G503.com Message Forums

by **TadeO** » Mon Feb 20, 2012 2:10 am

Hi,

I'm going to make new leather shift boots for my MB. Transmission one is original so I'll make new one according to that one, but I have no original transfercase leather shift boot to take as an example.

Maybe someone could send me a drawing with measurements how to make it correctly?

by **artificer** » Mon Feb 20, 2012 4:30 am

Ron's the man & has the stock....Joel's shed is snowed in right now :wink:

by **Rod Rushton** » Mon Feb 20, 2012 4:44 am

I bought a set off e-Bay UK which are green glossy leather, but I believe the correct ones are natural leather material,almost like suade or Nubuck.
As I have an extra lever for the overdrive I need to have new ones made anyway to accomodate this, and this will need to be made specially.

Making them yourself is not easy.
Good luck!
RR

by **TadeO** » Tue Feb 21, 2012 12:35 am

The color of leather is another question that I'm interested in, but firs of all I need measurements..

talking on color, pictures of original leather shift boots also could be helpful, because mine( transmission shift boot ) looks to be painted in OD..

by **TadeO** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 4:39 am

Which leather color to choose?

Some options:

1 - yellow linked to carroty
2 - carroty (suede)
3 - carroty to linked red
4 - quite light brown
5 - green
6 - gray

Regards

by **Rod Rushton** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 5:13 am

Hello
I have photographed the new set I had made - now that I have seen the previos post that showed the green sample I'm much happier now than I was and will go back to the person who made these and have the new one for the O/D lever made out of the same leather.
Meanwhile here are the photos together with a ruler so you can see the sizes. The metal transmission cover rings will give you the sizes for those.
Have Fun!
RR

: GAITERS 003.JPG (75.76 KiB) Viewed 631 times

: GAITERS 001.JPG (94.69 KiB) Viewed 631 times

by **Gustl** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 12:08 pm

TadeO wrote:The color of leather is another question that I'm interested in, but firs of all I need measurements.. talking on color, pictures of original leather shift boots also could be helpful, because mine( transmission shift boot ) looks to be painted in OD..

I dont have access to period correct leather shift boots, and there is nothing to find about this issue on Jon´s Jeepdraw.

I used to be leather technician so I have some experience in this field (20 years ago). Back in WWII there were two major techniques to tan leather. First one was vegetable tanning, second one was chrome tanning. Vegetable tanning was less expensive, it was easier to source the needed chemicals. So it would make sence, when the used leather was vegetable tanning. For cost of production reasons it would also make sence, when this material only was tanned and not dyed with any color. If I am right, the color of the leather should be a light brown shade, close to your number 4.

Would be interesting to see some NOS material.

by **TadeO** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 12:38 pm

Rod, thanks for pictures. I have all the measurements, I found some drawings and I also measured original transmission leather and everything is ok now.

Gustl, interesting experience from you. One small thing: number 3 and number 4 is the same leather, only different sides

I'm also thinking on these few colors and still don't know which could be more correct. Number 3 looks a bit lighter and number 4 a bit darker so one side looks more like brown and the other more like red color..
Is it possible that after a few years leather will become lighter?

by **Gustl** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 1:14 pm

TadeO wrote:number 3 and number 4 is the same leather, only different sides I'm also thinking on these few colors and still don't know which could be more correct. Number 3 looks a bit lighter and number 4 a bit darker so one side looks more like brown and the other more like red color..
Is it possible that after a few years leather will become lighter?

It´s not unusual that leather has two different colors, depending which side you use. The grain side (the side you can touch as long as the cow is alive :mrgreen:

) is a closed surface with little pores (where the hair used to be). The flesh side is the rougher surface. Usually it depends on the production method, how good the light fastness is. Vegetabe tanned leather does not have a good light fastness (gets lighter after weeks, months, years exposed to sun).
I would use the grain side as its more durable.

by **Jon** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 1:33 pm

Gustl wrote:
I dont have access to period correct leather shift boots, and there is nothing to find about this issue on Jon´s Jeepdraw.

These parts are relatively simple to make, and draw up, so if there's a call for it, I can knock up a usable drawing within a day or so depending on how busy I get in the meantime.

JR

by **Gustl** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 1:45 pm

Jon:

There is a little misunderstanding. I was searching for the period correct color of the leather shift boots on your colour and finish site. I did not find a note about leather color. You have information about the period correct color?

But nevertheless TadeO might be interested in the cutting pattern:!:

Best regards

by **Jon** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 1:53 pm

From what I understand, the leather colour varied considerably. I doubt there was a set colour, but close to olive I should imagine.
I've never come across where it's laid down in Black & White the required colour or the specifications, so if anyone has that I'd be pleased to see it too.
I've seen originals, but after so long, it's difficult to say with any certainty what the exact colour should be.
There must be something somewhere....??? Maybe on an original drawing of this part.

I'm going off what was found as NOS.
See topic...... viewtopic.php?f=4&t=41116&start=0
JR

by **TadeO** » Fri Apr 27, 2012 11:05 am

The result from my new leather shift boots. In my opinion, they are looking good.

by **gearhead** » Fri Apr 27, 2012 11:25 am

Very nice. Rough side out is correct!
i know some guys like the smooth look.

Ed

by **Ben Dover** » Fri Apr 27, 2012 12:26 pm

I installed NOS originals on my MB, the transfer shift boot was in a GPW package. Both are brushed leather (rough finish). These were installed 30 years ago and were treated with neatsfoot oil to preserve the leather.