VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1912-1928 '25 running board material

I have a '25 Touring. the running board material is ribbed rubber. A friend of mine also has the same car but has what I think is called "battleship linoleum" and step plates on the running boards. Anybody know which is correct?
thanks..........Jerry

I've always been under the impression that "battleship linoleum" was correct. Step plates optional.

Hey guys,what is battleship linolium ? My running board matting is original and it appears to be ribbed rubber. :confused:

Hi Sadie,

First off my apologies to Tom Chaney.

The proper covering for the 1925 Touring running board is black ribbed rubber and bordered by 4-rib aluminum trim.

Step plates were never offered by part number. They were 'gathered' up by the dealer to satisfy a customer request.

And for the record, here is the correct pattern for the rubber mat and also a sample of the correct border.



VCCA TA for 25/26 and radios.

Hi Ray,

My 24 Superior F Touring has wood running boards painted black. Should the structure be stamped steel like my 28 or wood ?? Also one of my boards measures 50.5" and the other measures 51.5". When can you start a "School is in session for Superiors" ? It's been 20 years since I took mine apart and I think I'm going to need lots of help.

Herb

Hi Herb,

Your running boards should also be made of wood with a covering (not black paint). Not at all surprised about the difference in length of the two running boards. When I built my 1925 roadster the two body sides were well over 1/2 inch different in size.

Since you and Tom Chaney are building similar vehicles and at the same time I am involved with a project at GM in Janesville, WI on a 1923 Superior touring, there is in fact a basis for a "Superior Touring Assembly in Session".

Gotta finish up my 1928 Touring, 1918 490 touring in line for finishing, and in the wings a 1928 Roadster awaiting a total restoration. Don't sound like any spare time for additional school. HA!

I believe that the '23-'24's used the Battleship Congrolium( I beleive thats the name, but not sure). This material is a gray in color and is slightly harder than the topping used for drafting tables. There was a guy in Hemmings that sold it, but I have not looked lately.

I know of another two '23-'24 Superiors "under restoration" and two more "in the wings". I guess that brings the total to 6 at this time.

I guess thats why those F**D guys call these things rare.

I believe that the '23-'24's used the Battleship Congrolium( I beleive thats the name, but not sure). This material is a gray in color and is slightly harder than the topping used for drafting tables. There was a guy in Hemmings that sold it, but I have not looked lately.

I know of another two '23-'24 Superiors "under restoration" and two more "in the wings". I guess that brings the total to 6 at this time.

I guess thats why those F**D guys call these things rare.

Here is a good source for running board material.

http://runningboardmats.com/

Well, there ya go. That's what's so good about this forum. Ask and you get educated. I'm assuming, then, that the grey Battleship Linoleum was probably correct for 23-24 and then was changed to ribbed rubber in 25? (...and yes, I know what "assume" stands for!) Anyway, there does seem to be a goodly number of Superiors currently under restoration and a Superior School would be quite welcome!

Gary Wallace sells the correct ribbed rubber material for the '25 running board, also an excellent repro aluminum trim, not cheap but very accurate. (But use your own contact cement, his is lousy.) Remember to put the carriage bolts in for the running board middle support BEFORE the rubber goes on!

Thank you ALL for the information & advice regarding '25 running board materials. Sounds like I have (rubber ribbed material) what's supposed to be there. It sure is good to have a lot of experts available for questions like this.
thanks again ..........Jerry

Add my 23 Superior Roadster to the rutstoration count. I think that makes 7. Congolium was on mine.
Ken

Two comments. I have purchased battleship lin. from the gentleman who advertises in Hemmings and was very satisfied. He has a web page (use google type in battleship lin.) and is very easy to work with. I would not use a carriage bolt in the middle but what is called an elevator bolt. It has a large flat head (1.5) inches and makes a flat installation with no bulge.
Jan

I would like to be addeed to the list of prospective students on the 25/26 Superior restoration school advise. Thanks, Ken

Also restoring a '24 Superior Touring. I'm a "lone wolf" in the small desert town of Ajo, Arizona so I need to do most of my own work. I will be seeking advice and council.

(new member) Bill Rigdon '24 Chev. Touring

Welcome Bill,

I've been through your little town on the way to the Organ Pipe Cactus Nat'l Monument and I will be heading down to Yuma in couple months. You have found a good place to get your questions answered.

I'm doing a couple 1925's, so I was glad you dug up this old post. I wasn't aware of it. Keep us informed of your progress.

Roger

I think you might mix up a little when mentioning "battleship linoleum". The material is linoleum, and the right color/material for the running boards to 490s, (at least to my 1916). Same color was used on board battleships in those days, giving the color the name: Battleship grey. They still make the material and color at Armstrong more than 100 years after they invented the material.

Here is one:

http://www.dickblick.com/products/blick-battleship-gray-linoleum/

but you find a lot of retailers around, I believe.

The shade is here: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/battleship_grey

:vcca:

Sorry, I also mixed up a little and left out information. The color of my car's running board cover is (of course) Battleship grey, a linoleum most probably delivered from the Armstrong Cork Products Company (or Sherwin Williams company, the two leading makers at that time.)

More info: http://www.scripophily.net/arcocope19.html

Armstrong linoleum was (and still is) on the market from 1909. The owners achieved position as marketleaders and got good connections to other leading US-industrialists during these 100 years. (Example: as you may see here)

In 1952, a group of leading industrialists that included Alfred P. Sloan of General Motors, Frank W. Abrams of Standard Oil Company of New Jersey, Henry Ford II of Ford Motor Company, John L. McCaffrey of International Harvester, Irving S. Olds of United States Steel Corporation, Henning W. Prentis of Armstrong Cork Company, and Laird Bell of Weyerhauser Timber formed the Council for Financial Aid to Education, which increased corporate gifts to colleges from $24 million annually to $136 million annually over ten years.

Luckily we can get the "same" material and color on running boards to our 490s, even today.

:vcca: