Progress

[telco.2]

Thanks for that detail Brian. Gary, who will be doing the hood reckoned that the wooden top rail would probably have been covered in hood material originally. He said he had seen that way of doing it on many other '30's vehicles.
But, like you, I'm not sure about the metal strip either. The one I have is definitely original as the screw holes line up with those on an old hood rail, but the chrome looks a bit ott somehow...??? Paint it?? could be a way...watch this space

[Phillip]

Hey Bill,

Certainly agree with Brian's description on how the top rail goes on the 4 seaters.

Header Rail and Cover+WEB.jpg (141.32 KiB) Viewed 3999 times

Here's a photo of an original wooden header rail and two of the chromed front covers. One is 1933 and one 1934.

The 'peg & socket' design was introduced on the Sports 4 seater for the 1934 model, along with a long list of other refinements and improvements. The '33 windscreen had a grooved casting that took a spring-loaded rod with a large knurled knob on the end. It wasn't very secure! I can dig out samples if anyone wants photos.

Fixing Lug and Overlap_WEB.jpg (151.5 KiB) Viewed 3999 times

Here's the peg with the original 1934 wooden rail. You can see how it is shaped to fit the windscreen top curve and is rebated to take the hood frame brackets. The chromed front cover overlaps the windscreen as can be seen in the photo. I had to fill in the screw holes as they had enlarged. There was the remains of hood material on it so I also think that was quite possibly how it was originally done. As mentioned, there are two Lift-The- Dot pegs screwed into the sides of the windscreen to take the front corners of the hood and to help hold it to the windscreen frame. I have never seen this style of L-O-D peg on any other car and it is nothing like the repros available now. It has a very slight hex at its base. These were used on Singer sports cars all the way up to the end of Roadster production.

Windscreen Socket and Knob_WEB.jpg (93.84 KiB) Viewed 3999 times

Here is the socket casting and knurled locking knob that keeps the peg in place. I was amused to discover that this knob is identical to the ones used on my '28 Senior to lock the windscreen open or closed!

The 'peg & socket' system continued on through to the end of Sports 4 seater production, but in 1935 the wiper motor was moved to the top of the windscreen and tandem wipers were fitted. The '33 and '34 cars had a single wiper with a 'spin it and see' motor and single wiper on the driver's side only.

The Le Mans never had the sockets or pegs and relied on a line of Lift-The-Dot pegs across the front top rail of the windscreen. This model always had the wiper motor at the top of the 'screen and had tandem wipers.

Hope that helps!

[telco.2]

Thanks for the details Philip - I'm sure we'll be able to work something out from them. Mine has two "wing bolts" which came with the car and screw into the sockets on the screen - so I'll stick with them.

[telco.2]

Well, one way or another we get there! I made the two pegs for the hood-to-screen fixing in stainless to save the cost of re-chroming. Hope they work OK but I won't know for a few weeks until the hood is finished.

[ColinB]

Nice work Bill!

[telco.2]

Pretty special day today! First time on the road since 1956...the car not me!

[Peter McKercher]

Love it. Absolutely gorgeous.

[Phillip]

Fantastic! Almost a twin of my own '34 Sports!
Congrats! Enjoy the ride!

[Phillip]

How does it go with that six in it???

[ColinB]

Great work Bill - the car looks absolutely stunning!

[telco.2]

Tyres: has anyone tried Blockleys on the front wheels of a 9 sports? I thought they looked a better section than other triple studs which are available from Longstone. But is the section too big for under wing clearance?
More news on my project shortly...I've hit a snag

[Phillip]

The Blockleys are a larger with a more square section and profile but will fit the Nine Sports OK. The issue is that the tyres don't fit in the Le Mans spare wheel pans as they are too wide
I lobbied Blockley to make 450x18's some years ago and have met with both Blockley and Longstone. The Longstone is based on the correct form of an original 30's triple stud made before 'baloon' tyres came into fashion so they look quite narrow and small compared to the chunky Blockleys.
If I recall, the Blockley is 450/500x18 and the Longstone is 400/450x18
My '34 Sports is slated for Longstones but I don't buy tyres until near the end of the restoration

[jeans_old_man]

Yes, bought the 4.50/5.00 Blockleys after years running on 4.75/500 and struggling to find a well worn tyre to fit inside the spare wheel cover of my long tail. They are perfect - not as skinny as 4.50 and yet a good fit in the spare wheel well.

I am still experimenting with tyre pressures but 27 psi seems the best so far.

[ColinB]

Nice car Brian!

[telco.2]

Hi Brian,
thanks for your reply; they certainly look good on your car and very 'period'. I think with having the bigger engine in mine they will do better than other makes of triple stud - which look nearer 3.50/4.00 to me.