{mica schist in sheet form} is fairly rigid and does not bend. Perhaps your father recalled the flexible clear celluloid used from the '20's-'30's which was often erroneously called isinglass and which yellowed quickly although real isinglass was used in non-collapsible side curtains. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 30, 2003 Share Posted April 30, 2003 So, not only do I have to tell my father he was "WRONG!" (That'll be fun, NOT) and then what...start my seach all over again for flexible clear celluloid??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 30, 2003 Share Posted April 30, 2003 Well, maybe he wasn't wrong, side curtains with mica were stored flat and not rolled up like celluloid ones could be. Does he remember how they were mounted and stored on the DB. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 30, 2003 Share Posted April 30, 2003 No, because he bought Mr. Woody in '72 and it didn't have any curtains. It was stored in a barn till I rescued it 2 years ago. The only thing we have to go by is the mark on the wood where the curtains were mounted which was on the inside on the top and on the outside on the sides and bottom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 30, 2003 Share Posted April 30, 2003 Since it is on the east coast do you know if it has a Cantrell body? They built wood bodies on many Dodge chassis and were located about a half mile from where I live. post a pic if you can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoadsterRich Posted April 30, 2003 Share Posted April 30, 2003 Might want to check with the DB Forum there are some experts around, perhaps one will be familiar with "Mr. Woodies" siblings, or at least a contemporary cousin or two. Just a thought... I do have them on ocassion despite popular opinion (hey I didn't say they were good ones <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> )RichPS: Miles (my 1930 Chrysler 77 Roadster) wants to know when Mr. Woody is driving to Florida for a visit. He says he's lonely and tired of talking to all the kids on the block. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 30, 2003 Share Posted April 30, 2003 I am emailing with a few good sources from DB and tried getting info from them 2 years ago on who made the body with no luck, actually had better luck here. It looks like a Cantrel but then again it looks like a Mifflinburg or could have been anyone. Don't want to post a picture...last time it ended up in a magazine so I had it removed, I will email you one if you promise not to publish it. As for going to Fl. Dad will have to let you know...it's his for the rest of his life then I'll get it back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoadsterRich Posted April 30, 2003 Share Posted April 30, 2003 Well my Dad says to tell you "Ya'll are welcome anytime." Miles is named after him as they were born darn near at the same time, give or take a month. I must admit that overall I get the most (and generally the best) responses here on the AACA Tech Forum.Rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 30, 2003 Share Posted April 30, 2003 Sounds like our Dads are the same age!! Thanks for all your help. I have a local guy who says he has some isinglass from a job he did about 20 years ago, I have to call him back tomorrow and see if he was able to locate the stuff in his shop, find out if it is flexible or solid and how much of it he has and what condition it is in. Without having the original curtains and knowing if they were rolled or removed and nobody who can tell me for a FACT which way they actually were, we may have to wing it and let Dad decide and if we are proven wrong some time in the future...we will deal with it and either replace them correctly or let them be. I'm glad it's not a Ford because it is extremely rare as a Dodge, but it would make my life easier if it was a Ford!! At least I would have something to compare it to and there are enough of them out there that majority could rule rather than speculation.I will get back to you tomorrow....Thanks again!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoadsterRich Posted April 30, 2003 Share Posted April 30, 2003 I know what you mean about Ford. When I bought Miles I was a bit naive. I was thinking "It's a Chrysler, parts won't be a problem". At times I wish it was a Ford as far as finding (and pricing) parts go, but all in all I'm vastly happier that it is a Chrysler, and a relatively scarce one at that. Interestingly there are roughly 30 I know of in existence (though a couple may be the same car with different owners over time.) Of those thirty there are three other ones within two hours of me, two of which are for sale. There also are two in England, three in New Zealand and one in Australia that I know of, and twenty two in the States. Unfortunately most of the ones around have been 'restored', which means you can't count on them for being original. People have certainly taken liberties. Chrysler Historical had all of about 10 photos of the car in their collection, unfortunately as it turns out, most were pre-production prototype photo's and also differ slightly from the production run units. Not a great deal of details in the photos either.Rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 1, 2003 Share Posted May 1, 2003 hi guys. I'm not having any luck. Check out site you recomended but the largest piece they have is 6" X 9" and that's too small. Have been on the WEB and on phone for 2 days. Checked out a ton of Antique and restoration places and got lots of referances and criss crossed the country at least a dozen times with no luck. Any other suggestions?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoadsterRich Posted May 1, 2003 Share Posted May 1, 2003 Come to think of it I don't recall ever seeing anything substantially sized made of isinglass... though my experience is limited. I recall it being used as lenses for lamps, in speakers/earphones, but never anything more than maybe 6x9 give or take in size. Bear in mind it may well have been, just in my lifetime I can't think of anything larger off the top of my head. All that I have seen is brittle and to some degree fragile, or at least subject to cracks/braking similar to glass. May have to go check with the expert tonight... Oh Dad... <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />Rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 1, 2003 Share Posted May 1, 2003 listen, while it is true isinglass was used for side curtains in the early years my research shows that it went out of fashion by WW1 and was replaced by the more flexible celluloid. Click on the above attachment that I shot from a '25 Sears catalogue that shows it, if you want I can send you 6 more ads for side curtain material plus some pages from Dyke's manual which specifically mentions celluloid, show 'em to your pop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 1, 2003 Share Posted May 1, 2003 One more thought. Most "woodies" {screensides, depot hacks, station wagons etc,} I remember had ROLL-UP side curtains, particularly Cantrell built ones. While some were detachable they also rolled up and were secured with small belt and buckle arrangements. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest leadfoot Posted May 2, 2003 Share Posted May 2, 2003 As I explained to Corinne, the regular DBs had side curtains with a flexible window material that I think was celluloid. The drawings I have to make my side curtains, whenever I get a complete set of correct rods, shows rather large areas for the side windows. And in use, you would tend to roll them up for storage in back of the front seat. These woodies were not made by DB, but my guess is that isinglass was not the best choice or as durable in automotive use by the mid 20s. She needs to print this thread out for her dad and quit wasting her time chasing mica. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 2, 2003 Share Posted May 2, 2003 Hi Ted, Nice of you to join us.....OK OK I give up!! So, do we use the plastic they put in the boats that is readily available or do I need to be really nice to someone who has some optically correct stuff from 30 years ago to see if he will share??? At least Dad can't say I didn't try hard enough, I'm just not a quitter, I get that from him.....Printing thread, will give to Mom tomorrow when we go out, to give to Dad and I AM DONE WITH THIS!! The next time you hear from me should be to say Dad and I will be bringing the car to a show to win first prize!! <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> Thanks again to ALL!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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