Re: steering wheel restoration

[JohnHWSteedman@aol.com]

I have just had my original 3-spoke steering wheel restored and am delighted
with the result. It needed a fair amount of welding, plus recovering in that
black plasticky (?) covering. They also rechromed the centre plate. It
took a little time, but the wait and cost was worth it.

My thanks to:

Wheelrights
L.V. & C. Spares,
The Warehouse
Baxtergate, off Lord Street,
Morecambe,
Lancashire LA4 5HX,
UK

Tel: (44) 01524 423453
Fax: (44) 01524 831953

I naturally have no business connection with these guys, - I just like to
spread the word on good service, there's plenty of the other sort around.

John

[sculptart@aol.com]

To All,
Does anyone have experience with a quality steering wheel restoration
firm? I have an original TC steering wheel that is needing re-chrome and a
recast of the rim. I have the address of a firm in Florida,"Automotive
Specialties," and I am looking for other price quotes. Thanks to all, Ben
Cordsen, TC 4260.

[JohnHWSteedman@aol.com]

If you mean the original TC three-spoke steering wheel with central chrome
medallion, I can recommend:

Lancaster Vintage & Classic Spares
The Warehouse
Baxtergate
Morecambe
Lancashire LA4 5HX

Tel (44) 1524 423453, FAX (44) 1524 831953

Excellent work, mine cost 140 ($220?)

If you mean the 4-spoke "Brooklands" wheel. You can still buy new from
Kimble Engineering in the UK.

JOhn Steedman, TC0301

[KEN PORTER]

Ben:
I got my original wheel done by Bill Peters. See listing in the Gallery. BTW
the original wheel has no chrome. The spokes, rim and hub are black. Only the
center medalion is chrome. It's easier to replace the medalion than rechrome
but get the one from Abingdon Spares as the Moss one is incorrect.
Ken TC 4147

sculptart@aol.com wrote:

> To All,
> Does anyone have experience with a quality steering wheel restoration
> firm? I have an original TC steering wheel that is needing re-chrome and a
> recast of the rim. I have the address of a firm in Florida,"Automotive
> Specialties," and I am looking for other price quotes. Thanks to all, Ben
> Cordsen, TC 4260.

[Monoxidemanor@aol.com]

Dear Ben:

We have used the following company with good results:

Koch's
26943 Reuther, Unit M
Canyon Country, California 91351

Phone: 805-252-9264

The company is owned by Reuben and Theresa Koch.

The first wheel they restored was five years ago on our 1932 RR 20/25 which
took first place at the 1999 Santa Barbara Concours. They also did our
Brooklands TA wheel and one of our RR Ghosts. Give them a call. They stand by
their work. If you don't like something, send it back and they will make it
right.

Kindest regards,

Alan & Victoria Campbell

[sculptart@aol.com]

I have been checking around and have found the prices for a steering
wheel recast are priced from $410.00 (Automotive Specialties) , to $600.00
(Bill Peters). These prices do not include stripping and rechroming at approx
$65.00-$100.00, plus shipping. Those of you that have the "original" type of
steering wheel better lock them up at night!
I am in the business of mold making and casting bronze, pewter, and
urethane plastics...I think I have found a new direction to take my business!
This next month I will be laying up the mold for a TC steering wheel.
Fortunately I have another restored wheel that I will use for the master mold
and I will be able to pressure cast one myself. I expect all will come out
just fine and I will post the results to the list upon completion.
Thank you to everyone that responded to my request, Ben Cordsen, TC 4260.

[sculptart@aol.com]

Jim,
I will see how it goes and also how the material holds up. The specs. for
the casting material seem to be rather stable and I expect no problems. The
biggest question will be the amount of time I spend on this...I tend to be a
bit of a perfectionist when it comes to the TC.
After I finish, I will post to the t-abc site. BTW, which steering wheel
do you have?
Starting with the TA, and based on period photographs I have found no less
than 4 different versions of the Bluemel wheel used. A three spoke solid
black was original to the TBs and earliest TCs. This solid black was also
most commonly seen on the home market cars. Later on, about mid '46, the ones
with the 1/2 chrome spokes and black rim were used for export versions. The
last variant was the EXU for the United States that was of a pearl gold
color, 1/2 chrome spokes. I haven't even tried to catalog the after-market
steering wheels, but the most common seems to be the 4 spoke Brookland wheel
with a black rim and occasionally the mottled brown or gold pearl colors.
I have a feeling during the post war period of austerity no set rules
applied in the assembly methods and the factory used anything that would get
the car out of the door and on to a customer. This makes for great fun in
trying to determine "originality."
Ben Cordsen

[CFritz7001@aol.com]

From what I've seen, when it comes to TAs,TBs, and especially TCs, the
"Originality" of a given car is often more like "Individuality" than
"Uniformity"
Regards to all,
Carl Fritz
Gainesville, Florida

[PMS GB Ltd]

Message text written by INTERNET:sculptart@aol.com

> I haven't even tried to catalog the after-market

steering wheels, but the most common seems to be the 4 spoke Brookland
wheel
with a black rim and occasionally the mottled brown or gold pearl colors.<
===========================================================

There was another Brooklands Wheel colour - a mid to light marbled grey
which
was only fitted to the Grey Metalic finished TBs. My originally metalic
greyTB
still had the remains of one when I bought it.

Clive

[Dave Norris]

I have one of the chrome spoke, gold pearl effect steering wheels on my car.
Has anyone managed to successfully reproduce this effect/finish with modern
materials? Ben, which type of wheel are you taking a mould from?
Cheers,
Dave
Aberdeen
TC9964