Steering wheel recovering

[Jack PeppiattParticipant]

My 1950 Slough built car steering wheel has the covering worn off in places, which catches on fingers when driving. Do you have a recommendation for an economical restorer please?

[Larry LewisParticipant]

Do you mean it’s cracked? I have fixed the wheel in my 49 BL using a product called JB Weld, a two-part epoxy. On the larger cracks and there were many, I put in small pieces of plastic to give the epoxy something to hold onto and make the repaired area stronger. After letting it dry for several days and some re-applications of epoxy I sanded it and painted it in a semi-gloss black. Several years later, no new cracks have appeared.

[Jack PeppiattParticipant]

Hi Larry, I should have been more clear, it is the plastic/celluloid/ finish that is cracked rather than the inner steel armature. JB weld is fantastic I know, I have used it to create the small spring lugs on the side of SU carbs, which are rather prone to breaking. thanks for the thought but no its the finish to which I refer.

Regards Jack

[BernieParticipant]

Jack,

It sounds as if yours is not a standard factory fit steering wheel … perhaps you gave a Bluemels wheel?

The original have a  steel core with a relatively thick “bakelite” type outer.  In time, the outer cracks and, if left unattended, eventually breaks away in thick chunks.  I think this is what Larry is referring to.

I understand your wheel has a fairly thin outer “plastic” coat which is now disintegrating leaving sharp edges. There are a number of specialists who refurbish these wheels and no doubt forums that will guide you through a diy restoration if that is what you prefer.

If you type “bluemels steering wheel restoration” into Google the search results could keep you busy for hours.

B…….

[Roger GrixParticipant]

My car (1955) was purchased with a 3 spoke steering wheel and a perfo engine, the 11D engine and the 2 spoke Slough steering wheel having been removed by the previous owner for his older model and his old parts fitted to mine. At the time I was ignorant of these things so was quite happy. I still am actually although the 11D would have been nice.

When I realised that I did not have the correct Slough wheel, I looked for a second hand one but they all had cracks and heavy price tags. Mine was suffering from the plastic fatigue under its “leather” cover. All the places I looked at for re-coating were expensive. It was clearly not possible to patch it so I decided to take off all the old coating and see what I could do.

When I stripped it I discovered that the central spider was Aluminium and the rim, steel.

I thought that it looked pretty good so I cleaned it up, polished the Aluminium and sprayed the rim with a near match to the brown of the central boss.

If a Slough wheel in good condition for a sensible price turns up I might swap it but otherwise I am quite happy with my non-standard wheel.

That was quite a cheap solution.

 

 

[David SelfridgeParticipant]

Some time ago Chris from TOC spares sold me a very good replacement steering wheel for my 1952 Light 15. It was a very good match to the original and was made of some kind of plastic composites (Very Strong) I think about £80

Davy

[Jack PeppiattParticipant]

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you all who responded, it seems that there may have been variations/alternatives and differing descriptions to cover the same or similar items. In order to reduce the confusion, something I should have done to begin, here is a picture of my current steering wheel from my 1950 Slough built car. Its a Bluemels wheel (marked on the rim as such, and is to the best of my understanding the item factory fitted at that time. The blurred picture shows where the ‘coating’ has worn through, but on the boss it is easier to see the thickness of the coating, which is to best described as a celluloid material, not bakelite, nor yet cellulose spray.

I would prefer to have a similar finish made to the wheel and am seeking a recommended restorer, if you have had this process done or know someone who has please?

Thanks Jack

 

[Norman AndersonParticipant]

Just to let you know, I got a very nice black two spoke steering wheel from Franssen. The price was reduced (from memory, down to 90 Euro).

Mark Geary in Peterborough has my old Slough wheel. If anyone wants it, they are most welcome to it. Just get in touch with Mark.

[BernieParticipant]

Jack,

That is not the Bluemels wheel I was expecting to see.  My knowledge of Slough car trim is limited but that is almost certainly original as it looks the same as those on the Light 15s I owned in the distant past.

If you still want recommendations for a restorer, I refer you back to the Google search suggested in my earlier reply … it really does throw up a great deal of useful contacts and info.

B…….

[David FaulknerParticipant]

I have only seen 1 used Slough one on eBay (some years back) with the ‘ribbed’ spokes on 1 edge which I think your looking for as per the image you posted – TOC spares has 1 listed as H35a 7\11\11L 604147 Steering wheel 2 spoke and the 55 Slough parts list in the archive has CIT numbers 604099, 604147 & 604148 but whether Chris still has one (and it is what your after), I don’t know I’m afraid but it’s worth an e mail to spares?

[David SelfridgeParticipant]

Hi Jack, I have just found a photograph of the Steering purchased (New) from Chris @ TOC Spares. I was well pleased with this wheel which had a lovely feel to it. £80 I think.

Davy

[Jack PeppiattParticipant]

Thank you Davy, good looking wheel but I am hoping to stick to the original Bluemels if possible. I have enquired of Chris what he has available and should all else fail I have located a firm who will recover my own wheel in the original manner

Thanks Jack

[Roger GrixParticipant]

Who would have thought that there would be so many different steering wheels!

The two spoke wheel with the offset spokes and the ridges that Jack shows above appears in a picture in a The Motor road test for a 1951 Slough Light 15. By 1953 the wheel with no offset and three steps has appeared :

 

This one was on a car advertised on eBay as 1953 and also appears on a car in Jon Pressnell’s book in a 1953 photo. Oddly this type also appears in another photo in JP’s book on a 1946 car. Whether this is the correct wheel for that car or a retro fit, I don’t know.

Roger

[Jack PeppiattParticipant]

I have heard from Spares. Chris has the smooth two spoke variety in grey or black. I have also contacted

Steering Wheel Restoration.
Unit 95 The Oaks,
Manston Business Park
Ramsgate
Kent
CT12 5FD

who are able to recover the Bluemels wheel with a polyester fabric and resin coating which closely mimics the original finish, smooth, hard and shiny. I shall start saving for a rainy day. Thanks to all for the contributions, I am obliged

 

also been in touch with

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