Um, sorry folks, I came in late on this one. What's this thread all about??
I'm kidding. I'M KIDDING.
--
Martin Secrest
Philip Haldeman wrote:
> I'm forwarding this message by permission of Derek Graham. I'm told that
> Derek is the TR6 registrar in the U.K. If anyone has any thoughts on the
> *early* TR6 steering wheels, they might send a copy of their post to Derek,
> for I don't think he's on the List.
>
> --Phil Haldeman
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Derek Graham <Derek.Graham@ukgateway.net>
> To: Philip Haldeman <haldeman@accessone.com>
> Sent: Sunday, February 20, 2000 2:10 AM
> Subject: Re: TR6 Steering Wheel Update [with apologies]
>
> > Philip,
> >
> > You just beat me to a response. Both my cousin and myself agree with your
> > findings for the post 1970 wheels. We do however believe that the 1969
> > wheels were indeed leather and close examination of wheels in our
> posession
> > show there to be 'genuine' stitching on these.The moulded rubber backing
> > however still exists on these wheels as well, so there is a lingering
> doubt.
> > These wheels of course were of a completely different design and one thing
> > in favour of leather for the pre 1970 wheel is that there is no return up
> > the spokes, which would be extremely difficult to form in leather, as I
> > recently found out when I had a GT6 rim trimmed in real leather to look
> just
> > like a 1970 onwards TR6 wheel. TR5/250 rims are trimmed in leather and it
> is
> > logical to presume that the 69 wheel would be a carryover from presumably
> > the same manufacturer. The later wheels would probably have been a cost
> > cutting exercise which saw the use of leather discontinued. An interesting
> > debate all the same and I would be interested to know of your thoughts on
> > the early wheels.
> >
> > Regards Derek Graham
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Philip Haldeman <haldeman@accessone.com>
> > To: <triumphs@autox.team.net>
> > Cc: <jh_davis@mindspring.com>; <mppsrtr6@lincweb.com>; <spitlist@gte.net>;
> > <ryoung@navcomtech.com>; <derek.graham@ukgateway.net>;
> <guacamohle@att.net>
> > Sent: Saturday, February 19, 2000 11:40 PM
> > Subject: Re: TR6 Steering Wheel Update [with apologies]
> >
> >
> > > Well, everyone. Difficult though it is, I have to admit I was just
> plain
> > > wrong. Upon removing my original 15" wheel and examining it carefully,
> I
> > > can tell, if only by "feel", that it's molded rubber and not leather.
> The
> > > later 14.5" wheel I got at the junk yard is the same. It's just not
> > nearly
> > > as "rubbery" and supple , and it has a textured surface of micro-cracks
> > due
> > > to weathering that have the appearance of grain or finely-cracked
> leather.
> > > The fake stitching seemed to be separate when we examined it under
> > > magnification, but I can see now that when I push the tip of a needle
> > > "under" what seems to be stitching, it will appear to start pulling away
> > or
> > > wiggling, but this is deceptive because of the way the tiny rubber
> > > stretches. This probably sounds idiotic. But we were fooled---and we
> > > didn't want to rip any of the "stitches" by pulling them all the way
> out.
> > > I'm embarrassed, of course, and offer an apology to anyone who was
> misled
> > or
> > > wasted their time. I presume no one lost their life or wrecked their
> car
> > > over this issue. :-)
> > >
> > > I also have to say that it shows how one can be fooled. I saw a show
> > about
> > > the fake "Hitler Diaries" on The History Channel, and one of the lessons
> > was
> > > the "wishful thinking" people can get into, or how they may become
> biased
> > > given a seed of evidence that points in a particular direction. We all
> > > think we're immune to this, right? In my case it was the book _Triumph
> > TR6_
> > > that stated that the steering wheel rims were leather. I sought out the
> > > evidence to show what I already believed, and tended to ignore (but not
> > > entirely discount) those of you who said otherwise. My junk yard wheel
> > > didn't help matters because of the condition it was in, and I didn't
> > bother
> > > to carefully examine my original wheel now. Again, my apologies to all
> > for
> > > this waste of time.
> > >
> > > Phil Haldeman
> > > haldeman@accessone.com
> > >
> >
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