My 59A seats

[MMW]

Yes! I would have made sure there was tie downs sewn in for the crease. I have read all I can find on these seats before I ordered & so many people have not tied them down & been happy plus K&H where I got them from also said it is unnecessary. To anyone doing this, make sure there are tie downs sewn in.

Another issue I figured out last night is the big difference between the horse hair pads & the foam pads. The horse hair is much firmer overall & therefore spreads out the load more evenly over all the springs. My springs may be fine with horse hair but not with the foam pads.

[Jack Staggs]

Actually that "horse hair" is coconut husk fibers and glue/guck

[MMW]

Finished one back. I un-tacked & stretched it a little different. It helped but not perfect. I already spent to much time on it so I decided to lace it together. Came out good in my opinion other than I couldn't find the right color cord so I got black. It's all covered by the hinge & it is secure. I'm sure an interior guy will laugh.
From this.



To this. I laced from top to bottom & tucked in the knot. I first had the knot at the top but it interfered with the hinge sitting flat.

[bbspdstr]

"Actually that "horse hair" is coconut husk fibers and glue/guck"
Actually, those were indigenous German coconuts, closely related to those of the British Isles. As seen in Monty Python's "Holy Grail," those coconut shells, after the fibers were harvested for seat pads, became horse's hooves sound effects.

Seriously, if you see an original seat that is not 'tied down' laterally mid-bottom, the cord broke.........

As far as 'spreading the load' with firmer pads than softer upholstery foam, the covers from AI are wonderful for appearance because they are very firm in construction to cover the usual ~50 year old weaknesses underneath. Thus, when installed, those seats are usually put on a piece of cardboard on the floor and jumped on with knees to loosen them up, otherwise, they feel nothing like an original seat and more like a parkbench.

[MMW]

Thank you to all who have chimed in. Who would of thought that we are on page 9 already.

[roy mawbey]

Bruce,

Had to grin about the park bench! That was an answer to a question running around in my head. The seats look perfect but how hard actually are they after the work.

I bought two circa 1780 Georgian dining room chairs many years ago now. I disliked the old seat covering on these mahogany chairs, so with a book from the libary I stripped them down to the frame. The padding WAS REAL HORSE HAIR!! Tightly bound together with age and dirt. I teased the hair apart till it was 3 times the size of when I removed it. It must have been a black horse or very dark brown. Finally replaced it and the seats are now perfect.

But, maybe 6 years ago I read a thread probably on the registry about horse hair and the 356 front seats. I then thought ah! I know all about horse hair but, it had me a little foxed. Horse hair and 47,000 356 cars. How many horses lost their hair? Were they all put out to nice field and when they passed they went to Reutter? Or did the French who actually eat them send the hair to Reutter?

It was with some suprise a little while later I saw the seat backs inserts hard and stiff to my impression, being called horse hair So,I have wondered and wondered about sitting on one with new inserts. Finally Bruce do you think the guys at Reutter had a specialist heavyweight man that had to come along when the seat was finished and sit on it for while drinking a beer and having his lunch to break it in.

Do you know I have never sat in a restored seat although the vinyl seat pad ( only the area you sit on ) I did have replaced around 25 years ago because the vinyl stitching had split on seams. I would like to know how people find them. Mine, still original underneath the seat pad is probably too soft now the same with the uprights, I have to hoover up now from time to time the orange dust from I guess the original pads which a slowly breaking up.

Roy

[MMW]

Got one seat back together. The bottom will need to come apart for a re-tie as the crease is not pulled down enough. As it is now it's going in the car as I have a few events the next three weekends. Only wish I had time to get the drivers seat done right now. Oh well.

To tie down the crease I sewed in strings where the crease meets the bolsters. I understand that the factory also had strings attached toward the center more. I couldn't figure out how to sew it in there. Where the two seams meet I was able to insert a string & sew it. I cut the strings 24" & doubled it over so once sewed I ended up with two strings 12" each. I then fed them through the seat pad which I put into the cover & both of them over the springs. I pulled one end through the loop on the base & tied it to the other end on the same side.










Here is the tie down loop on the seat base.

[MMW]

A little out of order but here is the foam arrangement now. Again I took Jacks advice of adding to the bolsters & removing some from the center. These are cut from 3" thick foam. The center/inner pcs. are 3" tall by 2" x 2" cubes stacked as needed. Usually three per spring. The outer ones I cut strips of the same foam to make 2" x 3" x 6" pcs. It feels a little stiff to me like you sit on it more than in it. Not bad at all though, nothing like a park bench. My son who is 6'2" & a little over 200 pounds says it feels great. When I do the drivers seat I will use a little less foam in the center area to see how that is. There is no magic here, just trial & error.



Here is the finished seat. Took longer than expected but now the second one should go much smoother.







Here is the before pic.

[roy mawbey]

Seat looks good Mic, well done.

Roy

[JR]

Concur MIC!
Well Done!

Did you say that you are going to Reading?
I am upposed to take the Roadster to Lufteknic's on Thursday, unless the plans change, so they can load it and take it up there.
I hope it presents OK up there with the pros!
Dick

[MMW]

Yes I plan on going to Hershey. Will they be displaying your car at their booth or will it be in the peoples choice show? I will try to get some pictures of it.

[JR]

Hey MIC,
If they take it it will be at their tent (booth)!
This was their tent display at last years RPM here in Richmond.
Chris Speedster is on the right, but it is down getting a new Autos Int interior at home.



Back of Chris Speedster



'Talking' with 'The Lady Of The House' after RPM 2013.
:>))



Its a rotten job guys, but somebody has to do it!

Dick

[bbspdstr]

Mic, of course it depends on the foam density used, but if I was asked for a comment (and I realize I've not been) I would say you have a little too much green foam as shown in the picture above. I used as much a long time ago and as you say, it's trial and error and I had to remove every other one or shorten most. It's like the 3 bears thing....some can be too much, less can be too little...it needs to be 'just right.'
Now and for 36 years I have had Jim Quartermus do those seats for me. He bought covers from Autos and dissected them to see what they did and made a compromise so they look good but are not too stiff and yes, he uses foam 'rod' or pieces in the coils as needed.
They (and we) sag some after 50 years with gravity.
Mic, that's great work. I'll send my stuff to you when Jimmy finally hangs up his Pfaff.
Hope to see you and everyone at Hershey a week from now.
-Bruce

[JR]

MIC,
Cancel my last!
;<((
The Roadster isn't going due to a lack of a enclosed trailer.
They will be taking a older and nice 911 with a 3.8 engine on a open trailer, the 1956 VW bus with the 3.2 Porsche engine and running gear and a Porsche that is coming in from NY.
Stop by and say hi to them and mention my name.
They should have some goodies there!
Dick

[MMW]

Bruce or anyone. Don't ever think that because I don't specifically ask that I don't value your advice or comments. I am like a sponge just soaking it all in & appreciate it all. It is hard to believe that you guys used to do all of this before the internet. I would have been lost sometimes or made major errors. It is because of everyone sharing their knowledge that makes things great! And of course to people like Justin who provide the outlet to do so! Thank you all.