Hi Mike;
I would agree with Chris on the matter of how many hides one is likely to
need. In fact it may not even be as much as 1 1/2 hides given that it is
only the seat faces, and possibly the arm rests, that would use the leather.
The door panels and the outside backs would more then likely be vinyl. Even
in the old days before vinyl it was a common practice to use oil cloth or
some form of patent leather on things like door panels and such to keep the
costs down on a production car. I am sure that with something like one of
the limousines or one of the salon era Imperials you could probably have
leather everything if you asked for it but they were absolutely top notch.
By the way those of you that think that leather is the most expensive
interior material should price out mohair. A hide of leather will give you
roughly 40 square feet and cost about $300, mohair starts at $200 a yard and
that is for the cheap kind. Now you know why they used it in the back seats
of old limousines while the chauffeur sat on leather.
Best Regards
Arran Foster
1954 Imperial Newport
Needing A left Side Taillight Bezel and other trim parts.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Chris Hawkins" <imperial1966@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, April 03, 2002 8:44 AM
Subject: Re: IML: How Many Hides for a 1965 Convertible?
>
> I bought several hides of russet colored leather
> recently. One is used as throw cover over the seats
> of my NY wagon. It is so big, I have to fold it in
> half or there is too much extra hanging over the edges
> of the large bench seat. Hides are about 40-50 square
> feet. 15 hides is a preposterous number,unless you
> are upholstering a 35-seat bus. Perhaps 1.5 hides was
> the intended number, although I can see the
> possibility of 3 smallish hides being needed.
>
> Only the seat surfaces are leather. With a couple of
> exceptions, the remainder of the upholstered surfaces
> in the car are done in matching vinyl. And unlike
> other years, the upholstery pattern in 1965 Crowns
> used relatively small sections of leather stitched
> together, resulting in maximum yield from each hide
> used.
>
> I think you need to re-examine that estimate and the
> person giving it.
>
> P.S. I am told the real trick in this project will be
> to find the delicate, thin, color-keyed, soid vinyl
> welting originally used on these seats. Most
> upholsterers simply make welting from the leather or
> vinyl being used, and it is always twice as fat as the
> original stuff. Spotting it is a fast way to tell if
> an interior from this era has been redone!
>
> Chris H.
>
> 60 NY T&C
> 66 Crown Convertible
> 66 LeBaron
>
>
>
>
> --- Mike & Christine Trettin
> <mtrettin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > My brother-in-law here in Iowa is planning to have
> > his '65 convertible's
> > seats redone, and will probably buy the correct
> > pearlescent leather from
> > Kileen's, but would like to know how many hides to
> > expect to need to recover
> > the front and rear seats--he was told 15 hides, but
> > that sounded like a lot.
> > I guess he actually has (3) questions:
> >
> > (1) How many square feet in a typical "hide"?
> > (2) How many square feet needed for the seats? (Or
> > how many "hides"?)
> > (3) What surfaces are actually covered in leather?
> > (i.e., is there any
> > vinyl used for the sides, etc.?)
> >
> > Thanks for your advice,
> >
> > Mike Trettin
> > 1956 Imperial Sedan, Turquoise
> >
> >
> >
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