Soon 18 new seats for the F-BGNJ.

Published by Thierry Larmier at 19 November 2022

Dossiers en attente de montage

Thanks to you, dear donors, we were able to start the renovation of 9 new 2-seater seats for the F-BGNJ. After having changed all the windows to improve the watertightness, in 2015 we started the restoration of the interior of the cabin.

HIGH-PRICED UPHOLSTERY

As for the first series of seats, completed in 2020, it was with your donations, the Heritage Foundation, the DRAC and the Region that we were able to undertake this new phase of work. The company SOV accompanies us once again in this restoration. The manufacture of upholstery made on the first seats had us all bluffed! The fabrics, of ochre colour with a ribbed appearance, not found, were reticulated specially to the identical. It is impossible to see a difference between the original seats and the restored ones except, of course, the condition of the seat. We didn’t have that know-how. However, sanding, scratching and painting, we know how to do that!

MICHEL GOSNET WORKSHOP

It is therefore in "our workshop" that the work on the frames began to host, with honor, the superb upholstery. I’m talking about "our workshop", but I should say "workshop Michel Gosnet". This is how we officially baptized it a few months ago in homage to our big mouth, to our Mike Gyver, to our belt eater (only the initiates can understand this last qualifier). Michel left us far too soon, a year ago. He joined the Amicale in 2000. There were many painted, welded, mowed, cleaned and especially many laughed and shared his friendship. When we fetch our hammers, we will think of you, Michel, our sorry hardhead. We invite you to see or review the video on the shutter mechanism. It was Michel! (video at the bottom of the article)

THE FRAMES

: Detail of the suspension springs

: Details of the seat back adjustment systems

: Details on the ashtrays

During the disassembly of the seats we could see that some foams disintegrated into pieces. The frame, although in a correct state of preservation, required scratching, sanding and painting. In this operation of exposing, were revealed the mechanisms of adjustment of the backrests and the system of suspension composed of intertwined nylons wires, attached to springs themselves caught in wooden rods. Discovering the technical backstage of the F-BGNJ is a sight that delights us. You feel a bit adventurous atemporel when you discover, here a candy paper, there a cigarette butt, remains of anonymous or prestigious passengers. What if this candy wrapper belonged to Grace Kelly?". These little treasures of incredulous children were only the beginning of a much more emotional discovery: "the treasure of the seat 19" (To be continued ...)