TR6 replacement seat covers, foam, diaphragm

[joinathanbrooks]

I am investigating purchasing replacement seat covers, foam set, diaphragm and webbing. A supplier I have seen is John Skinner manufacturing. Any body used their replacements, what are they like? Any suggestions for other suppliers?

[astontr6]

I used

 

I am investigating purchasing replacement seat covers, foam set, diaphragm and webbing. A supplier I have seen is John Skinner manufacturing. Any body used their replacements, what are they like? Any suggestions for other suppliers?

 

I used John Skinner for my seat covers have lasted 15 years so far! The webbing & diaphragms bought from Moss. My original seat base foam was Dunlop Pillow which was used again but the underneath was packed with 1 1/2" of hard foam as per a B.A. Trimmer. This addition made the seats better than new as far as comfort. What was offered at that time for replacement foam was useless ??? But what is the condition of your seat frames as I had fatigue cracks and a lot of broken welds. Cost wise it was expensive, would not do it again, cheaper to buy a pair of re-con MX5 seats which are more comfortable.

 

Bruce.

[Chilp3]

I fully re-trimmed the interior of my TR6 with materials supplied by John Skinner and was delighted with the quality and service. Everything was made to order and fitted extremely well (according to my trimmer). I've attached a picture so hopefully you might find that helpful in making a decision for the interior of your TR.

 

Best Regards, Peter

[ken foster]

I fully re-trimmed the interior of my TR6 with materials supplied by John Skinner and was delighted with the quality and service. Everything was made to order and fitted extremely well (according to my trimmer). I've attached a picture so hopefully you might find that helpful in making a decision for the interior of your TR.

 

Best Regards, Peter

Wow! that looks great. I wanted to get walnut dash and door caps made back in the 80s for my TR6 but gave up. Where did you buy yours and if I may ask how much were they?

I saw an MGB with walnut interior last year at Croxley Green auto show, it was peeling and looked tatty though didn't appear that old. There may be different quality veneer items depending what one pays quite probably.

The seats and the rest of the trim look very professional.

 

Regards ken

[Chilp3]

Hi Ken,

Thanks for the positive feedback which is always appreciated. The dash and door capping were supplied by Classic Dash who are based in High Wycombe and are actually finished in burr elm rather than the more readily available walnut. I was very happy with the service from the supplier and collected in person. It was great to be able to see some real craftsmen at work as they supply some rather more exotic marques as well as our trusty TR's. Probably best if you contact them for price and availability as I bought mine from them a few years ago now.

 

Best Regards, Peter

[joinathanbrooks]

thanks all I will go with John.

 

Car looks nice and I may get my dash done as well.

[Sapphire72]

That's inspiring, Peter!

Yes, John Skinner has an excellent reputation stateside, as well. In fact, the best upholstery supplier.

Edited May 11, 2017 by Sapphire72

[ShaunC]

I've used John Skinner too. Very helpful and I personally went to see him several times whilst upholstering mine.

 

I did a set of early US spec seats.

[stuart]

That's inspiring, Peter!

Yes, John Skinner has an excellent reputation stateside, as well. In fact, the best upholstery supplier.

Not with me they havent.

Stuart.

[bonrej32]

Got mine from John Skinner also. Good quality and reasonably priced.

[astontr6]

Not with me they havent.

Stuart.

Stuart,

 

Why have they got the thumbs down?

 

Bruce.

[stuart]

Stuart,

 

Why have they got the thumbs down?

 

Bruce.

You have PM.

Stuart.

[astontr6]

You have PM.

Stuart.

I have sent you a PM reply.

 

Bruce

[joinathanbrooks]

Just ordered a set for my up coming "second" restoration.

[joinathanbrooks]

Got a replacement dash on order from classic.

[JSkinner]

Not with me they havent.

Stuart.

 

Good morning Stuart,

 

I hope all is well.

 

A customer has recently made me aware of a couple of comments on the TR Register Forum that I should look at - including a couple made by yourself.

 

They also mentioned that they had spoken to you on the phone and you had had similar disparaging remarks to make about our interior trim and upholstery parts.

 

I thought I would contact you by the forum directly as this seem to be your main form of communications on topics related to our trim.

 

Can I ask, what I, or my fathers company has done or supplied to you that you have such quarrel with?

 

From my records, which span back to the late 1990s - we have supplied 1 order to you and your company. That was a set of Carpets in 2009 to fit a TR5 model I believe. If memory serves correct this was around the time we were have some well documented issues with our raw material carpet supplier who's backing machine was out of action for about 3 months or so, putting massive lead time on the wool carpet we normally use. I believe all of this was addressed in another post on this Forum around the time - and we spoke on the phone about the alternatives on offer at the time.

