LeBaron Bonney mess up

[midgetracer]

I have bought three interior kits and three convertible tops from LeBaron Bonney and some misc parts. Cam in sales is the best. I have also had interactions with their QA department with very good results. I have not personally purchased one of the "lower priced" kits from the other national company, but have seen their quality in cars I have worked on. LeBarron Bonney is and will be my first choice in upholstery kits. It does pain me to see their good name blasted on a site that caters to Model A restorers

 

[C26Pinelake]

I have bought three interior kits and three convertible tops from LeBaron Bonney and some misc parts. Cam in sales is the best. I have also had interactions with their QA department with very good results. I have not personally purchased one of the "lower priced" kits from the other national company, but have seen their quality in cars I have worked on. LeBarron Bonney is and will be my first choice in upholstery kits. It does pain me to see their good name blasted on a site that caters to Model A restorers

There was no need for the blasting. The matter was grandstanded for no logical purpose other than to showcase and embarrass a vendor that has been very good to our hobby. It could have been settled between the parties concerned and not brought to this forum. If I were LB I would refuse to sell to this Customer in the future. I would blacklist him. Wayne

 

[GPierce]

I was unaware that US Customs was in Toronto or had any jurisdiction there!

You clear US customs in Toronto when flying into the US. That allows the airline to fly directly to many airports without customs. Makes good sense when you think about.

 

[C26Pinelake]

You clear US customs in Toronto when flying into the US. That allows the airline to fly directly to many airports without customs. Makes good sense when you think about.

Yes and you leave your contraband and illegal immigrants in anothe country. Wayne

 

[32 chevy vett]

The club took a tour to LaBaron Bonney back in the 80's and they could not have been better. My wife and I went to order a kit for the A. We worked with Carla
she showed us what upholstery went with the color paint we picked. She told me I would get a E-mail in four weeks. And they would send it or I could pick it up.
I talked with others in the office all were very nice same as in the 80's when we took the tour.

 

[tbirdtbird]

the 80s were along time ago

 

[C26Pinelake]

Obviously the poster realized he had no support and his criticism was in very poor taste. He removed his initial post after subjecting LB to unwarranted criticism. I do indeed hope they refuse to sell to him in the future. LB has been a fine friend to our hobby for many years. Wayne.

In my opinion, a written apology and person to person apology is in order. Will it happen? not likely!

 

[C26Pinelake]

Michael:

I may be alone in my thinking, but I can't help wondering why you felt the need to broadcast to the world that LeBaron Bonney misapplied a shipping label. And in the process of doing so you also broadcast to the world your name, your address and your phone number. Thieves are often willing to pay for such information to use in their quest to steal your identity. I suspect that they appreciate your willingness to provide it so generously to so many of them.

You also broadcast to the world the innocent intended recipient's name, address, email address and phone number.

Since you promptly asked for a refund of the erroneous charge, I trust you have been equally quick in returning to LeBaron Bonney the door handle that you did not order and have no apparent intention of purchasing.

What were you thinking when you created the post?

What did you hope to accomplish?

And to be clear, I have no affiliation whatsoever with LeBaron Bonney. But it does pain me to see a company that is working hard to support our hobby be pilloried for misapplying an address label.

I don't know about you, but despite my efforts I still make mistakes.

Timothy

We share the exact sentiments. The post did more harm than good and was self serving. Wayne

 

[C26Pinelake]

A follow-up to the previous post above.

Went on to the LeBaron Bonney WEB site. Haven't referenced anything about that company in decades. By casual observation, the slick aspect of info presentation just looks detached from the personal direct style LeBaron Bonney company that we knew long ago.

Also, find the background information as presented on the WEB site to be not only incorrect but looks to be cooked up nonsense. This might indicate that the company is no longer owned and operated by the original family. Lee Atherton, owner and founder of LeBaron Bonney Company was a member of the North Shore Old Car Club of which I was also an active member from the later 1960s. In those days, we had personalized tours of the LeBaron Bonney company shops with Lee Atherton as guide. Lee was a friendly and very personable man. He was a furniture upholstery by trade and had expertly translated those skills into vintage automotive interiors and top coverings.

As recalled, Lee explained to us that by the mid-1950s, the Atherton brothers furniture upholstery business had been mostly changed over to doing custom and vintage automobile interiors. By that period, the relatively small ancient carriage factory complex was booked with upholstery work months in advance. Sometime during the 1950s, due to volumes of requests, the mail order side of the business ramped-up to become the main aspect. LeBaron Bonney worked out the fabrication of interior kits for Model A and then V8 Ford cars. During that period, domestic U.S. sources for fabric materials such as proper mohair had dried up. Lee Atherton then traveled to England to source out reliable suppliers for the purchase of correct color and style matched natural fabric materials. With the United Kingdom like other industrial nations, the traditional mill factories were by the 1960s rapidly disappearing. By the 1970s, keeping a steady supply for mohair material became a continuous problem. LeBaron Bonney products were always high quality and the standard by which all others were measured.

A casual look at their current WEB site might make a person figure that this outfit is probably now not Lee Atherton's once beloved LeBaron Bonney.

And the obvious question.....what does if matter who owns it ( Henry no longer owns Ford ) ? Wayne