Pagoda SL Group

W113 Pagoda SL Group => Body, interior, paint, chrome, and cosmetic items => Topic started by: rutger kohler on April 09, 2015, 09:24:28

Title: Toolkit for 1969 280SL does the inside material colour match the MBTex?
Post by: rutger kohler on April 09, 2015, 09:24:28
My wife is about to make me a replica tool kit (she has already made a ample one).  I am aware that the toolkit  MBTex outer colour may not match the car upholstery but what about the fabric inner colour?  Should this colour approximate the toolkit outer MBTex or are all the inners made a "feldgrau" MB colour as the example in the Technical manual?
Title: Re: Toolkit for 1969 280SL does the inside material colour match the MBTex?
Post by: 49er on April 09, 2015, 13:28:30
Not sure if this is "feldgrau" but here is a photo of mine. Greenish Gray canvas inside, MBTex outer.

John
Title: Re: Toolkit for 1969 280SL does the inside material colour match the MBTex?
Post by: mmizesko on April 09, 2015, 14:26:11
Rutger,

I just finished my 9th kit build.  The hardest thing to find is the original "tool roll" material, but they are out there.  The Gray/Green light canvas fabric is standard. I haven't seen any other, and no, that inside fabric never matches the interior bag color.  The outside can be canvas from a soft top (black, brown, and olive green are common), or an array of seat material (typically MBtex).  I have smooth light gray, smooth cognac, smooth red, textured tobacco brown, textured medium gray, textured tan, textured red, and a black canvas one.  I do have one repro bag in cognac, but I prefer to find the originals.

If you want authenticity, make sure she uses the short Hazet 767 spark plug wrench without the spring(that was 107)(don't forget the rubber insert), the original Heyco 300 long water pump pliers with the star (mercedes quit supplying the logo version recently, and the 107's came with smaller heyco pliers), the thick hapewe pliers (thin ones were 107), the mercedes wrenches, Felo plastic screwdriver with two inserts, fuse kit (with 4 stubby 25amp fuses and the rest 8a long white fuses (no red or blue), and black fuse pullers.  I throw in the Hazet 2760 Oil service wrench that is in the special "Lubrication Kit", as well as both the 17mm/14mm heyco, unior, dowidat, or matador wrench (pre-1965 DIN895 change) and a walter 17mm/13mm (post change).  I also include the wheel centering guide (one with slot, not the longer aluminum 107 type), and a Heyco 17mm Lug Wrench.

The four open end wrenches rarely came in matched sets from the same manufacturer, so a mish mash is authentic.

Some of the later kits had a black printed tri-star logo stenciled on the green/gray inside canvas (on the right side).  These are more uncommon.

Hope this helps.

Mike Mizesko
Columbus, OH



Title: Re: Toolkit for 1969 280SL does the inside material colour match the MBTex?
Post by: mbzse on April 09, 2015, 16:47:06
he he, interesting Mike. I was bitten by the "authentic tool roll" bug some six months ago, and I agree with what you write in your posting.
This previous "tool roll" discussion here in our Forum is good info:
http://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=21206.0 (http://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=21206.0)

Quote from: mmizesko
.../...The Gray/Green light canvas fabric is standard. I haven't seen any other.../...

I actually have two pictures in my files of tool rolls with alternate light colour on the inner canvas fabric, see attached. I did not record where I found these pictures (on the web, yes).
The kits certainly look authentic (not repro).

Another thing Mike, would you know the switch-over point (date) between early black wooden handle and later plastic type for the Felo screwdriver in the kit?

/Hans in Sweden
Title: Re: Toolkit for 1969 280SL does the inside material colour match the MBTex?
Post by: mmizesko on April 09, 2015, 17:47:46
Thanks Hans,

Yes in retrospect, I do have a kit with the light Ivory inside canvas.  My memory is going too soon :-\

Mike
Title: Re: Toolkit for 1969 280SL does the inside material colour match the MBTex?
Post by: 49er on April 09, 2015, 18:32:54

Felo plastic screwdriver with two inserts, fuse kit (with 4 stubby 25amp fuses and the rest 8a long white fuses (no red or blue), and black fuse pullers. 

Mike Mizesko
Columbus, OH

Hello Mike, My '69's (build date July '68) original tool kit came with a wooden handle for the screwdriver. Also the fuse box came with 4 red and 7 white. Alfred pointed out the fact that it not include the stubbies (which he was nice enough to send me a few) so the red , which were not even used on the car in the first place are now replaced by the 25A. What is interesting is that I never have replaced a fuse in the life of the car so this was the way the fuse box came from the factory. If it wasn't for this forum, I would have never noticed this anomaly. Also pretty sure my kit was shorted the fuse puller as well.

John
Title: Re: Toolkit for 1969 280SL does the inside material colour match the MBTex?
Post by: mmizesko on April 09, 2015, 19:14:48
John,

I'm pretty sure that your fuse kit is newer than your car's production.  As I understand it, the original white 8a fuses were aluminum and ceramic, with the brass coming later and aftermarket. 

Joe told me that some owners knock out the stubby spacers in the fuse box and simply insert the later red 25a fuses that started in the 107.

