Price for seat belts!

[Highnumbers]

Possibly off-topic, but does anybody know if there was a period difference between the conventional Britax seat belts and the intertia reel type?

I bought a set of inertia reel Britax belts some time ago and curious to know if they're a period accessory item for a mid-sixties car.

[Ernie]

Parnell,s book states" Inertia reel seat belts became available as an additional option during 1965"

[InimiaD]

I have BMC Accessories pamphlets dated 5 / 65 and 4 / 69 and the Britax Automatic seat belts, part number ADA 4189 (probably BMC code) is illustrated in both pamphlets.
There wasn't any inflation around during the 4 years between the pamphlets being issued. The price was £6 in 1965 and 1969.

[Highnumbers]

Perfect, thanks gents. I have a '66 so that would be correct.

[mk1]

Poster from 1965.

[mk1]

Sadly, Kangol has been nothing more than a trademark punted around various investment companies for years. They don't make anything anywhere, they just have people stick a label on stuff. Mainly HipHop hats.

M

[dklawson]

...Mainly HipHop hats.
M

Sadly true. Until I bought my Mini as a project, the only context I had ever heard of Kangol in was hats and scarves.

[Ernie]

Sadly, Kangol has been nothing more than a trademark punted around various investment companies for years. They don't make anything anywhere, they just have people stick a label on stuff. Mainly HipHop hats.

M

Should put my English made Kangol cap bought in the sixties (showing my age!!) up for auction. ;

[Highnumbers]

...Mainly HipHop hats.
M

Sadly true. Until I bought my Mini as a project, the only context I had ever heard of Kangol in was hats and scarves.

Honestly, I never assumed it was the same Kangol company that made both.

Kangol is a nearly 100-year-old clothing brand. If they did manufacture seat belts, these products are only a footnote in their long history as a clothing manufacturer.

[GraemeC]

A friends mum used to work for Kangol. Their of factory in Cleator looks very sorry for itself now though.

[Austin Cooper]

I bought a couple of sets of seat belts presumably from this seller a few years back. From memory I paid around £160 a pair which was the reserve, I worked out his reserve and bid that amount on every set he listed for a couple of months until I wasn't outbid.

Anyway, if it helps at all with the authenticity of the belts, what I received was as follows; 1 pair of Britax chrome buckle 3 point static belts with single bolt tunnel fixing, they had kite mark tags attached and a small label with a number on it which I think is probably a manufacture date code, but I'm not sure. The correct fitting kit for a Mk1/2 Mini and a white envelope containing a sticker to put on your screen so people knew you had Britax belts and a card to fill in, I think it's an accident report card. No original boxes or bags except the envelope so the sets could well have been made from parts but I've no doubts the belts are original and genuine.

[Ernie]

The more you dig the more confusing it becomes.Please correct me if I am wrong. The Britax space for the logo seems to be the same whoever they supplied. Thus stickers can be easily replaced. So the clasps can come off any make of vehicle and simply change the logo sticker. The Kangol belts supplied to BMC have a rounder design for the logo space than Kangols after market and other car makers belts which had more of an oblong space, this was also the design later for the Leyland Minis. So it should be easier to detect a genuine BMC Kangol belt, maybe! You can buy BMC stickers for both types. It,s interesting that the latest Britax belts on EBay are not NOS but used.

[mk1]

The story of Kangol Knitted ANGora woOL

Is like an object lesson in why so much of British manufacturing went down the swanny.

They were a truly world beating company that made their initial real big bucks making Berets for the Army during WW2 but on the back of that diversified into parachute & other types of harness. Both sides of the business thrived until the early 70's when high costs & poor labour relations took their toll. The banks screwed them & eventually the "Brand" was sold to various merchant adventurers who all took a cut, leaving nothing but a hollow shell & a label.

Very sad really.

M

[Pandora]

Weren't Angora Wool seatbelts an option on Radfords?



Al

[Ernie]

I like the unique nature of the magnetic latch Kangols in my car. I liked them enough to re-web them rather than fit modern replacements. I even liked them enough to buy an additional set for eventual installation in the back seat.

I am sure those who own them feel there is equal charm with Britax belts. For both belt types I am sure the market is largely driven by the desire to keep the early cars "original". However, I personally would never pay the auction prices for NOS belts.

As for those 40+ year old NOS belts Ian has, if they really were kept out of sunlight in a cool, dry place, then they will be fine. Sunlight, heat, and humidity combined can make nylon brittle with age. That said, if you have any doubts about the integrity of the webbing, have them re-webbed. You'll still have NOS latch mechanisms and then you'll be 100% certain that the belts are safe. Sound webbing should be supple and smooth without coarse textures or stiffness.

Hi, I know it's probably stating the b....obvious but if the webbing is showing any signs of fading it is rejected out of hand here. Frankly to ensure your safety you can get approved first class reproduction seat belts. We have USA manufactured seat belts which have the vintage look, ok they are not original, but considerably cheaper and safer.

[richardACS]

bmc-seatbelts-1.jpg

Poster from 1965.

bmc-seatbelts-1.jpg

Might anyone have fitting instructions for these inertia belt? i.e. precisely where the retractable motor is located, what the load spread plates look like and how they avoid being affected by the floor strengthening ribs. Also I assume there must be a directional location of the motors to allow the ball device to roll forward and activate the locking mechanism?

[Peter Laidler]

For all of your answers I'd suggest that you go to Dr Mabo's reconstruction of the seat belts in his latest restoration in the 'our projects' section

The good Herr Doktor Mabo ought to know a bit about seat belts and their construction and use - and restoration. He is a certified aircraft engineer for a well known airline, who use a fair few seatbelts.

And if he says that you can re-web your own, then that's good enough for me..........

[richardACS]

Hello Peter. Yes I subsequently found the good Doctors posts under the Radford Restoration. Lovely work...