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I am looking to have a bent wood top bow, re-created from the original one. Does anyone have a source or direction they can lead me in to accomplish this ? The car is a 1939 one twenty con. coupe.

You'll find a specialist or two advertising in Hemmings who do this particular type of work, but I've no experience with any of them.

I would try a few of your local woodworking shops. It simply requires steam bending. I have seen this done, not to belittle it but a guy with his wits about him could do it with a bucket of water.

People more experienced might have the jigs already set up, in the end that might reduce costs.

I'm gonna toss in an armchair quarterback comment here, (but know that I also have experience making my own top bows) My suggestion is to make it yourself, as long as you have a pattern. And don't worry too much about steam bending, if you don't want to go to that effort. My point is you are going to be shocked what the professional shops will want to charge for this, when I suspect you (or a good friend) already have the talent to do this. I will now step down from my soapbox and return this query to its originator.

Several years ago I had Penn Dutch Restorations in Glenn Rock, PA make a front header bow for my 35 Victoria. It was perfect and reasonably priced. They have samples of virtually every Packard top bow made from the early twenties on. My local mill shop avoided the job because it was too complicated. Penn Dutch's phone number is 717 235 0688.

Good luck

Ron Williams

Quote:
G'day Ron,
See you've made your first posts today so to PackardInfo.

And I invite you to include your '35 Victoria in the Owner Registry together with a pic, any known history and how you acquired it.

Quote:
Ron,
for including your '35 in the Owner Registry. Note there isn't a pic there, and from your description it deserves one as it sounds like a terrific Packard. Did you try and include a pic? If so there are size constraints as well the type of acceptable attachment which apply. The more computer literate here will be able to assist if this is the case.
again.

Thank you everyone . I am always interested in other opinions,and comments. Never too old to learn.

Hi, I joined the Forum first for few days ago. I made the top bows for my 1929 330 Touring and 640 Roadster myself.
I made a robust wooden frame/jig. I formed a 1/4" flat iron to the inner curve of the wooden bow and welded 15 pcs angle iron to this curve-iron and fastened to the robust wooden frame/jig. Then I split the oak in 1/4" lists. I have to steam, so I warmed these oak lists in boiling water. I made a rectangular tank of sheet metal (4" x 4" x 3`) so small as possible and the water was warmed up with acetylene gas. When all oak lists where bendable I bend them around the flat iron and were hold in place by several clamp tools. After some days the oak was dry. Then I laminated the oak lists with water resistant glue. After grinding the bows got a excellent look. Then a repeated the process by bending the flat iron to form the curve for another bow.

Best regards,
Odd Moen
Norway

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Very nice job and shows what determination will accomplish. I am always surprised at how much ingenuity there is when someone is determined to get something done.