Tudor seat question

Super88

Super88

Senior Member
I'm currently working on a pair of front seats for a 1930 Tudor. It's obvious the seats have been either reupholstered or repaired in the past 96 years, due to finding staples and two different sizes of finishing nails, along with more tacks than necessary anchoring the fabric.

On both bottom seat cushions, the springs were covered with a metal mesh. I have never seen this type of mesh used or mentioned in any forum post, book, or Model A video and was wondering if this was from the factory, or a repair or reupholster job done in the past. Photos attached.
 

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That type of mesh was used to make beds years ago. I've used it when covering seats too but it is a lot of work to tie it in place nicely. In this application, (Tudor) it was probably put in there in an effort to improve the horrible shape of Tudor seats. You sit ON them, not IN them. The passenger rolls about on it with little or no way to stabilise themselves.
 
Synchro909 it's definitely nasty stuff to work with. In some areas it was just wrapped around the top perimeter wire. In others it was wrapped around and then covered with a tubular clip that was squeezed around the wire and wrap.
 
When I redid my late 31 front seats it had something similar but with smaller openings in the what I call chain mall, I didn’t reuse it, I replaced it with burlap double or triple layered, the small wire would poke my but and that wasn’t comfortable
 
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I found an easy way of removing staples. Use a Dremel with a cutoff wheel. They disappear in no time. I also used this technique on the interior wood pieces and the roof bows. Be safe where safety glasses.
 
On page 104 of The Ford Model "A" as Henry Built it, there is a cutaway picture of a Tudor sedan. Look closely at the driver's seat. To me it is apparently the mesh in question. Through decades I have seen many model A seats with this mesh. When I re-upholstered my 30 Tudor I got rid of the coil springs on the front seat cushions. I have multiple spinal issues and could no longer drive my car. I built a box framework from alder and used No sag (zig-zag) springs. The car is a joy to drive now. No more rolling around and sore back.
 
When I redid my seats LeBaron-Bonney sent instructions, which I followed to a T. I cut that wire mesh outta there. I recall having to go buy some denim at a material shop. Heck it's been 40 years ago.

I have always heard that the front seats in the fordors are way more comfortable.
 
I had that chain mesh on my tudor front seats, but it was falling apart. I removed it and installed two layers of burlap and then top that with a piece of automotive carpet and hog ringed it around the edge . I also installed two new bottom seats springs from Snyder's and when I put it together, the springs were too soft for my 220 pounds and I did feel like I was sitting on a beach ball I took them back apart and installed foam in all the springs. I can't tell you what kind of foam it was because it was left over from replacing the outer edge of a sleep number bed with new foam. all I can say is for me and my wife it totally changed the seat cushions and made it possible for us to ride longer more comfortable with much less pain.
 
Thanks everyone for the replies.
Dennis lumbert, could you provide a little more information about how you put the foam in the springs? Did you put foam in each turn of the coil or stuff it down the middle of the coil?
 
Super88 said:
Thanks everyone for the replies.
Dennis lumbert, could you provide a little more information about how you put the foam in the springs? Did you put foam in each turn of the coil or stuff it down the middle of the coil?
Click to expand...

I realise that question is not directed to me but (not wanting to insult Super88), I wouldn't use foam. It deteriorates over time till you are left with only powder. I have had to stuff the coil springs in the past and used thick (about 1/2 inch thick) felt. I cut a strip about as wide as the diameter of the springs, maybe a little narrower and zig zagged it through the spring. I was shown that method by an old school motor trimmer.
 
Super88 said:
Thanks everyone for the replies.
Dennis lumbert, could you provide a little more information about how you put the foam in the springs? Did you put foam in each turn of the coil or stuff it down the middle of the coil?
Click to expand...
The foam I used was thicker than the tallest spring, what I did was cut the foam into a hexagon shape cylinder that was as large as the biggest part of the spring, and I compressed the foam and rolled it on a table with saran wrap to hold it into a tight roll, then I inserted the foam into the spring and pull the saran wrap off of it, releasing it into the spring. After this, I trim the top of the foam even with the top of the seat spring put two layers of burlap over the top of the seat, spring and hog rigged it down then I covered it with a layer of automotive carpet and hog ringed that down around the edge of this frame of the spring and wrapped duct tape over the edge.
I did this over four years ago and I haven't had any issues with it so far I'm very happy
 

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I used an electric kitchen knife to cut the foam and trimmed the excess off flush with the top of the spring assembly before putting on the burlap.
 
Well,after I tried stuffing them in there I soon realized it wasn't going to work,I guess its true that necessity is the mother of invention,something my Dad was very talented at.
Thanks for the kind words ronn!
 
My Tudor front seats are in excellent condition but its like setting on a large ball after a few hours. I found a set of front seats out of a Lincon Centennial and did some adapting on the bottom of the Lincon seats. So now if I want to change them back all I have to do is pull the hinge pins on the bottom and put the originals back in. Changed the rideing comfort about 100%. The Lincon seats were leather and matched the originals in color.
 
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