From what I remember, you were not happy with this alternative. I explained the issue and said that unfortunately at the time we could not do anything about it as our hands were tied due to our raw material wool supplier. I offered a refund if you returned the parts, which you declined. The matter was put to bed, as far as I was aware, albeit I believe you were still not overly happy with the outcome - but at the time my hands were tied and we could not offer an alternative resolution.

 

This was in 2009. Around that time, I did notice a couple of posts from yourself about this matter - to which I replied trying to explain the situation again.

 

9 years on (or 8 years at the time of this specific quoted post) and you still seem to have a "bee in your bonnet" about John Skinner Ltd and our products.

 

I am curious why - you have had 1 order from us in 38 years of our existence - and although this did not go quite to plan at the time due to the reasons stated above - I did offer alternatives and refunds for this order, which you declined.

 

People from the world over log on to this forum to advice on restoring their classic Triumph cars. For the most part, members are very favourable toward our products and service - which, as a small, family run business I am very grateful for.

 

Your are a very active member of this forum, and it seems that when the John Skinner name is mentioned - you immediately shoot our good name and reputation down without offering reasons why; not openly anyway.

 

Barring that one conversation in 2009 about your order, I do not think that I have ever spoken with you directly. I am upset that you will discourage people from using our goods and services on this forum - for whatever reason - but you do not feel that you should raise any concerns, genuine or not, with me directly first - either face to face, on the phone or by e mail - before telling the masses not to use us.

 

To tarnish the name of our business, that we have worked hard to gain reputation for our quality and workmanship - without offering reason or speaking with me directly I believe is rather unsporting and not professional at all. This is a bias opinion you are offering, presumably off the back of one order. Classic car enthusiasts from all over the world come to this forum for non-bias advice on where to get the best parts for their cars. I, genuinely, believe that we offer one of the best services and products, worldwide for these cars - and I would like to think that others on this forum would back this up. However, potential customers are put off by your remarks; remarks of which I know nothing about as you do not speak with me directly. I have to hear and read 2nd hand about your remarks.

 

My father has served the Triumph industry for over 37 years - beginning in spares and moving into upholstery. He has always supported the TR Register and its members, as I continue to do - by offering advertising revenue in its magazine and at its shows, as well as help, advice, and deals to its members. It is due to people like my father, Neil Revington, Peter Cox and Peter Buckles, John Sykes at TR Bitz, and Loukas at the TR Shop London - to name but a few (sorry for any obvious omissions) - that the restoration of these 50+ year old cars can occur to the levels that they do.

 

John Skinner Ltd have contributed to some rather famous and noteworthy restorations - including the interior trim for the TR2 Jabbeke MVC 575 last year - which got massive worldwide coverage, and yet our name was failed to be mentioned once in all related articles and posts, which I found baffling to say the least. We have also contributed to the interior trim of TR2 TS01 restored by Mark Macy in the US a couple of years back. Countless of our interior trim parts are used in Concours competition events around the worldwide - often being placed in the top 3 places...including a handful at the TR Registers International events of the past couple of years.

 

I, myself, have been doing this for 10 years officially - but longer if you include the days I would spend at my fathers factory as a child. I would consider myself somewhat of a "geek" when it comes to the interiors of these cars, and the others that we offer trim for (Jaguar, Austin Healey and MG). Not nearly to the levels that my father knows, but still - I try.

 

Whenever I speak directly with customers I offer them help and advice before ordering, and after if they have any questions of fit / suitability. We send samples worldwide, free of charge, and we offer advice on customisations that are being considered - as well as catering for some rather "unique" requests sometimes.

 

If we have any problems with the fit of our products, we do our upmost to rectify these issues - knowing full well that cars that were made between the 1950s and 1970s were mostly hand built on production lines that lack consistency in both actual production but also record keeping.

 

We do not claim to know everything, and still to this day my father and I learn new things (inconsistencies / idiosyncrasy) about these cars that we had not come across before.

 

There is always room for improvement, but we require constructive feedback to do this...not jabs behind our back from someone I have barely dealt with.

 

I would really appreciate your feedback with regards to this matters.

 

Kind regards,

 

Jonathon Skinner

sales@john-skinner.co.uk

www.john-skinner.co.uk

01242 230995

[astontr6]

 

Good morning Stuart,

 

I hope all is well.

 

A customer has recently made me aware of a couple of comments on the TR Register Forum that I should look at - including a couple made by yourself.

 

They also mentioned that they had spoken to you on the phone and you had had similar disparaging remarks to make about our interior trim and upholstery parts.

 

I thought I would contact you by the forum directly as this seem to be your main form of communications on topics related to our trim.

