Re: steering wheel restoration

[MikeMarjot@aol.com]

Joe,

Bluemels supplied the 'bog standard' production steering wheel (all black
with a chrome centre plate with MG on it) for the TC. I presume they supplied
all variants of this wheel.

The Bluemels 'Brooklands' steering wheel was not supplied with a T-ABC series
car, they were all added as after market products (see Clausager). It is
quite possible this was done on occasion by MG agents before a car went to
its owner.

Mike Marjot

[joecurto@aol.com]

Mike thanks a lot, the wheel I have has the hub riveted just like my P type
wheel, after looking at it I may restore it for my TD, if my belly doesn't
get much bigger.

Joe

[Bob Grunau]

The steering wheels being described are the early home market original
steering wheels for the TC.
The black bakelite type coating is about 1/32" thick and covers the rim,
with finger indents, the complete three spokes and the center hub. The only
piece not covered is the center MG plate, which appears to be chrome or
nickel.
Bob

I also have what I think is the same wheel you have. Mine does not have any
black left on it at all but is all metal. The finger notches are molded
into the metal and it looks to almost be the full size without any coating.
If it is like yours, then someone has removed the coating from it and shined
up the metal. It came on the TC I am currently working on. I thought it
was some home made thing and never gave any thought to it being original
equipment. (Which it still may not be.) Hope someone can shed some light
on this wheel. Without the coating on it it looks like it came off a
CrissCraft boat.
Neil Nelson
Orange Park, Fl.

I have an original 3-spoke that I am in the process of restoring now. It
was originally black (including spokes). Most older wheels on American cars
that I've seen have a bakelite or plastic rim that surrounds a round metal
core and if the rim had finger notches on it, they were cast into the
bakelite/plastic. The TC rim I have has an all-metal rim with the finger
notches already pressed into the metal. The coating that was on the wheel
when I got the car was not a thick bakelite or cast plastic, but a very thin
layer of a black, rubber-like plastic coating that looked like it was merely
sprayed on, conforming to the wheel rim and its indentations.

I just got the wheel back last week from the welder who repaired minor
cracks in the rim (where the spokes join the rim). I will use a two-part
epoxy (PC-7 is the brand name) to smooth out and finish up this area.

Question: Am I to understand from the threads here lately that the
wheel rim thickness may have been made up of a thick bakelite or plastic
material and that the sprayed-on coating on mine is not what was on the
original wheel? It would be nice to know before I progress with this
project next week.

Regards,
Terry V.P.

[PMS GB Ltd]

Message text written by INTERNET:MikeMarjot@aol.com

>The Bluemels 'Brooklands' steering wheel was not supplied with a T-ABC

series
car, they were all added as after market products (see Clausager). It is
quite possible this was done on occasion by MG agents before a car went to
its owner.
Mike Marjot<
=======================================================
I believe that the Brooklands steering wheel Was a factory option on
the TB and TC - but I dont know about the TA? Anyone have definite
evidence from period accessory and special equipment lists please?

Clive Sherriff

[Art FitzGerald]

I've gone through the various TA literature that I have and the only
thing that I can find is a note in Barry Walker's 'Pre-War Parts Centre'
Catalogue which says: 'Optional equipment on all these models (J/L/K/P/N
and early TA) at time of manufacture' and 'TA from chassis TA 2882 (late
TA)'. The other literature on TAs and TB doesn't mention it.

Art
TA 2070

PMS GB Ltd wrote:

>
> Message text written by INTERNET:MikeMarjot@aol.com
> >The Bluemels 'Brooklands' steering wheel was not supplied with a T-ABC
> series
> car, they were all added as after market products (see Clausager). It is
> quite possible this was done on occasion by MG agents before a car went to
> its owner.
> Mike Marjot<
> =======================================================
> I believe that the Brooklands steering wheel Was a factory option on
> the TB and TC - but I dont know about the TA? Anyone have definite
> evidence from period accessory and special equipment lists please?
>
> Clive Sherriff

[Merv Hurley]

Art, I take it you are referring to the Brooklands wheel in your latest
email.

Does Barry Walker's 'Pre-War Parts Centre' catalogue specifically identify
the Brooklands wheel and give any description outside of the model
specifics you emailed.

I'm now convinced that the Brooklands wheel on my early 36 TA originally
came with the car. I'm basing my assumptions on the car's history and
because of NZ's geographical distance from Britain and the trouble it would
have been to acquire/import an accessory such as the Brooklands wheel
during the late 30s through into the 60s.

