 |
|
07-11-2007, 08:32 AM
|
|
Registered User
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Posts: 434
|
|
 Quote:
Quote:
Originally Posted by spacechem
Whoa there, Three. Not quite end of discussion. I think we are proving 180Out's point: AR probably used different veneers for different model years (perhaps day-to-day). My '74 is definitely not ABW, but I recognize your '70 is closer to the '69 in question, and I doubt not the veracity of your friend. It reminds me of the old story of the three blind men and the elephant, only this time one blind man is touching an elephant, one a rhino, and maybe the car in question is a hippo. Any '69 model year owners out there willing to pipe up?
|
|
The mystery thickens. 2 liter cars, as I recall, were in fact different from earlier cars, having a darker somewhat more rose colored veneer. Here is a bad photo of the veneer on my '70 GTV. Black Walnut?
For those of us who might want to know (everyone's waiting on this, right?) "French Polishing" is a fascinating process. It's also deceptively simple. It consists of hand applying a mixture of shellac much diluted with grain alcohol to a wood surface. Sounds easy, right? It isn't. Apply too much and it won't dry. Too little and it won't stick. Just enough and you get an absolutely georgeous finish. Since the French Polish is so fragile, I assume, Threealfas, that your friend finished your wheel with eurethane, right? Even French Polishers cross over to the dark side every now and again. When my guitar maker buddies do this they have to go through a purification rite to rebalance the cosmos.
__________________
Jim
-------------
'70, 1750GTV, 2nd series
'62, Lancia Flaminia Zagato3c, 2nd series
|
07-11-2007, 11:10 PM
|
 |
Registered User
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Posts: 1,359
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by 180OUT
The mystery thickens. 2 liter cars, as I recall, were in fact different from earlier cars, having a darker somewhat more rose colored veneer. Here is a bad photo of the veneer on my '70 GTV. Black Walnut?
For those of us who might want to know (everyone's waiting on this, right?) "French Polishing" is a fascinating process. It's also deceptively simple. It consists of hand applying a mixture of shellac much diluted with grain alcohol to a wood surface. Sounds easy, right? It isn't. Apply too much and it won't dry. Too little and it won't stick. Just enough and you get an absolutely georgeous finish. Since the French Polish is so fragile, I assume, Threealfas, that your friend finished your wheel with eurethane, right? Even French Polishers cross over to the dark side every now and again. When my guitar maker buddies do this they have to go through a purification rite to rebalance the cosmos. |
Spot on 180.
French polisher is a deceptive term for someone in this trade, technically he is a French Polisher, but restores furniture and uses whatever process people request ie French polish, Spray finish or natural wax and Shellac.
French polishing is great for a William IV Library table however you would never use a shellac/french polish on a steering wheel, it would last 10 minutes in the QLD sun, so yeah we did use a two pack eurethane.
I stripped the wheel using thinners, sanded the rim and feathered the odd gap (feathering for those who are unaware is when you use a sliver of timber and glue to fill a crack or a split in timber or in this case the laminate), and then the boys did the rest.
Took them a while to get back to me and I was going nuts as I had a nasty black plastic 1750 Berlina wheel, that I had for years on it is place and that was uncomfortable to use as it did not have the girth of a GTV wooden wheel. Well worth it in the end as it is now perfect, especially when I recall what it used to be like, all flaky and nasty. Cost me 20 bucks for the Eurethane and a carton of beer, you can't beat that.
__________________
Phil
1961 MGA 1600 Roadster, British Racing Green
1966 Giulia Sprint GT ,Argento
1970 1750 GTV s2, Verde Olivo Metallica (AR213)
2005 Holden Rodeo LT Crew Cab, Fox Fire Red
{Oo==V==oO}
Previously owned
1983 Ford Laser KB, Beige
1985 Volvo 360 GLT Dark Mettalic Blue
1970 GT Junior stepnose Resprayed Red, Giallo Ochre
1923 Amilcar Sports, rusty
I may only own two ALFAs now, but the handle stays as I am always chasing another one. 
|
07-11-2007, 11:21 PM
|
|
Registered User
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Posts: 1,359
|
|
|
We were looking at grain more than colour, you can colour timber anyway you like as it all depends on the stain you use. Colour should be of only a small consideration when you are trying to ID timber, look at grain, rays, hardness and cell structure before colour. Colour is variable and besides stain, it can be influenced by sunlight and exposure to the atmosphere as well.
ABW in its natural polished unstained colour is a light grey colour (M1 Rifle stocks were made from ABW, by the way) and doesn't look very exciting, but it all comes down to the stain. Take a look at this image, this is ABW and the grain to me is spot on for the dash veneer on the 1750, just with more red added to the stain perhaps. Also remember your dash veneer has seen a lot of sunlight over the years and is now lighter than it was fresh from the factory.
