VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1912-1928 1920, 490 Touring, Top Bows

The bows for my touring top were bent and some broken when the barn the car was stored in collapsed. ( years ago ) My best guess is that the bows were 54 inches long center to center. Could someone verify that for me. I need to find new ones and want to be looking for the right size.

I can't tell you the lengths, as they are not listed in the parts books ( 1916 -1917-1918) and (1924 four ninety and superior),

but it may be helpful to know this information.

Touring top (four ninety)1924 parts list

Part No. 41096 Top bow front no.1
H-549 Top bow no.s 2,3,4

The 1916-1917-1918 parts list, lists

Part No. H-549 top bows no.s 1,2,3,4

Should give you a few more years to measure from.

Google KC Wood.He probably can make them.Robby

Hey from Down Under,
I do lots of hoods on all manner of cars and all have the same characteristic when folded, ie they all are the same width and sit exactly on top of each other. Therefore you can measure the width across the back of the body where the steel frames attach (shoulder to shoulder on the body brackets)and this is the width you have to make all your bows. Due allowance has to be made for whether the steel work is of the tubular or flat strap type. Some have both.
I make all my own bows using strips of kiln dried Ash (hardwood) glued together and clamped around 4"x2" formwork mounted on a chipboard base. Soak the strips in water for an hour to enable them to bend and use the glue that cabinet makers fabricate laminated benchtops with. These type of bows are quite superior (stronger) to steam bent timber and more stable. I have found good commercially made bows hard to get, often inaccurately sized, and also very expensive.
Problem solved; make them yourself!
Cheers,
Geoff.