New Zealand's import restrictions on "luxury" items such as a Brooklands
wheel etc have only eased in the last 20 years. Now it's open slather but
before the 1960s the rigmarole and paperwork required to bring any
non-standard or luxury items into the country was so unweilding and time
consuming it put off even the most ardent enthusiast. You had to acquire an
import licence (these were doled out by the government), or arrange for
someone with an existing import licence in the category you were seeking to
purchase goods.

Regards

Mervyn Hurley
Auckland, New Zealand
"Maggie" 1936 MG TA #0657

=======================================================

>Subject: Re: [mg-tabc] steering wheel restoration
>
>I've gone through the various TA literature that I have and the only
>thing that I can find is a note in Barry Walker's 'Pre-War Parts Centre'
>Catalogue which says: 'Optional equipment on all these models (J/L/K/P/N
>and early TA) at time of manufacture' and 'TA from chassis TA 2882 (late
>TA)'. The other literature on TAs and TB doesn't mention it.
>
>Art
>TA 2070
>
>PMS GB Ltd wrote:
>> =======================================================
>> Message text written by INTERNET:MikeMarjot@aol.com
>> >The Bluemels 'Brooklands' steering wheel was not supplied with a T-ABC
>> series
>> car, they were all added as after market products (see Clausager). It is
>> quite possible this was done on occasion by MG agents before a car went to
>> its owner.
>> Mike Marjot<
>> =======================================================
>> I believe that the Brooklands steering wheel Was a factory option on
>> the TB and TC - but I dont know about the TA? Anyone have definite
>> evidence from period accessory and special equipment lists please?
>>
>> Clive Sherriff

[PMS GB Ltd]

Message text written by Art FitzGerald

>I've gone through the various TA literature that I have and the only

thing that I can find is a note in Barry Walker's 'Pre-War Parts Centre'
Catalogue which says: 'Optional equipment on all these models (J/L/K/P/N
and early TA) at time of manufacture' and 'TA from chassis TA 2882 (late
TA)'. The other literature on TAs and TB doesn't mention it.<
========================================================

Hi Art,

Thanks for that - That's selling technique for you!
Never let the facts mess up a good sales pitch!

Clive

[MikeMarjot@aol.com]

Clive,

I have not been in the game long enough to be definitive about anything! At
best I can regurgitate what others have said or recorded. Anders Clausager in
his 'Original MG T Series' lists the factory options for the TA and TB. They
do NOT include the option of a Brooklands steering wheel or any other. The
option list for the TC has only two items Luggage Carrier and Radio!! As I
said in my last e-mail the written evidence seems to preclude the factory
supplying the 'Brooklands' wheel. However it may well have been supplied by
the selling agent. University Motors for example did various things to make
their MGs specifically memorable (e.g. number plates).

However if a keen sportsman got a T he might well want to improve it straight
away, though the story about the NZ car does give one food for thought!

Incidentally the Service Parts List for the TA / TB has two steering wheels
shown. The first for the earlier TAs the second for the later TAs and the TB.
These must be the TA wheel which had partly chromed spokes and the second the
TB/TC type wheel with the all black spokes. It does seem to show that the
last 350 to 400 TAs had the TB wheel, as it was introduced at chassis TA 2882
- interesting! No sign of the 'Brooklands' wheel here.

Theoretically MG would (in earlier cars prior to the T series) meet a
client's special requirements, if this still went on with the Ts it doesn't
seem to have been recorded officially anywhere!

Mike

[Art FitzGerald]

Clive -- you're spot on!

PMS GB Ltd wrote:

>
> Message text written by Art FitzGerald
> >I've gone through the various TA literature that I have and the only
> thing that I can find is a note in Barry Walker's 'Pre-War Parts Centre'
> Catalogue which says: 'Optional equipment on all these models (J/L/K/P/N
> and early TA) at time of manufacture' and 'TA from chassis TA 2882 (late
> TA)'. The other literature on TAs and TB doesn't mention it.<
> ========================================================
>
> Hi Art,
>
> Thanks for that - That's selling technique for you!
> Never let the facts mess up a good sales pitch!
>
> Clive

[Ray McCrary]

They made Plummels and Applejackmels, too!
Ray McCrary
"Speed is Life;
of course Luck and Altitude
are helpful, too."

----- Original Message -----
From:
To: ;
Sent: Wednesday, November 08, 2000 7:15 AM
Subject: Re: [mg-tabc] steering wheel restoration


> Checking my "Pile O Wheels" and see a steering wheel similar to yours with
3
> solid chrome spokes like a home market wheel the center has a chrome ring
> riveted to the hub and the hub it self is tall like a TC but it has an
> adjuster just like a Big Healey (hand nut) and it is made by Blummels, I
> guess Blummels made other wheels than their "Brooklands" type.
>
> Joe Curto
>
>
>