 

Can I ask, what I, or my fathers company has done or supplied to you that you have such quarrel with?

 

From my records, which span back to the late 1990s - we have supplied 1 order to you and your company. That was a set of Carpets in 2009 to fit a TR5 model I believe. If memory serves correct this was around the time we were have some well documented issues with our raw material carpet supplier who's backing machine was out of action for about 3 months or so, putting massive lead time on the wool carpet we normally use. I believe all of this was addressed in another post on this Forum around the time - and we spoke on the phone about the alternatives on offer at the time.

From what I remember, you were not happy with this alternative. I explained the issue and said that unfortunately at the time we could not do anything about it as our hands were tied due to our raw material wool supplier. I offered a refund if you returned the parts, which you declined. The matter was put to bed, as far as I was aware, albeit I believe you were still not overly happy with the outcome - but at the time my hands were tied and we could not offer an alternative resolution.

 

This was in 2009. Around that time, I did notice a couple of posts from yourself about this matter - to which I replied trying to explain the situation again.

 

9 years on (or 8 years at the time of this specific quoted post) and you still seem to have a "bee in your bonnet" about John Skinner Ltd and our products.

 

I am curious why - you have had 1 order from us in 38 years of our existence - and although this did not go quite to plan at the time due to the reasons stated above - I did offer alternatives and refunds for this order, which you declined.

 

People from the world over log on to this forum to advice on restoring their classic Triumph cars. For the most part, members are very favourable toward our products and service - which, as a small, family run business I am very grateful for.

 

Your are a very active member of this forum, and it seems that when the John Skinner name is mentioned - you immediately shoot our good name and reputation down without offering reasons why; not openly anyway.

 

Barring that one conversation in 2009 about your order, I do not think that I have ever spoken with you directly. I am upset that you will discourage people from using our goods and services on this forum - for whatever reason - but you do not feel that you should raise any concerns, genuine or not, with me directly first - either face to face, on the phone or by e mail - before telling the masses not to use us.

 

To tarnish the name of our business, that we have worked hard to gain reputation for our quality and workmanship - without offering reason or speaking with me directly I believe is rather unsporting and not professional at all. This is a bias opinion you are offering, presumably off the back of one order. Classic car enthusiasts from all over the world come to this forum for non-bias advice on where to get the best parts for their cars. I, genuinely, believe that we offer one of the best services and products, worldwide for these cars - and I would like to think that others on this forum would back this up. However, potential customers are put off by your remarks; remarks of which I know nothing about as you do not speak with me directly. I have to hear and read 2nd hand about your remarks.

 

My father has served the Triumph industry for over 37 years - beginning in spares and moving into upholstery. He has always supported the TR Register and its members, as I continue to do - by offering advertising revenue in its magazine and at its shows, as well as help, advice, and deals to its members. It is due to people like my father, Neil Revington, Peter Cox and Peter Buckles, John Sykes at TR Bitz, and Loukas at the TR Shop London - to name but a few (sorry for any obvious omissions) - that the restoration of these 50+ year old cars can occur to the levels that they do.

 

John Skinner Ltd have contributed to some rather famous and noteworthy restorations - including the interior trim for the TR2 Jabbeke MVC 575 last year - which got massive worldwide coverage, and yet our name was failed to be mentioned once in all related articles and posts, which I found baffling to say the least. We have also contributed to the interior trim of TR2 TS01 restored by Mark Macy in the US a couple of years back. Countless of our interior trim parts are used in Concours competition events around the worldwide - often being placed in the top 3 places...including a handful at the TR Registers International events of the past couple of years.

 

I, myself, have been doing this for 10 years officially - but longer if you include the days I would spend at my fathers factory as a child. I would consider myself somewhat of a "geek" when it comes to the interiors of these cars, and the others that we offer trim for (Jaguar, Austin Healey and MG). Not nearly to the levels that my father knows, but still - I try.

 

Whenever I speak directly with customers I offer them help and advice before ordering, and after if they have any questions of fit / suitability. We send samples worldwide, free of charge, and we offer advice on customisations that are being considered - as well as catering for some rather "unique" requests sometimes.

 

If we have any problems with the fit of our products, we do our upmost to rectify these issues - knowing full well that cars that were made between the 1950s and 1970s were mostly hand built on production lines that lack consistency in both actual production but also record keeping.

 

We do not claim to know everything, and still to this day my father and I learn new things (inconsistencies / idiosyncrasy) about these cars that we had not come across before.

 

There is always room for improvement, but we require constructive feedback to do this...not jabs behind our back from someone I have barely dealt with.

 

I would really appreciate your feedback with regards to this matters.

