1934 Le Mans door buffer

[casadecabra]

I would be grateful if someone could explain the construction of the buffer/bumper (for want of better words) on the sill underneath the Le Mans doors. The pictures show the remnants of mine - a mortise in the wooden sill covered by a chromium plated steel plate with a rectancular cut out with 'ears' at each end.

Should there be matching striking plates on the bottom of the doors?

David B

[steves]

Hi David!
There is a "roller" fitted in two L-shaped brass angles (screwed on to the sill wood member).
And yes, there is a screwed on (2 diagonally placed screws), slightly wedge shaped chromed brass
plate 1 1/4" x 1 1/4" on the door underside, designed to come in contact with the "roller".
Best,
Steve

[Peter McKercher]

The roller cradle is two pieces. One piece forms the cradle and there is a second piece of spring metal (not shown here) that keeps the roller buoyant. The latter usually corrodes and breaks or becomes too brittle to function. The roller itself is a piece of rubber tube with a pin/axle through it which floats up and down in the slots at each end of the cradle. There are washers at either end to keep the rubber from rubbing on the metal cradle sides. On the underside of the door there is a metal wedge that allows the door to lift on the roller as it closes.

[jeans_old_man]

I only remember a single piece of metal which I think was chrome plated. The roller is intended to support the weight of the door and a brass plate screwed to the bottom of the door rolls over it. I made my roller out of hose pipe and the metal bracket out of stainless steel.

[Peter McKercher]

I'm guessing after 1934 Singer realized how useless the spring was.

[Peter McKercher]

The complete assembly. Note the spring metal piece that allows the roller to apply pressure. It is notched on either end and fits into a groove in the pin that goes through the roller.

[jeans_old_man]

The design seems a bit OTT. If the spring is too strong it won't rotate. Too weak and it won't support the weight of the door. I can only assume it is there as an 'anti-rattle' device unless it's to facilitate assembly. A plain shaft running in round holes works fine.

[casadecabra]

Thanks to everyone who responded to my queries about the door support. Until I saw the pictures I didn’t have a clue what it could look like.

By scaling the pictures I worked out the approximate dimensions and have made some sketches which may come in useful if anyone else wants to make them. Please note that this is my interpretation and I cannot guarantee its accuracy, but my finished items appears to look and work like the photos though I have yet to try them in practice.
A more original alternative for the roller would be a rubber covered metal cylinder, but Delrin was to hand and should (I think) be a suitable alternative. Likewise I used stainless steel for the frame because I had some available. Here in Spain it can be an expensive nightmare trying to get small quantities of raw materials, especially since Brexit complicated everything.

I found that the slots in the frame could be cut easily with a hacksaw after making the first two bends (Frame1). A hacksaw was also used to cut the grooves in the spindle while rotating it in a lathe. Adjust the length of the roller so that it rotates freely when assembled in the frame.

I have also attached a dimensioned picture showing the cut-out in an original sill plate. Note that the mortise in the wooden sill to accommodate the support should have a drain hole drilled through the bottom.

Steve says that the striking plates on the underside of the door are 1 ¼”” x 1 ¼” but the woodwork of my door (an early 1934 Le Mans) is only 1” thick. Can anyone supply a picture please?

David B

[Phillip]

Beautifully done!

These items are very often rusted rubbish, or missing!

Would be great to have a batch made up for those of us who are originalists...

[Peter McKercher]

Very nice job on the buffers Dave. Here's a shot of the original wedge, chrome plated brass. It is 1 1/4" square and thickness is approx 3/16" before it tapers. Note this is on my '34 Nine Sports.

My '34 Nine Le Mans is slightly different in that the door frame is thinner than the Sports at the wedge mounting location - it is 1". I don't have an original wedge for this, but given the thickness of the door frame, I would assume the wedge on the Le Mans would be 1" square. I think that corresponds with your situation.

[mikeyr]

its interesting because the gentleman building my 34 body said the rollers were not original, he has seen them on many cars but when the timbers and hinges are good, the roller is not needed. Since I didn't have rollers originally in my 34 (no cutouts in the timber or sheet metal), I opted to not put them in my new body. He did say he has seen them in enough cars to wonder if they were a option new because many cars have them, I can guarantee mine never did as I know those are the original timbers and there is no cutout for a roller.

Now that I have seen how to build them however I might opt to put them in. Later of course since the doors and wood body is done already along with some sheet metal already done.

[Peter McKercher]

They weren't on my Le mans originally either, so I opted not to put them on. The Le Mans doors are considerably smaller than on the Sports as well, so likely aren't really necessary. In addition, if one two inch bolt is used in the top hinge, rather than a third screw, the hinges should keep the door nice and tight.

[jeans_old_man]

Interestingly, on the 1 1/2 Sports the plates and the timbers have the square hole but the rollers have never been fitted. The Vynide that tucks under the plate is intact and there are no sign of screw holes in the wood.

[Phillip]

My '1936 Le Mans is very original and has the petrified remains of the rollers so they have been there since new.

My 1933 Sports was not fitted with rollers. Sheet metal and wood was all original. It has a different style of rubber door buffers as well.

My 1934 Sport, again an extremely original car, has had the rollers fitted from new. The body has never been tampered with.