More Vintique cra-

[Kube]

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.

[Kube]

Originally Posted by 19Fordy

Kube, Please post photos with explanation. Your 40 expertise is appreciated.

Not certain how to post a pic here. I can send it directly to you if desired.

[hotcoupe]

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

[RMR&C]

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.

[barryfromvictoria]

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.

[Merlin]

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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.

[Kube]

Originally Posted by barryfromvictoria

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.

Are you dealing with a different Drake in your country? It certainly can't be the one in the US.

[Barry-ct]

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

[19Fordy]

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.

[RMR&C]

Originally Posted by barryfromvictoria

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.

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.

[uncle buck]

Originally Posted by RMR&C

There are others as well. As for drake, they don't MAKE anything! They are just retailers, they all get their parts from the same source. Mostly vintique or china.

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.

[RMR&C]

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.

[Frank The Plumber]

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.

[joel]

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.

[Frank The Plumber]

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.

[okiedokie]

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.

[296 V8]

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

[Chisel]

Originally Posted by Frank The Plumber

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.

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

[Kube]

Originally Posted by RMR&C

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.

I agree with you. Most folks don't want to pay for quailty. A large number of those very same folks don't know the difference.
Still, as an ethical business person, TELL US WHAT YOU ARE SELLING. There remains those of us that are intelligent enough to know the difference.

[Kube]

Originally Posted by 296 V8

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

A few of the replies have missed the point I had originally made.
This isn't about what may or may not be available. It isn't about the level of detail I (and others) choose to build out vehicles to. It is about ethics. Simple ETHICS.
If a guy sticks it in your a-- but not too far, then he must be okay huh?
Not in my book. Once an unethical sole, always an unethical sole.
I have purchased parts from Drake and some have been just fine. Thank you (him) is and was due upon those occasions. The PROBLEM is when he and others advertise something of which it is clearly NOT.
It wasn't long ago that Drake got called out on his 'perfect' water pumps'. Oh yes, each guy that called was told "you are the first to bring this to our attention". C'mon, not every guy can be the FIRST guy! Not until the water pump debacle hit the internet (thanks Barn) did Drake take the high road and begin to satisfy those that complained.
Anyone recall the $10 we sent in for a catalog that took YEARS to arrive? That too was addressed only once it widely hit the internet.
Funny, when your only choice is drown or take the high road...