Genuine or "best" Canvas for top and seats

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Genuine or "best" Canvas for top and seats

Post by Congné » Sat Aug 12, 2017 9:56 am

Hi all,

I do not know a lot of things about US Canvas but I would like to be, thanks to some of you, a well informed customer before purchasing.
I have the project to equip my Jeep with a very good summer top and seats set, it is a 1943 Willys and my passion is to make it "perfect and authentic". Maybe one day, when it will be quite perfect, my Jeep will tell me how it really was in Normandy...
I'm French and I have a lot of respect for all the GI who gave us their life in France. I also attend to the D-Day each year with my family.

So, if you feel that you can help me with Canvas, please send me some docs, suppliers names (in the US or in Europe), please tell me the result of your own investigations, correct web, correct treatment for water, correct color, correct price, etc...
If you think I need to contact some specialists, please let me know their avatar or email addresses, if you know some web sites as perfect references, please let me know.

I count on You guys to give me the right tips !
Thanks a lot in advance.
Phil


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Re: Genuine or "best" Canvas for top and seats

Post by RoyC » Sat Aug 12, 2017 10:12 am

Roy °lllll°

1944 FORD GPW °lllll°
1943 Bantam Trailer
'45 Dodge wc51
"Keep Them Rolling"

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Re: Genuine or "best" Canvas for top and seats

Post by Mark Jesic » Sat Aug 12, 2017 11:23 am

Phil, try John and Mary Worthing Canvas, Orleton ,Shropshire England. They do canvases that fit excellently, with that unique canvas smell, and reasonably priced. He has orders worldwide. Just type in Worthing Canvas to google, and your away. :D

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Re: Genuine or "best" Canvas for top and seats

Post by Michael O. » Wed Aug 16, 2017 7:07 am

RoyC wrote:
Sat Aug 12, 2017 10:12 am
the best canvas: https://www.beachwoodcanvas.com/
No!!!! Definitely not!!!! Their canvas tops are blatantly incorrect and it is very obvious to those who know. They make a "generic" top that is neither correct for a GPW or MB. Additionally, the color of both their tops and seats is incorrect. There are much better canvas manufactures right here on the G!
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Re: Genuine or "best" Canvas for top and seats

Post by jkillelea » Thu Aug 17, 2017 6:56 am

Bonjour Phil,
I bought all canvas for my 42 GPW many years ago from Beachwood and was satisfied with color and fit. Recently I bought canvas seats for another 42 GPW from WeBee Webbing. I'm very happy with them. The seats are much more comfortable than the Beachwood. They seem to have more padding. A lot of people feel that WeBee Webbing colors are more accurate, but from what I have learned, there were differences in color canvas during the war, so I feel that the way to best approach this is to look carefully at the manufacturing of the seats/tops. Just my opinion. Bon Chance.
John

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Re: Genuine or "best" Canvas for top and seats

Post by Ralph » Fri Aug 18, 2017 11:34 am

Hi Phil,
I'd get samples from several vendors to see the product for yourself.Ask them questions.Canvas color and construction correctness is highly subjective,as is dealer preference.The large vendors have satisfied many and disappointed some.All have issues you can read about on the various threads.The vendors have loyalists which can make it a lively advisory...color,construction,hardware- in the style which,in the end,satisfies- your- correctness requirements is what to settle on.Reasonable and civil customer service-not a given- is worth considering as well.
Ralph

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Re: Genuine or "best" Canvas for top and seats

Post by Congné » Mon Aug 21, 2017 12:58 pm

Hi all,

Many thanks for contributions, that's great to read all your opinions, advices and critics.
You're like professional and I count on your posts to know more about webbing, best US tops and seats material.
To summarize :
www.beachwoodcanvas.com
www.canvasco.com
www.odcloth.com/products.html
.... probably some other ones to come like Kaisers Willys

I am especially amazed to see such price gaps. When we love, we do not count, but :-)...
In France, I've found a seats set costing 999,00€ ! (http://www.jeepsudest.com/boutique/40-s ... ate-44-45/), the summer top is not included.