__________________
Phil
1961 MGA 1600 Roadster, British Racing Green
1966 Giulia Sprint GT ,Argento
1970 1750 GTV s2, Verde Olivo Metallica (AR213)
2005 Holden Rodeo LT Crew Cab, Fox Fire Red
{Oo==V==oO}
Previously owned
1983 Ford Laser KB, Beige
1985 Volvo 360 GLT Dark Mettalic Blue
1970 GT Junior stepnose Resprayed Red, Giallo Ochre
1923 Amilcar Sports, rusty
I may only own two ALFAs now, but the handle stays as I am always chasing another one.
|
07-12-2007, 06:36 AM
|
 |
Registered User
|
|
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Chicago Suburbs
Posts: 22
|
|
|
See- I told you yours might be different- the grain on 180Out's car is vertical and yours is horizontal................(chuckle)
__________________
'74 GTV, '01 Audi A4 2.8Q
'08 Audi A3 3.2Q
|
07-12-2007, 06:54 AM
|
|
Registered User
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Posts: 434
|
|
Quote:
Quote:
Originally Posted by spacechem
See- I told you yours might be different- the grain on 180Out's car is vertical and yours is horizontal................(chuckle)
|
|
How like those crafty Italians to slip in changes like that without telling anybody!
__________________
Jim
-------------
'70, 1750GTV, 2nd series
'62, Lancia Flaminia Zagato3c, 2nd series
|
07-12-2007, 10:34 PM
|
|
Registered User
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 144
|
|
|
Guys guys..the information regarding the veneer...is fantastically informative.....here is another interesting one to discuss.....
Does anyone happen to have or know of anyone that would have in their possession original "Carello" lenses to suit the early 1969 series 1 GTV rear assembly by any chance...
I will purchase them in a heart beat!!
I have the originally rear assembly in excellent condition, but the lenses aren't any good...the problem with the later version of the lens is that they don't fit the early assembly and it would be a shame to turf them for the new plastic reproductions...
heeeelp!!
|
07-13-2007, 12:11 AM
|
 |
Registered User
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 404
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by FMD159
Guys guys..the information regarding the veneer...is fantastically informative.....here is another interesting one to discuss.....
Does anyone happen to have or know of anyone that would have in their possession original "Carello" lenses to suit the early 1969 series 1 GTV rear assembly by any chance...
I will purchase them in a heart beat!!
I have the originally rear assembly in excellent condition, but the lenses aren't any good...the problem with the later version of the lens is that they don't fit the early assembly and it would be a shame to turf them for the new plastic reproductions...
heeeelp!!
|
__________________
James
1968 series 1 1750 GTV (RHD)
|
07-13-2007, 04:25 AM
|
 |
in the Library
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: New Jersey USA
Posts: 7,047
|
|
|
If we're talking the lenses with the long, skinny reflectors and no chrome surround, I should have some NOS Carello pieces on the shelf. I'll check over the weekend as well.
__________________
Jim
Series 1 Euro 1750 GTV
Series 2 US 1750 GTV
Series 3 Spider Veloce
|
07-13-2007, 05:10 AM
|
 |
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Broomfield, Colorado U.S.A
Posts: 3,548
|
|
|
"On the shelf"
Quote:
Originally Posted by papajam
If we're talking the lenses with the long, skinny reflectors and no chrome surround, I should have some NOS Carello pieces on the shelf. I'll check over the weekend as well.
|
|
07-13-2007, 07:03 AM
|
|
Registered User
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 144
|
|
|
James1750 and Papajam thank you both for youre responses....YES they are the ones with the long skinny reflectors...and no chrome surround....
Youre help is GREATLY APPRECIATED!!!!!!!!!!!!
|
07-14-2007, 06:07 AM
|
 |
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Oakville
Posts: 770
|
|
|
I'm curious about these...are there any pics available? This is not what I expected to see on the 69 GTv's...I thought most had the rectangular reflectors.
|
07-14-2007, 06:05 PM
|
|
Registered User
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 144
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by 1750GT
I'm curious about these...are there any pics available? This is not what I expected to see on the 69 GTv's...I thought most had the rectangular reflectors.
|
The second image shows the reverse of the lens as you can see typical melting of the fixture points...and therefore throw away unfortunately...unless there is a way to repair if anyone knows????
|
07-14-2007, 06:50 PM
|
|
in the Library
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: New Jersey USA
Posts: 7,047
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by 1750GT
This is not what I expected to see on the 69 GTv's...I thought most had the rectangular reflectors.
|
Please give this post a look. This was researched from the Alfa 1750 parts books but, as we all know, Alfa did not always install the parts that were indicated in the parts books. A example of this is the book saying that the Altissimo lenses arrived in early 1969. However, I once owned an April 1968 built S1 with Altissimos and there's an October 1968 built S1 in my garage right now that's also fitted with Altissimos. Although the possibility exists that the light assemblies were changed on both cars sometime after leaving the factory, I do not find this very likely, especially on the October built car.
Frank,
The computer says I have one leftside and three rightside Carello lenses. I'll do a physical check in the morning.
__________________
Jim
Series 1 Euro 1750 GTV
Series 2 US 1750 GTV
Series 3 Spider Veloce
|
07-15-2007, 03:45 AM
|
|
Registered User
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 144
|
|
|
Thanks Papjam...I would be happy to purchase a set from you please.....is new old stock by any chance?
|
07-15-2007, 04:21 AM
|
|
in the Library
| | | |
