Leather-Bridge of Weir

[crystal59]

Read "need upholstery help" April 7/10 technical discussion. The Bridge of Weir company is still ongoing and best bet from my point of view.Gary

[Pat Marshall]

Gary, did you purchase Bridge of Wier Leather? If so did you purchase directly from the BOW company (Scotland) or through their US distributor - Hirsch?

[Pat Marshall]

Martin, Here is a link to Bill Hirsch Auto leather which shows a picture of Bridge of Weir leather grain.

http://www.hirschauto.com/prodinfo.asp?number=BW&variation=0050%20DK%20BL

[crystal59]

No fortunately when I bought the car, the owner had already purchased a complete replacement from Bridge of Weir and it came with the car. But it lead me to believe the company was ongoing. I mentioned the possibility in the post I referred to and when you read the post one of the members referred to Bridge of Weir as ongoing.I then went up on the net and found Bridge of Weir easily. I have seen some good leather redos but they do not have the same look. Read mcdo5302 post in the "need upholstery post" as he sets out he bought from Bridge of Weir. Gary

[Bob Barger]

I purchased my leather from bridge of wear some years ago. I don't know if the are still in operation but at the time they still had all the color codes.

[Mad Scientist]

We know that Bridge of Weir does not use barbwire fencing so as to prevent the cows from scratching themselves. Perhaps that also give their cows a daily rub down with a skin conditioner to make for a smoother skin. :D

[Rick@NPD]

I can't remember who my father finally used for his hides on the latest two Mark II restorations, but I know that he was frustrated with B.O.W., and after months of communications and trading samples, he did not use them.

The graining on the samples they were providing were not identical to original (comparing to both the dealer sample book and the original materials out of the Benson Ford car, which matched the book, and was in very good original condition). B.O.W. was providing a generic product, none of the processes they had used in the 50's was being done today, and they were unwilling to match-to-sample. In the end, we didn't see the value of sticking with B.O.W. leather, if it wasn't going to be spot-on to what they provided Ford originally.

That said, I thought it was "close enough", but my dad was on a mission... He wound up having everything in the interiors fabricated from scratch, basketweave cloth inserts, headlining materials, carpets... Nothing that was readily available from the typical Mark II suppliers was close enough for him.

I spent two years typing all of his emails and letters getting all that stuff done, and arguing with weavers and carpet manufacturers and leather providers. Somehow, it all finally fell into place. Thank goodness it's over...;)

[crystal59]

Yet my replacement upholstery that was bought from the Bridge of Weir around 1969 looks like the samples with the grainy look. I felt pretty good that if the time came I had a complete original replacement. Upon closer look not so much. The colour is correct but the grainy look is just not right when compared to what is in the car. Gary

[Pat Marshall]

I just received this response to my inquiry from B.O.W.

Dear Patrick,

Thanks for the mail. It is good to hear from you.

In response to your questions –

I am afraid we no longer have records of the leathers used for Lincoln Continental Mark IIs.

We have received samples from private customers in recent years of leathers for Mark IIs but have never actually matched these and produced orders for these customers. I recall a contact who had recently bought the original car used in ‘On the Town’

From the samples we have seen so far, we are unable to match exactly, the handle and general grain appearance using the technologies available to us under current regulations for leather manufacture. The main issue has been matching the grain break / pattern.

We will gladly try to match your products as best we can. We can make A4 samples if you can send in pieces to which we can match. This usually takes up to 2 weeks.

For a custom colour of our standard products – the products in our stock programme but in a customer’s own colour - our minimum order is 4 hides, production lead time 5 weeks from approval of A4. Ex works prices start from £350 per hide.

I hope this information is of use to you and look forward to hearing from you should you wish to take it further.

Best regards,
Finn Robinson
Sales Manager

Bridge of Weir Leather Company Limited
Baltic Works
Kilbarchan Road
Bridge of Weir
Renfrewshire PA11 3RH , Scotland

[Pat Marshall]

Ed, I can't answer those questions. Maybe BOW can/will?

Finn Robinson
Sales Manager
"Finn Robinson" <finn.robinson@bowleather.co.uk>
Bridge of Weir Leather Company Limited
Baltic Works
Kilbarchan Road
Bridge of Weir
Renfrewshire PA11 3RH , Scotland

[Rick Payton]

I talked with the BOW people via email and this is the response:

Hi

Thank you for your enquiry, unfortunately we do not have a white colour in our collection, the only colours available are the ones on our website..

Kind Regards
Doreen Sharples
Sales Administrator

Bridge of Weir Leather Company Limited
Baltic Works, Bridge of Weir, Renfrewshire PA11 3RH, Scotland

T +44 (0)1505 615501
www.bowleather.co.uk



----- Original Message -----
From: forms@scottishleathergroup.com
To: forms@bowleather.co.uk
Sent: Sunday, May 16, 2010 2:48 PM
Subject: Form Submission - BOWfrmSpecialReq

Name :- Rick Payton
Company :- Design Guys
Address :-
Email :- rpayton@insightbb.com
Telephone :-
Fax :-
Details :- I need White Leather that was used new on 1956 Continental Mark II. I don't see white as an option in your color palette . I think I would need 3 White hides and 1 Beige hide Thank You Rick Payton



--
Bridge of Weir Leather Company is a limited company registered in Scotland.
Registered No. 15274
Registered Office:Baltic Works, Kilbarchan Road, Bridge of Weir, Renfrewshire, Scotland, PA11 3RH
A member of Scottish Leather Group Limited

[Shawn Newcomb]

everything old is new again...this description sounds remarkably familiar...:)

click Bridge of Weir in gray menu.
http://www.lincoln.com/mkz/interiorfeatures.asp?searchid=426441|28115540|2053 48078