More Vintique cra-
 

Maybe it's time we all simply started telling the compnaies (Vintique and Drake come to mind first & foremost) that we're tired of stuff being sold as "original - perfect copy" and "authentic in every detail".
Perhaps then, they may actually start making stuff that is correct. Or, at the very least, advertise it for what it is..."fits but not authentic" may be some truth in advertising.
Personally I won't buy from either. Vintique is 99% cra- and Drakes service is 99% cra-.
If anyone is interested I'll send a picture of what Vintique sells for wiper blades and arms (1940 Ford) next to authentic blades and arms.
What a joke.

Re: More Vintique cra-
 

Re: More Vintique cra-
 

i learned twenty years ago, just say NO to Vintique!

Re: More Vintique cra-
 

So where can a person get GOOD wiper blades? I need some for my F-1. I agree, Vintique sucks.....I refuse to do business with drake.

Re: More Vintique cra-
 

kube and rm --- now that you`ve told us who makes crap and who has crap service lets hear who makes authentic parts and has good service. personally i wouldn`t put a crappy part on anybodys car just because the service is good and i will buy a good part even if the service was bad or the dealer is arrogant. for some strange or not so strange reason people on this site badmouth the best parts available and promote the inferior part that has the worst service. dare i say bradley floorpans. theres so much mostly undeserved drake bashing on this site when the guy makes a good part everybody complains about the price or its got a made in china label on it. i hardly ever hear anybody complaining about carpenter or vintiques yet most of their parts are far inferior to drakes.

Re: More Vintique cra-
 

RMR&C What year F1? If it's later than 48 check with NPD I've had pretty good luck with them and some of their stuff is Carpenters and is a little cheaper.

Oh and as for Vintique personally I hate buying it because I pretty much know it will have to be modified in some form to work.

Re: More Vintique cra-
 

Re: More Vintique cra-
 

On the truck side of things, I bought a window channel kit from LMC and it had Vintique right on the box! Needless to sat I'm very disappointed with the window fuzzies that go on the horizonal edge. The clips don't hold well and you have to put them on and line them up. There's a finger pocket in the door by the glass and thier product doen't match the curve at all! The rest of the kit was ok. It said made in USA on the box, but I think that's stretching the truth!!

Barry

50 F-1

Re: More Vintique cra-
 

Thanks Mike, I tried to make your photos smaller. Here they are. My 40 wipers are 9 in long stainless with a hook that attaches to stock wiper arm.

Re: More Vintique cra-
 

Well, I spent 2 years and many $$$$ restoring the truck in my avitar...here is my conclusion. #1.If possible, use the parts you have and rebuild, rechrome, reuse. #2. Search for NOS or good used. #3.There are very few good reproduction parts being made....there are some however. Rootlieb (sp?) makes very nice hoods. Carpenter makes SOME good rubber.There are others as well. As for lmc, macs, drake, etc, they don't MAKE anything! They are just retailers, they all get their parts from the same source. Mostly vintique or china. But to be fair, if "we" didn't want this junk, they wouldn't keep selling it. Seems to be a lot of buyers remorse though.....I know i have learned a few lessons.:rolleyes:

Re: More Vintique cra-
 

I hate to break the news to you , but Drake is a major manufacturer in our hobby. Yes they are also a major retailer of other manufacturers parts too, so you are partly correct. One of the biggest problems I see is our standards are much higher today than Fords standards were when our cars / trucks were originally made. What amazes me though is ,with technoligy that is 75 years more advanced, why can't we get a better product? I am glad we at least have these people making stuff for us. This is a free country and the businesses are in it for profit and desere to make a return on there investments that are worthwhile and if anybody here can do a better job I am all for it, but my experience tells me that we will just continue to bitch and make no attempt to make any better products.

Re: More Vintique cra-
 

Way to edit! Thanks for breaking the news...I still won't ever buy from him again.
As for quality/ standards, most people are not willing to pay for quality i guess, they want it cheap, so they settle for cheap junk. There does not seem to be any middle ground.

Re: More Vintique cra-
 

On my 38 panel I bought a set of arms and blades for my truck per the specs so to say, not acceptable, how are you really going to use what is sold, you're not. I took one of the stainless universal arm sets that are sold that fit on our posts, I took a set of good anco steel bodied wipers of the proper length, I drilled a hole in the blade and the arm, I attached the blade to the arm with a small SS bolt with washers and a nylock nut, done problem solved and if it rains I can see. Period correct is well and fine, but I need to see out the window first and fore most.

Re: More Vintique cra-
 

Not to make an argument, but I can remember when my car was only 25 yrs old and wondered where I was going to find rubber seals for my leaking windows, how I was going to get the pits out of my wiper stanchons, where I was going to find good running boards, etc, etc. I think bad service is irriting and inexusable and poor quality is a reflection of the manufacturers integrity, however I'm willing to tolerate service in order to purchase stuff I can use and without which I might not finish my car. Bad quality I return. I'm not a teenager anymore and we're all operating under one unforgiving timeline. We all know the term"bolt on"... close enough to modify so it will fit. Merry Christmas.

