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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