Rebuilding Steering Wheel

[Kevin H]

Welcome Hugh,

There's a mob out here in Australia called Pearlcraft, whom I understand are very good - perhaps others with direct experience can verify?

Their web site is here www.pearlcraft.com.au/welcome.htm

They used to have pictures of a Bristol steering wheel on their site but they were poor quality photos which is probably why they have taken them down. However they have many other "before and after" pics at www.pearlcraft.com.au/before_and_after.htm

Kevin

PS. It looks like they should stick to restoring steering wheels and leave the web site development to someone else

[Hydroglen]

Interesting options on Bristol 400 wheels costs and restoration. I
dropped the hint to my wife, that a restored wheel would be a suitable
birthday present. Still dropping and no takers! It was suggested that
other presents might be more suitable, and of course fast driving will
put more attention on the road ahead and less on the wheel with some
broken plastic bits and dull brightwork!
Dorien

[Hugh]

Yes I used Pearlcraft to restore a 404 wheel the first effort not perfect
but they immediately took the wheel and refinished it to a perfect job in
black they also removed and replaced the leather grips as well
So worth a try I don't remember the cost but it seemed reasonable at the
time
Hugh

[412usa]

Dorien,

When you find a suitable restorer for the 400 steering wheel please let me
know. I need the Arnolt wheel restored and it is the same as the 400. I have
a later (401 etc) Blumels wheel that I can leverage the restoration with, if
this helps.

Peter

[Bellerophon]

Hi Hugh, Have you considered rebuilding the wheel yourself and having the
black coating applied for under 100gbp's.
I rebuilt a friends wheel by first killing the rust on the metal
reinforcing rim then building up the outer with polyester, this I filed and sanded
to shape until it was smooth and to size.
I then sent it to Lancaster Vintage & Classic Spares 01524 423453 who do a
black coating for steering wheels, the result being that you could not
tell the difference.
This was done some fifteen years ago and the wheel still looks ok.
My regards,
Bellerophon

[Ashley James]

Someone in Australia told me not to use Pearlcraft and they are twice
the price of Myrtle who does mostly R-R, Bentley and Jaguar woodwork
and steering wheels. Lots of owners of these cars have jewellery that
scratches the lacquer. I don't but my steering wheel is flexible in
all directions unlike the later ones. I understand this was because
Brooklands was extremely bumpy as were the cars of that era (so is the
400 for that matter!) and it made it easier to hold on to the steering
wheel at speed. I had a racing AJS motorcycle that was fitted with
handlebars like a small car leaf spring for the same reason.

I'd definitely use Myrtle for the job and I think he is as good as any
you'll find, Bluemells Brooklands wheels aside and I don't know a
solution for those.

Rich has completely rebuilt a couple of 400 seats for Ivor Thomas's
car and it is a hell of a lot better than the standard ones but
higher. The springs were too weak in the original, there was nothing
underneath to support them, there wasn't enough horsehair padding and
the backrest gave no lumbar support at all. He partly rebuilt mine
using the original Bristol cover, but it's not the same as a complete
job, so if I can find some of the original Moquette (we have a source
of original type leather) I'll get the whole thing done because it
will transform the car. It goes like stink and cruises at well over
eighty, but needs to be more comfortable IMO.

Ash

[Kevin H]

Originally Posted by Ashley James

Someone in Australia told me not to use Pearlcraft and they are twice the price of Myrtle who does mostly R-R, Bentley and Jaguar woodwork and steering wheels.

This sounds like a quote from a Fox network newsreader!

Ashley, if you are going to put a company down, at least tell us which one of the 20 million people in Australia made this claim, and why you should not use Pearlcraft.

Originally Posted by Ashley James

Rich has completely rebuilt a couple of 400 seats for Ivor Thomas's
car and it is a hell of a lot better than the standard ones but
higher. The springs were too weak ....

I must must be missing something here. Does this have any relevance to restoring steering wheels?