Model T roof materials

bryan25modelt

New member
I'm working on a '25 coupe and I hope that I'm in the home stretch. I have installed the slats over the ribs now I have to cover it so I don't get rained on.
What material is used for the roof of the Model T?
1. What is stretched across the slats
2. Does any sort of padding/filler go on before the final top material?

I'd appreciate any and all information/suggestions.

Bryan
 
I'm not certain if Ford put the slat material on coupes but it shouldn't be a concern since they did the sedans that way. I'm not sure if they made the slats flush with the bows or not.

The general procedure should be the same for most closed cars. A layer of muslin material is layed down first and can be fastened around the perimeter like topping to keep wrinkles at bay. A thin layer of cotton or other long lasting padding is layed down over that to prep for the topping material which is layed down over that while fastening & removing wrinkles as you go around the perimeter. An appropriate welting will hide the edge.

Hopefully someone with more experience on your specific model can add their own ideas if this wasn't the way it was done originally.
 
this is being discussed on the A forum regarding a huckster. similar advice given.....

the cotton batten will give "tension" to the black grained topping material used.
Not sure if short or long grained material is correct. Someone please chime in.
 
My preference, because the kit's topping does not look right, is to go to the boat shop to pick the outer cover. Over the batting a layer of fiberglass insulation.
 
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