Build sheet questions: 1938 Cadillac V-16 9057B

[Cadillac Kid]

I have an unrestored 38-9057B.  I recently received the build sheet, which added additional questions (can't attach PDF as it is just over size limit).   Cowl data tag is:  Body No. 2.  Trim No. SO-3009.  Paint No. -- BLANK. 

The build sheet indicates the following items, of which I am mostly ignorant, any help is appreciated:

2-X-3 --
W-4910 (?) PIECE 3381 --   Appears to be an upholstery number, but not listed in CLC Auth. Manual.
SPECIAL PLUSH MATS TO MATCH UPHOLSTERY -- are these pillows?  Does anyone have a photo of what they would look like?
ROYAL WSW -- is this a color?  If so, it does not show up in the CLC Authenticity Manual for 38-90's.
FLEX WHEEL -- this one I understand.
LICENSE FRAMES -- ditto
FLEETWOOD RADIO AND AERIAL -- ditto

thanks for your consideration,
Dave

[Steve Passmore]

I believe the "Plush Mats" are for the floor, deep pile.

[Jeff Hansen]

I'm going to make an educated guess and speculate that "ROYAL WSW" refers to tires.

HTH,
Jeff

[Bob Hoffmann CLC#96]

Dave,
I'll try & help. What you received is not a build sheet, but an invoice showing what the car was when it shipped.
2 = antionette blue paint
X = special order interior.
3= should be a 5 or 6 for the  # of wheels ,side mounted or not?
Interesting SO, I 've never seen that one.  The W4910 is a special type of fabric made by Weiss. It only takes one small change to SO a car. It deletes both paint & trim codes.
The tires are Royal white side walls.
Feel free to call me to dicuss the invoice if you like.
  HTH, Bob

[Cadillac Kid]

OK, starting to make sense.  The "3" I stated could be a "5," which is consistent with the car being a trunk (single) spare.  When I purchased the car, the previous owner (or the one before him) was evidently in the process of converting it to dual sidemounts.  It came with 75 series front fenders (with sidemounts) and he eventually located the original fenders (no sidemounts) for me.  Not being a "gotta have sidemounts" type, I plan to restore it (but not tomorrow) with the original smooth fenders.  I might change my plans on this as I have several other 38-90's that could act as donors for the sidemounts.  I am glad to hear that that the original color is not black (or so it sounds).  "Antoinette Blue" sounds sublime!  Sanding at the paint in several areas, it appears that it it has black paint topped by a layer of green.  So perhaps the original blue paint was stripped at some point.  I will have to further investigate, particularly under the cowl air-scoop, which often provides reliable evidence.  Most of the interior upholstery still survives.  It looks rather pedestrian to me, especially compared to the 38-9033 I have been working on for several years, which had a "3-D" type triangular pattern to it.  I have investigated having a special run of that fabric made for the 9033 (#63), but have not found a textile mill willing to take it on.  Photo attached shows the 38-9057 car and my 39-7557 a couple of years ago, with me and one of the local "boys" who can be counted on to push around 90-series when needed.   

[Doug Houston]

I have the identical car, as a 1939 model. The original color was Cavern green, which you might call "Midnight Green."  Like Antoinette Blue, it's more black, than green.

My car, like yours, came to me (from California) in 1961, with side mount front fenders, though the car was built as a 5 wheel model. I, too, am not a  "got to have" 6 wheel model car for several reasons. First, the extra hardware and the mounted tires add around 300 more pounds to the front suspension of the car. The springs and shocks are never even thought of, but if you consult the parts book, there will be the story.

Secondly, to me, the car looks better without the side mounted spares. The original front fenders from my car are somewhere in California, and I'd passionately like to swap with the owner of whatever car it is.

I know that there were 5 cars in 1939 like mine. I understand that all 5 still exist.
I once rode in the "Dr. Brinkley" car.

I had the same upholstery in both of my Cadillac 90's, which sounds like the William Weise stuff you have. I'm going to just use a full interior in both the 38-9059, and the 39-9057B.

The "plush carpets" are simply a mohair cloth glued over a sponge rubber base, with snap buttons in the sponge, under the mohair. They should be easy to make up, though I haven't tried it.   

I like the '39 instrument panel better than the '38, but who cares?  The '38 radio is no fun to work on, but the '39 is a miserable thing. They're both good sets, when they're working. They were made By Wells-Gardner.

One of the smartest things that Cadillac did in 1938, was to change the generator drive to all pulleys. My '38 has the early one, but it still works. I'm planning on having a stainless steel battery box made for each of my 90's. Just need to get the one out of the '39.

Some of the 90 model Cadillacs will be found to have a black cowl, regardless of the body color. The body plate (like my coupe) has either a "shop order" (SO) number on it, or nothing for color. I had to determine the original color from the invoice. Long ago, I understand that Cadillac built a few of the series 90 cars, without body in color, and no interior, warehousing them,  anticipating a customer order. They built a running car, but had to finish the firewall, so they did it in black, with the body color to be done upon order. Thus, some, but not all of the series 90 Cadillacs from 1938 through 1940, were done with black firewalls. Mine was one.

[Ross Morgan #22943]

Dave

Attached is a comparison of Antoinette Blue and Black. As Doug says, it's more black than blue but looks stunning. I used a flash for the second photo. 

Regards, Ross.

[Doug Houston]

I haven't dug into the coupe for some time now, though I should. I'm inclined to believe that all of the 90 series cars from 38 through 40, had the "plush" carpets in them. I finally remembered the name of those carpets. It was "Mosstred", and was a product of (Sidney?) Blumenthal. Like William Weise, Blumenthal was out of business by the end of WW II. Any of those cars I've ever seen, have  had the Mosstred carpets.

Both of my Cadillac 90's still have the mosstred carpets in them.....in one shape or other.

[David King (kz78hy)]

Doug,

The black cowl thing makes sense.  To balance production they would want to continue to make bodies with or without orders.  There are several Eldorado Brougham's out there w/the same condition, black blisters/cowls with a different body color.  I've seen more cars w/matching body color blisters, but there is always that original looking car w/the black version that just simply confused me as I could not understand how that could happen.  Now I can see it.   These low volume cars had "special" manufacturing relief that standard cars would not have gotten.

Great bit of insight there, thanks

David