PE Leather Upholstery

[Carla]

Hi, Jim,

Could you send us the scans of the photos also?

We're fortunate in having a very experienced automotive upholsterer in our local area, who has made a specialty of restoration work on old Pierces, Lincolns,  Packards and suchlike, and does truly excellent work but, as one might imagine, the waiting list for his work is pretty long. We've got our '34 on the list, but it will be awhile.

My e-mail address is

cheers

Carla

[Doran Johnson]

Carla - Your ideas are very similar to mine.  You made a lot of good points.  I contacted the Chrysler Historian a couple years ago and got a letter from him with what little information he could find, but it wasn't much.  He confirmed that the price was $6 extra for leather and he suspected shades in the brown/tan family would be appropriate.  I will make a similar post on the WPC club forum.  I appreciate your reply - let me know if you uncover anything as you pursue your project.

Jim - I'll email you regarding the photos.  They will be a great help.

Thanks,  Doran

[Jim Benjaminson]

Doran - e mail me at my home address.  I have photos of a 34 Town Sedan that was done originally in leather that I can scan and send to you.  Not sure on the headliner but I have good detail photos of this car's interior (and I think I know where the car still is....)  Jim Benjaminson 

[Carla]

Hi,  Doran,

We've been thinking about having our '34 PE sedan re-upholstered, and we're also thinking strongly about replacing the mohair with leather. In our case, the original mohair is 'all there', but the material has become dried out and brittle from age.

Maybe someone here would know of any Chrysler historian who might be able to find some photos or specs from the mid-'30's for the leather upholstery option in these cars???

At a guess, it seems probable that the leather option for the Plymouth cars would have been the same material used in other Chrysler Products cars, year for year, done by the same workers in the same trim plant area. It would seem probable that the leather interior for a Plymouth might not have been pleated quite as fancily as that for a Chrysler.

If its not possible to get accurate historical information, the next best thing would be to consult some highly experienced upholsterer, who will have replicated the leather seat upholstery in other makes of cars, of the early/mid '30's period.

One way to approach this issue might be to imagine that you are buying your '34 as a new car, and have asked  your dealer to special-order it for you, with a special-order deluxe upholstery specification. Try to envision what the trim shop at the factory would have done for you on a special-order basis. A look at the upholstery in Chrysler Imperials of the period might offer some clues.

I'd think it probable......subject to correction, of course......that the seats themselves would have been good leather, with the purchaser's choice of colour and texture (graining), the door panels, and miscellaneous small panels up to the headlining level would have been done in an 'artificial leather' cloth, of the same colour and very similar texture, and the headlining itself would have been of a wool cloth, maybe in a matching colour, or maybe in a complementary colour. The floor would have a best quality wool carpet, with sewn leather binding, boots for the gear and brake levers, etc., and a thick felt pad underneath the carpetting.

Again subject to correction, I'd suspect that you'd not go too far wrong....assuming you would be sending the work to a highly skilled and experienced upholsterer.... if you were to specify the same materials and quality of technique which would be used in accurately replicating the original trimming  of a late '40's/early '50's Mark 5 Jaguar car.  I suggest using the Jaguar cars as an examplar cos they were a good example of rather nice interiors done on a production basis, and one make about which the materials and techniques are well known.

cheers

Carla

[Doran Johnson]

I'm looking for help again, this time with upholstery.  We know from the Plymouth Parts Book, September 1, 1934 Model Series, Group 23 Coupe - Rumble Seat and Business that four upholstery materials where optional.  They are  1) Bedford Cord,  2) Pile (Mohair),  3) Leather and  4) Broadcloth.

For my Business Coupe, I plan to use leather.  Originally, it was a $6 option.  This is where I am asking for help.  If anyone has any information about the colors, textures, weights, styles or any other aspect of the leather interior, I would like to hear from you.  Would the entire interior be done in leather or was it a combination of leather and fabric?  Would it all be one color, or would that also be a combination?  Would the seams, pleats and buttons be the same with leather as with fabric?  All I've got at this point is ideas, no facts.  Thank you for your replies.        Doran