• Barry Brown
    25 July 2011 at 15:42 #48398

    Gentlemen, Please advise on the possibility of having my steering wheel restored OR if this process is prohibitively expensive wrapped in rope or is this considered a “cop out” , I do like that look.

    Attached files

    bill
    24 November 2016 at 09:26 #52197

    Barry, what did you do in the end about your steering wheel ?
    It seems that recoating a steering wheel “as original” is very expensive. However the person who has resprayed bodywork for me says that he can spray my steering wheel wheel with a large number of black “dulled down” coats of modern paint so that it will appear very close to the original look. This will not be very expensive.
    I am wondering what to do ! Any advice appreciated.

    h14
    24 November 2016 at 10:55 #52199

    Hi Bill,
    I had the steering wheel for my Riley RMB restored by Myrtle, who are based in Kent. Very good firm to deal with, happy to discuss what you require. The restoration, including recoating, came to around ?275. I didn’t think that was overly expensive…and I have to say it is one of the few aspects of the restoration of my Riley that I’m 100% satisfied with.
    Laurence

    Richard Branch
    24 November 2016 at 14:36 #52200

    I see no one responded to your idea of winding it with string. I guess that’s ok for those Bentley boys but just not the done thing for us Lagonda chaps?

    Barry Brown
    2 December 2017 at 18:39 #52564

    I am determined to find out how the wheel rim was originally coated . It seems to be a big mystery to everyone! I have seen the same type of coating on Rudge motorcycle parts but they did not have to contend with all those holes around the perimeter . Yes there were magicians working at Lagonda. I have had the spokes plated and want a beautiful wheel.

    Alec Rivers-Bowerman
    4 December 2017 at 01:23 #52569

    The celluloid sheet is softened in an acetone/water mix and becomes like a sheet of rubber. As far as I can figure from the linked videos, some kind of glue is applied to the item to be covered. Out of curiosity I went looking for black sheet celluloid a while back, but came up empty. Apparently it is very flammable and with all the newer plastics around is not used much anymore.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYsSifiDapo around i minute in

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FAl9DZKgCQ
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yW9l–AM7UA

    Alec

    Barry Brown
    4 January 2018 at 22:50 #52617

    Here is what I diid.It was labour intensive. I shaped 44 small washers and brazed them in place. I then had the rim powder coated as a base and painted over . I had the spokes chromed which may be incorrect but if so the damage is done and it looks good to my eye so the next owner can paint over it if they want!

    Attached files

    h14
    5 January 2018 at 11:20 #52618

    Hi Barry,
    Excellent work, it looks great.
    The spokes would originally have been celluloid coated, with, if like the V12/LG6, a small raised ridge at the inner ends adjacent to the boss. Certainly the steel parts of the boss are chromed, but poorly originally, inevitably rusty after all these years. leaving one with a wheel needing total dismantling just to get a scarcely visible area rechromed.
    Laurence

    Barry Brown
    5 January 2018 at 11:51 #52619

    Thanks Laurence. I’m not sure where I saw the spokes chromed. I have been using “restored” google searched M45’s as reference and the closer you look the more variation becomes evident. I will just leave them as I like the look. Cheers, Barry

    h14
    7 January 2018 at 16:37 #52622

    Hi Barry,
    I’ve had a closer look at the LG6’s wheel today. There are traces, literally specks!, of chrome just visible on the small visible portion of the spokes between the boss and where the celluloid sheathing starts. The chrome must have been very poorly done originally, probably no copper or nickel “undercoats”, but then they probably assumed a very protected car interior environment. So I think you can rest comfortable with your choice!
    Laurence

    Barry Brown
    7 January 2018 at 16:58 #52623

    Whew ! I will have to relay this info to the judges at Pebble Beach if they want to deduct points ! LOL Thanks Laurence !
    I also had the steering “tube” chromed on the advice I got on this forum but of course have now seen many others that are just painted ! To think I am just at the preliminary stages of my restoration. I do like the look of the chrome and it is properly triple plated. I have the article in “The Automobile” on Sir Malcolm Campbell’s blue M45 but there are no engine or interior shots . I am curious to see what they did with chroming on that beauty.

    h14
    8 January 2018 at 10:49 #52624

    Hi Barry,
    It seems chrome finish was a bit pick’n mix at Lagonda. On my LG6, some of the carburetter rods,links etc are chromed, and some aren’t. Famously, when finances were tighter than usual, you got painted lamps instead of chromed ones. Yes many years have passed since 1939, but these are parts that don’t normally need renewing.
    The two rocker cover nuts are nickel plated, whereas normally they are chromed, I think. No trace of chrome at all, so I feel unlikely that it’s been polished or worn away. In which case, nickel finish in such a prominent area would surely have appeared incompatible with chrome elsewhere under the bonnet. Interestingly, the arms of both these nuts are drilled at their extremeties for locking wire, which I would associate more with a car intended for competition/racing. Perhaps simply more evidence of fitting simply what came to hand!
    Laurence

Viewing 12 posts - 1 through 12 (of 12 total)

You must be logged in to reply to this topic.

0

Request to join the Lagonda Forum

To avoid rogue requests we are currently manually approving all forum applications. Please fill out your details below and we will forward a link and password to complete your application.