I need to refelt the sliding windows on my 67 motorhome. Does anyone know where I can get the felt liners?
Mike Kinney

By Tom Patterson on Tuesday, March 06, 2001 - 06:48 am:

Hi Mike,
Did you ever find an answer to this one yet ?
I have started to look at the windows on my Travel Home. I removed the gasket material from one, and by using glycerine to soften the material I believe that I will be able to reuse it. I have not yet found the felt here in Houston, although I have been directed to various sources. I have found several posible sites on the internet however.

By MikeKinney on Wednesday, March 07, 2001 - 08:35 pm:

Hi Tom
I have not persued this yet. Since my unit lives in the Seattle outdoors, I am waiting for warmer weather and perhaps some personal solar energy before tackling this project.
I believe Al Cottler is also working on a similar project. He has suggested the windows may be Hehr brand.
If any of those sites turn out to be positive hows about posting them here.
Mike

By Al Cottler on Sunday, March 11, 2001 - 04:23 pm:

Hi Guys,
I retract my assertion that the windows are Hehr brand, pending further evidence. I don't know how I got that into my mind, but a careful inspection does not reveal _any_ clues as to manuf.
There is a Hehr distributor in Florence OR. I will be passing thru there in a few weeks and will stop in. Can't find Hehr's window division on the net.
An Airstream FAQ somewhere does state that they used Hehr windows at least up to the 70's. Anyone got a vintage Airstream handy to compare?
So, I'm still seeking the channels and felts.
-Cheers, Al.

By Tom Patterson on Sunday, March 11, 2001 - 06:07 pm:

Here are some of the internet sites that deal with window channel felt. I don't think that any of these are the answer yet, as I still think that I am going to find some felt locally here in Houston. I spoke with Chris Jones at Bob Jones RV in Houston the other day, and he told me that a customer of his has seen about 30 different types of felt at a company called Houston Rubber products. Problem is.......there is no such company in the phone book. I think I can still find out what the name of company really is though.

http://www.tomsbroncoparts.com/partsforsale/bodyparts.html

http://www.hamptoncoach.com/catalog/08.htm
(this one looks promising)

http://www.stanpro.com/marine2.htm

http://www.restorationspecialties.com/winchan.htm

Also, I agree. I couldn't find the Hehr name on my windows either when I examined them. Here is a site that has a gasket material that looks very similar to the material on my windows.

http://lavanture.com/trims_tapes_seals.htm

Here is a distributor for Hehr....in Oregon. Might be worth a call?

http://www.buccaneermfg.com/

By Tom Patterson on Sunday, March 11, 2001 - 06:28 pm:

I hate to say it, but this looks like the best there is to offer for the Hehr site. I guess they don't much use the internet!

http://www.chesaningchamber.org/members/hehr.htm

By Al Cottler on Monday, March 12, 2001 - 11:08 pm:

Tom,
I just noted the Newell photo you posted a few days ago. The grille is exactly like mine ('64 Ford Truck. I know, I know - pictures). The windows look the same too-have you tried Newell? Got a contact there?
I pried out a chunk of the track and let it dry. Brushed off some of the rust and discovered that it is perforated, and corrugated to bend the corner radius where required. The exterior is apparently naked, the inside was some kind of cloth/felt. The remnants indicate some kind of sheet material.
Buccaneer is the place I found and intend to visit.

-Cheers, Al.

By Tom Patterson on Tuesday, March 13, 2001 - 08:16 am:

I pulled out one of my windows last night and might have more information later today. Meanwhile....... see my posting on the Travel Home parking brake. I am having trouble locating one.

By Tom Patterson on Tuesday, March 13, 2001 - 12:41 pm:

I went with my window to an van conversion company here in Houston, and we checked through one of their catalogues looking for window channel felt. The catalogue was by Sommer & Maca who I see are on the internet.

http://www.somaca.com/

The remmanents of the felt that is currently in the channel is a flexible felt material that has been glued directly in place. The size that I need for the channel is 3/8" deep by 7/16" wide with provision for 3/16" glass. I could not find this size exactly, but did find something almost the same except that it is 1/2" deep. As one side of the channel is more than 3/8", I think that this might work, and have ordered one piece (8', which will do one window). If it does, I will order another five pieces directly over the internet, as the price is better (1/2). The part number is 103-3016 and the piece looks like the following:

By Mike Kinney on Wednesday, March 14, 2001 - 06:55 pm:

Hi Tom
The Newell photo you recently posted appears to have the same windows. Yes they used an upsidedown pickup grill. Someone told me the windshield truck model but I failed to write it down and of course forgot so I will have to re-research that.
Mike

By Mike Kinney on Wednesday, March 14, 2001 - 07:00 pm:

Ok the info I have is 67 Peterbuilt windshields. But this has not been verivied.
Mike

By Tom Patterson on Friday, March 16, 2001 - 12:22 pm:

I received the above felt, and tried to use it in the window. It does fit into the channel, but then I can't get the glass to fit in. I called another place, who is mailing me a sample and will let you know of any progress.

By Tom Patterson on Tuesday, March 20, 2001 - 09:30 am:

I posted a message on the Newell site on their tech board asking for window channel felt information. Maybe there will be an answer.

Meantime, for information, in another window posting, they refer to a company who makes replacement windows for Newell. It is Penisula Glass in Vancouver, WA. 1-800-468-4323. I couldn't get through earlier this morning, but maybe they weren't open yet.

By Tom Patterson on Thursday, March 29, 2001 - 01:27 pm:

Things are looking up!
As I mentioned above, I ordered another piece of window channel felt and received it today. It fits in the window channel, and so does the window, which I am able to slide back and forth. I have yet to reassemble the entire window, as I will have to first permanently glue the felt and gaskets back in place, but think that this does it. After that, I will replace the window in the coach, using Olympic rivets.
I got the felt (which is unbeaded all rubber channel w/flocked lining) from Restoration Specialties. It is their part number AS1268 for a 63-66 Chrysler, Valiant, Dart. They are on the internet at http://www.restorationspecialties.com/ but only have limited information on the site. I phoned and got their catalogue and used it to order this channel material. The material comes in 8' lengths for $8.00, and I needed 8 feet for the one window.

By MikeKinney on Thursday, March 29, 2001 - 08:55 pm:

This is great info Tom. I will call them also and get enough material to line all of my windows. Even if I do not use it now it will be comforting to know I have it when needed.
Mike

By Al Cottler on Monday, June 04, 2001 - 01:34 pm:

The guy at Bucanneer says my windows are definately not Hehr. He refused to even get involved, although we had a nice discussion of neat old coaches.
He suggested a rod/custom shop for help.
I have the Restoration Specialities catalog and believe they have what we need, I will be measuring etc. soon.

But...I did notice a name stamped in the outside of the slide handles - I think it was Van Specialities of Los Angeles or similar. Will check again.

By MikeKinney on Friday, July 20, 2001 - 10:40 pm:

I can't say for sure about the side windows but the back are labeled Hehr-1 1790 221 2551 H .
My guess is that they at least are Hehr. Sure wish I could find a number for the side windows. Perhaps when I start installing the felt liners I will come accross a number.