Re: More Vintique cra-
 

Warshawski Bros., everything automotive on State street, I went there as a kid. That's where we got the parts all those years ago, time passes and they have been replaced. I had a guy 20 years ago who could get me all of the oddball parts, I miss him and his machine shop.

Re: More Vintique cra-
 

I don't usually get involved in these threads, but. I have a 46 coupe, 53 f100, and a 40 coupe. Without Drake, Carpenter, and Vintique I am sure I would not have been able to get them on the road. Sure these suppliers are not perfect, and I have tossed some stuff in the trash, but they still have contibuted greatly to our hobby. From what I have heard the original suppliers to Ford weren't perfect either. To me, the products I have bought from all suppliers for our hobby are appreciated.

Re: More Vintique cra-
 

Some of you guys sound like you should be restoring Bugattis and Duesenbergs…..OH they make almost nothing for them WTF

Re: More Vintique cra-
 

Hey Frank The Plumber:
I went there once, sign on the front of the building said J C Whitney & Co. and painted on the side of the building was a big sign that said Warshawski Bros. That was a large building full of goodies.
Chisel

Re: More Vintique cra-
 

Re: More Vintique cra-
 

Re: More Vintique cra-
 

No resolution.

Re: More Vintique cra-
 

Ok guys... I am going to step in with a view from the other side of the counter.

I cannot tell you guys how many times I have been told the hook and saddle style wiper arm/blades are junk because they flop side to side as they wipe... Of course they do, thats original. So guess what... Vintique steps up and makes a slightly more modern design (bayonet) to fit the 1940. (They also sell the original style)

Of course they are not original... they are an updated design. The problem here is not solely with Vintique, much of the problem may be with the retailer that these were purchased from (Vintique does not sell direct) who may have been ignorant of the difference, or just did not care. If they were purchased from a swap meet table or epay then caveat emptor and shame on anyone from complaining (if you are buying blind then YOU should know Vintique sells two styles.)

IMHO Vintique, Drake, and Carpenter et cetera ALL make good parts, but not all their parts are perfect, if there is anything that can be called perfect. All have some parts that may be less than optimum, but generally are better than making from scratch.

Oh yea, take any of the "original - perfect copy" and "authentic in every detail" with just a much credibility as the "rust free" and "NOS - just a little shelf wear" claims. Especially when it is from a vendor at a swap meet or on epay, rather from the manufacturer. Unfortunatly honestly describing a product will result in a sale to a inferior competetors product, or a person who buys the cheapest will decide ALL repro stuff is junk (they got what they wanted... the cheapest).

Re: More Vintique cra-
 

I agree with that statement, to a point. With off-shore labor as cheap as it is, there is potential for vendors to offer stuff BETTER than or at least equal to original at a somewhat higher price. If offered a choice between two levels of quality, I think there would be decent demand for the Better Quality pieces, and most would live with the cheaper. But at least there would be a choice.

On the other side of the coin, my perception is vendors are happy to make max profit off the cheap stuff.

Re: More Vintique cra-
 

All I was saying was
I’m real thankful for all the people out there makin parts……pulling some of it off and not going crazy form super picky customers and government interference cant be easy.

An example
Simply put….the Drake deluxe grill for my dads 40 was outF…ing standing and it was a reject blem.

If it wasn’t for stuff like this what would NOS or decent be selling for?

Re: More Vintique cra-
 

Maybe I am just "too easy"------but almost all the stuff that I ordered from Drake has been OK! Yeah, some stuff required a little modification and some stuff was returned----but I never had a problem with Drake and the returns. But just keep in mind that even original Ford parts varied when new. I can't speak for Vintige parts, I don't think I ever purchased any----but Drake in my experience has been OK.

Re: More Vintique cra-
 

Although they sell some good products, in my opinion, Harbor freight sells more crap than Drake, Carpenter, C &G and others put together. I also realize that they are not selling reproduction parts for our Fords. I have had no problems with Drake. I'm disappointed that some of Carpenter's stuff is Chinese, but where else do you go?? I was in the Martinsburg Mall last Friday and the aisles were filled with weekend vendors and most of their stuff was also Chinese junk.

Re: More Vintique cra-
 

I agree there is nothing any worse than being dissatisfied with a product you just purchased with your hard earned money.
I don't know what to say here . No answers here just don't let it happen again. I am amazed that the vendors in question are able to hang in and survive.I hang around a small business myself and the cost of one employee is beyound my comprehension.
The cost of getting goods from China has become very expensive for the retailers . I am thinking that the vendors are still here mainly due to their dedicated desire to keep the hobby going.I am most sure the business itself is unable to support itself any more. I could be wrong but the cost of the material to produce the goods has went up so much in the past three years.
Many materials used in the aircraft industry have become unavailable from mills in the USA. I will shut up now I don't want to bore you guys .I am just speaking some thoughts,ideas
No matter what false advertising in not right. If the case be.