 

Kind regards,

 

Jonathon Skinner

sales@john-skinner.co.uk

www.john-skinner.co.uk

01242 230995

Hi Jonathon: I used your seat covers and carpets 20 years ago and they still look good. I did not fit the covers myself that was done by a BA Trimmer and he did not have any problems! I dealt directly with your father. So if the quality is still the same I would recommend you.

 

Regards,

 

Bruce.

[JSkinner]

Hi Jonathon: I used your seat covers and carpets 20 years ago and they still look good. I did not fit the covers myself that was done by a BA Trimmer and he did not have any problems! I dealt directly with your father. So if the quality is still the same I would recommend you.

 

Regards,

 

Bruce.

 

 

Thanks for your feedback Bruce - lovely to hear they are still working well.

 

Please do let me know if you require any other interior trim parts.

 

Quality is the same, all patterns and raw materials remain the same.

 

Appreciate your support.

[pfenlon]

I used skinners seat covers in my TR3A, supplied by TR Bitz, they were very very good.

 

I think its most unusual for a supplier to post on this forum, and if his facts are correct or not, a response would clear the muddy waters.

 

Or am I missing something?

[Atl TR6]

I'm a stateside customer......

 

Have been very pleased with John Skinner's interior seat covers and trim that I installed back in 2016.

 

I work in a mfg business that makes optical fiber. As best we try, we never hit 100% perfection.

[JSkinner]

I used skinners seat covers in my TR3A, supplied by TR Bitz, they were very very good.

 

I think its most unusual for a supplier to post on this forum, and if his facts are correct or not, a response would clear the muddy waters.

 

Or am I missing something?

 

Good morning Pete,

 

Thanks for your comments - great to hear that the covers worked out well - if you could send any photos - we always like to show our staff where their work ends up.

 

John (Sykes), Craig and their team at TR Bitz know what they are doing - we have worked with them for almost 40 years...John kindly leant me a car for my wedding day last year for which I am forever indebted!

 

To clarify - I do not normally get involved in too many conversations on this Forum, or any forum. In my opinion forums should be a place for non-bias discussions assisting one another on like minded topics - and not a place for a supplier to tout their business.

 

However, I have been led to this Forum very recently by a couple of customers who use this Forum who pointed out that I should perhaps address some rather negative remarks that had been placed on here about me personally and as well as my trim parts - specifically by one user over a sustained period of about 8 years. I will not get into the details of these comments, which I have document fully - but needless to say they are both professionally and personally upsetting to me as a individual and as a business man.

 

I feel it is my right as an individual to defend not just myself from unjust remarks - but also, more importantly defend the reputation of my company - which my father spent many years building, and which I endeavour to continue since taking over 10 years ago.

 

This particular individual, to my knowledge, has bought 1 kit in our 38 year history - which apparently had its issues. At the time these were discussed between the user and me, and options for offered - and declined by the user. This subject was address on this very forum in 2009 by both this user and myself - and to my knowledge it had been laid to rest...

 

After spending a great deal of time over the past few days searching forum threads - it has become very clear that this user has taken it upon himself to smear the JSM name at every opportunity over the past 9 years - often talking about parts and kits that we have never supplied to him. Thankfully, other users of this Forum have defended Skinners and given positive feedback on kits we have supplied them.

 

I do not wish to continue any further discussions on this matter as I feel I have said everything I wish to say - and I have taken the action I feel is appropriate.

 

All I would ask that people always keep an open mind when reading negative comments about anyone or any company - there are always two sides to every story. Many positive comments versus a couple of negatives should hopefully balance the scales toward the truth.

 

All the best,

 

Jonathon Skinner

www.john-skinner.co.uk

[Grahamgl]

++1 for Skinners.

It is interesting that there has been no response to Jonthan’s considered post.

Graham

[Sapphire72]

On the 6-Pack.org Forums, Jon Skinner gets the highest of compliments as being the most recommended supplier for quality interior trim. No other company even comes close.

And we're a tough bunch to please!

Thanks for your good work, Jon.

 

Cheers

Walt

Edited February 22, 2018 by Sapphire72

[Waldi]

Suppliers promoting their business on this forum would not be right.

But suppliers taking the opportunity (and time) to respond on a comment/experience like in in this case is very good, to my humble opinion.

 

I appreciate that suppliers do not follow all the forums they are related to, so we cannot automatically expect a response, but it is good to hear both sides. We can then make up our own minds.

 

Best regards,

Waldi

[barkerwilliams]

Every supplier in the world gets things wrong occasionally, what is important is how the problem is resolved. I for one am most pleased by Jonathon putting his head above the parapet; I wish more suppliers would do so.

John Skinner are definitely on my good suppliers list.

Alan

Edited February 22, 2018 by barkerwilliams