1951-1953 convertible upper back seat question

[Caddyrag67]

was wondering if anyone could post some pics of the upper rear seat bare frame from a 51-53 convertible. mine is somewhat rotted away at the top and I'm in the process of bending up a new one but mine is missing the whole top row of springs and edges as you see in the photo.. so something to go off of would greatly help

[Caddyrag67]

anyone?

[Caddyrag67]

I would assume the back is the same from 49-55 possibly?

[Quentin Hall]

I'll try to remember to take a pic or three  tomorrow.
I have just completed a complete respring of a 53 Eldo seat back.

[Quentin Hall]

Just so you know. I found that the perfect hourglass springs are used in mattresses. Also the high end mattresses use the pocket springs.
We had a Council curb rubbish collection recently and I drove 3 streets and found 2 mattresses with both styles, enough springs to do 3 cars worth.
If you go to an upholstery shop you will pay $4 a spring.
I'll get better pics tomorrow but here are some to suffice.

[Quentin Hall]

Close to 1000 hog rings on 2x front seat backs and rear upper and lower squabs!!!

[Quentin Hall]

So there are 3 rows x 9 hourglass springs.
Then the upper two rows are 2 rows of pocket springs.
I sewed them into muslin instead of hessian... I've seen the hessian burn and it ain't good.

[Caddyrag67]

thank you so much! life saver! couple questions. where did you metal strips that go around the edge of the springs to hold them in place? also I was able to source the edge spring steel and the 9 gauge hour glass springs but cannot find the thinner gauge hour glass ones to replace or the coils that are just straight down and not hour glass shaped.

[Quentin Hall]

Look for a inner spring mattress. They use the thinner springs. If you can't find pocket springs for the upper cylinder springs just use the thinner hour glass. Once installed and padded you will not notice a difference.
You can buy W clips at upholstery supplier.
The top 2 rows should be bagged.
I folded new U strips in my sheetmetal press. You could substitute straight rod and hog ring in place. A sheetmetal shop could fold up for you.
I used 1mm zincaneal.

[Caddyrag67]

I bent up some of replacement edge wires just need to get some springs and slightly tweak some of the bends and should be good to go

[Quentin Hall]

You could get a job doing that!
Haha.
The next bit is the fun. Wait till you get about 300 hog rings in and your hand starts to hurt.
I cut some water hose rubber and put it on the grips to make them more ergonomic ... otherwise it's blister city.