Travis

Re: More Vintique cra-
 

Re: More Vintique cra-
 

I find it rather sad I guess that the parts that were made 75 years ago can not be made to any precision today, For gosh sakes, we think we are so smart, but we can't even copy a part in hand that was made in 1938. There is something wrong, be it intelligence, be it engineering, be it a take it or leave it attitude, there is definitely something wrong. It's very arrogant of the manufacturer/ parts broker to accept this misfitment of components as business as usual. It costs only pennies to build it to a better standard per unit as compared to a poor one, the actual making of the part is most likely the least expensive part of the operation. The actual money spent on a $50 part and the margin it represents is mostly spent on USA intellect, the brain trust that designed and composed the part, the shipping, the infrastructure of the company to sell market and pipe line the part. The fumble of the ball is actually occurring on this side of the pond, those guys over there have actually in most cases all of the newest and best equipment to make stuff, they will make what ever you want to any spec, the spec and acceptance of product is all on this side of the pond. I do not blame the guy in China making 30 cents an hour for the product quality, I blame the guy here making a comfortable wage calling the shots for setting the standard and trying to play the game with a square ball.
The larger problem is that when a container of product comes in and does not meet spec it should be sent back, in critical cases it would be, unfortunately we will buy at the best price, then the off product gets market dumped at a lower price, pulls down the price median, destroys the ability of a manufacturer supplier to compete against that off product and next you have the off product as the new market standard. If you as the consumer accept that product as fit, that is your new quality mark median. If you buy split pants cause they are cheap, the fashion will be split pants, don't cry if your fanny is cold when you buy split pants.

Re: More Vintique cra-
 

If we were building these cars on an assembly line, and an out-of-print part from a supplier caused a "no-build" situation, trust me, it would be a teachable moment for the supplier (and very expensive). Without the leverage of volume contracts there isn't much you can do if something doesn't fit exactly right. Even the retailer who might buy 50 parts a year can't do much.

Re: More Vintique cra-
 

The Chinese build our parts to the standards required by our draftsmen and engineers who are paid by our businessmen. If the standards are high,the Chinese will build accordingly. To keep the price down,the standards are lowered,the Chinese drop the manufacturing price and we buy.---And complain!

Re: More Vintique cra-
 

Up here in Canada we can only get what is available, and here in B.C. most of the parts are Vintique with some from Carpenter's and the price is not cheap, I sent to a parts place in Sacramento and for a 3 lb box with 3 little parts enclosed I paid $50 for shipping, won't do that again so I'm stuck with what's here and will modify where necessary.... JMO....:mad:

Re: More Vintique cra-
 

I would pay more for quality and fit right. Some of these rubbber parts I've purchased lately do not fit correctly. They look good and maybe the quality of the rubber is good but the fit is way off. If you are making dies to mold parts, looks like it would be just as easy to make the molds right as to make them wrong. But I agree, we would be lost if not for some of the vendors out there.

Re: More Vintique cra-
 

Bill, You nailed it on the head! The Chinese are quite capable of building anything we desire. If Drake or the others in question here send a drawing with close tolerances it will cost a bit more to produce than a drawing with loose tolerances.
Those that suggest drake and the others stay at this because they 'care' about the hobby... c'mon, maybe a little, but mainly they stay at it for profit.
One fellow asked how it is they manage to remain in business. easy enough to answer... simply read many of the replies to this post. A lot of guys either don't know the difference between good parts and crap or they simply do not care.

Re: More Vintique cra-
 

All parts are made to GE spec. good enough. Regardless of who they are made for or by.

Re: More Vintique cra-
 

Re: More Vintique cra-
 

Re: More Vintique cra-
 

Unfortunately Kube, you are not correct in that statement, if you were the whole topic would not even be up for discussion. What kind of soup today? Chicken!! What if I don't like chicken? GET OUT!! NO SOUP FOR YOU, GET OUT OR ELSE!!! NO SOUP FOR YOU!!!! All you need is 50.00000001% for, to win. 49.99999999%,against, NO SOUP FOR YOU!!!!

Re: More Vintique cra-
 

Hooray for social networking internet sites, instant information for common and not so common problems.

Since there are a bunch of people getting all wound up on this post about shoddy quality it needs to be explained what aspect of shoddy workmanship there is on a $4.00 wiper blade and a $6.00 arm.

I'm guessing that the shoddy quality blame is the fact that the arms rotate to the side or upward when the vehicle speed reaches over 50MPH. If this seems to be the problem, its not with the wiper blades its with aerodynamics of the vehicle. It seems that since most posters were very young in the 30's or 40's its a pretty good chance that they wouldn't remember that based upon the road conditions average vehicle speed was around 45 mph. Today hopping into your freshened ride and tooling along at 60+ highway speed, like your new over priced SUV, is going to have some issues and require different approaches to solve.. Any way if this isn't the problem please post what it is so all this isn't wasted key strikes.

Re: More Vintique cra-
 

Dick,you're right.I've had a drivers license for 58years and remember the old days of 50mph and quality. Designs and necessity then didn't require what we do now. But heck we have to fuss about something.