Like Ralph said, ordering samples from different vendors is a good idea I guess, at least to check canvas, color and smelling !
Just to add that John and Mary Worthing Canvas introduce themselves as the home of American Canvas in Europe :-)
My feeling is that everything perfect for an MB or a GPW are probably coming from the US :-) but at that stage I want to stay objective.

Happy to read your further comments
Lets recruit her the best American specialists to get their thoughts. Come on !
Phil

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Re: Genuine or "best" Canvas for top and seats

Post by Ralph » Mon Aug 21, 2017 4:58 pm

Phil,
It is true that we sometimes don't count...but returning to a practical moment,shipping costs are rising constantly.Where there might be a difference in US sourced canvas-I'm skeptical of that-it sounds promising that John & Mary Worthing's firm considers that aspect,at least in their marketing.
Reading essentially the same reviews as you have,I've seen all good marks for them except a little extra order time needed because of their 2-person operation.Just across the channel.I have not seen their product.My experience was with Beachwood. A+...Good luck.
Ralph

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Re: Genuine or "best" Canvas for top and seats

Post by TonyStandefer » Mon Aug 21, 2017 5:08 pm

Don't buy beechwood, the current color of canvas and webbing is bad. I have owned weebee webbing and was satisfied with balance between authenticity (pattern) and cost. The material on Weebee was much better than beechwood in my opinion. For the ultimate seat cushions get Paulo batiste, for the ultimate top get Farrell fox's
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Re: Genuine or "best" Canvas for top and seats

Post by blitz67 » Sun Aug 27, 2017 6:20 pm

I bought a complete set of beachwood canvas, as soon as I opened the box I about puked, horrible, horrible tops and seats. The color is unlike anything used by any military during WWII, looks more like North Korean Army surplus.

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Re: Genuine or "best" Canvas for top and seats

Post by Mark Jesic » Mon Aug 28, 2017 11:42 am

Interesting replies Phil, your choice, but i would still go with Worthing Canvas, they have never let me down, plus they are really nice people to deal with. And the smell of that canvas !!!! I wish they did it in aftershave. :D :D

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Re: Genuine or "best" Canvas for top and seats

Post by Congné » Mon Aug 28, 2017 1:30 pm

Hi all,

Thanks again for your comments. Step by step, we are progressing.
Some of you mentioned direct criticisms regarding Beachwood.
I would not like to create polemics or too fast jugements on vendors, some probably do it by pure passion, crazy guys :-), some others do pure business, clever guys...
In the end, there is something for every taste, for every budget. We just want to avoid bad guys or thieves.
Personally, I am looking for something authentic before to be perfectly and technically well done. Color, smell, thickness of canvas, reinforcement of seams are important things for me.

At that stage, options discussed are those ones :
www.beachwoodcanvas.com
www.canvasco.com
www.odcloth.com/products.html
http://www.jeepsudest.com/boutique/40-s ... ate-44-45/
http://www.jeep4ever.fr/sellerie-mousse ... le-mb_ford

What do you think, maybe we could embed some pictures of our seats and summer tops in our posts ?

Regards
Phil

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Re: Genuine or "best" Canvas for top and seats

Post by Thunderbird712 » Tue Aug 29, 2017 9:28 am

I think it was mentioned above but Paolo Batisti's seat cushions have had very good reviews in the past. They are for 1944-45 jeeps but I think its worth adding to your list. http://www.thelongolivedrabline.com/pro ... willys-mb/
TJ Zackman
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Re: Genuine or "best" Canvas for top and seats

Post by Congné » Fri Dec 14, 2018 9:33 am

Hello everybody,

I had a lot to do since last time and I put the acquisition of a canvas top and seats set on hold.
Too late unfortunately to make the deal for Xmas, i will probably take a décision beg. of next year.

Any news on that topic from you guys ? I am still chasing the best canvas worldwide

Phil

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Re: Genuine or "best" Canvas for top and seats

Post by jkillelea » Fri Dec 14, 2018 9:49 am

I used Beachwood canvas on my first GPW and WeBee webbing on the second. I have NO complaints from either supplier. Beachwood has held up for almost 25 years. WeBee webbing is great (perhaps a softer cushion material) and has held up for 4 years with no problem.


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