Heresay also tells me that the wooden screwdriver came with the 63 230SL's, but I do not know the crossover date to plastic.  I know they were in the 190SL and 300SL kits.

If your kit is certain to be original, then I have no idea what I am talking about. :-X

Love this topic....

Mike
Title: Re: Toolkit for 1969 280SL does the inside material colour match the MBTex?
Post by: 49er on April 09, 2015, 19:41:52
 Hi Mike, egg on my face! Yep the fuses in the fuse box are definitely as you describe, aluminum and ceramic. After the 280 came into my life, I never owned another car that used the ceramic fuses so I don't have a clue how the fuses in the kit got there. It shall remain a mystery >:( The handle is definitely wood though. :)

John
Title: Re: Toolkit for 1969 280SL does the inside material colour match the MBTex?
Post by: rutger kohler on April 10, 2015, 02:51:15
Guys, thanks for all your replies.  Interesting that one sample is brown MBTex with the grey inner,  I think that is what we will go with.
Title: Re: Toolkit for 1969 280SL does the inside material colour match the MBTex?
Post by: mmizesko on April 10, 2015, 13:02:50
Rutger,

Just be aware that a homemade toolkit bag could reduce the value of your 113SL by 20-30%. ;D

Mike
Title: Re: Toolkit for 1969 280SL does the inside material colour match the MBTex?
Post by: rutger kohler on April 11, 2015, 07:18:05
Hi Mike, I know you are a good guy, you have helped me on several occasions in the past so I will let others comment on your post.  However I have attached 3 photos to show you my wife's mark one result.  There are two things wrong with this, both of which are my fault.  The first one is that the pattern was taken from a late 230 SL and the pockets are lower than a 280 SL.  The other one is the colour of the inner material is not quite right.  Apart from that it is as good as MB made.  We have taken a pattern from a 280SL toolkit and she will make that when I get the inner colour right.  I might also comment that when taking the pattern from the original MB 280SL the shape and finish is anything but special
Title: Re: Toolkit for 1969 280SL does the inside material colour match the MBTex?
Post by: dseretakis on April 11, 2015, 12:47:19
Where does one get the inner grey green canvas material?
Title: Re: Toolkit for 1969 280SL does the inside material colour match the MBTex?
Post by: dseretakis on April 11, 2015, 12:51:51
Hi Mike, I know you are a good guy, you have helped me on several occasions in the past so I will let others comment on your post.  However I have attached 3 photos to show you my wife's mark one result.  There are two things wrong with this, both of which are my fault.  The first one is that the pattern was taken from a late 230 SL and the pockets are lower than a 280 SL.  The other one is the colour of the inner material is not quite right.  Apart from that it is as good as MB made.  We have taken a pattern from a 280SL toolkit and she will make that when I get the inner colour right.  I might also comment that when taking the pattern from the original MB 280SL the shape and finish is anything but special

Those look great!!
Title: Re: Toolkit for 1969 280SL does the inside material colour match the MBTex?
Post by: Benz Dr. on April 11, 2015, 14:30:00
John,

I'm pretty sure that your fuse kit is newer than your car's production.  As I understand it, the original white 8a fuses were aluminum and ceramic, with the brass coming later and aftermarket. 

Joe told me that some owners knock out the stubby spacers in the fuse box and simply insert the later red 25a fuses that started in the 107.

Heresay also tells me that the wooden screwdriver came with the 63 230SL's, but I do not know the crossover date to plastic.  I know they were in the 190SL and 300SL kits.

If your kit is certain to be original, then I have no idea what I am talking about. :-X

Love this topic....

Mike

Isn't a 25 amp fuse blue, and the 16 amp red?
Title: Re: Toolkit for 1969 280SL does the inside material colour match the MBTex?
Post by: 49er on April 11, 2015, 14:39:02
Don't know about the 25 being blue, the two on the car's fuse box are plain white ceramic. The red are 16.

John
Title: Re: Toolkit for 1969 280SL does the inside material colour match the MBTex?
Post by: Jordan on April 11, 2015, 14:55:15
The 25 amp long fuses are blue (plastic).  The stubby 25 amp white fuse is still available from a number of suppliers, ranging in price from $3-5.  MB was not the only manufacturer at that time to use white stubby 25 amp fuses.
Title: Re: Toolkit for 1969 280SL does the inside material colour match the MBTex?
Post by: rutger kohler on April 12, 2015, 09:32:20
Hi, sourcing the right colour is what our problem has been.  We have got the right material and have been dying it but have yet to get the right shade, very frustrating!
Title: Re: Toolkit for 1969 280SL does the inside material colour match the MBTex?
Post by: mmizesko on April 12, 2015, 18:32:43
Rutger,

Tell your distaff partner that she can start selling these on ebay for $119 per.  They look great.

Dan, you are absolutely right.  The blues are 25A, Reds are 16A.  Sorry.  Just one more case of me commenting like I know what I'm talking about. ::)

Mike
Title: Re: Toolkit for 1969 280SL does the inside material colour match the MBTex?
Post by: dseretakis on April 12, 2015, 18:33:34
Is the correct material in the incorrect color readily available?
Title: Re: Toolkit for 1969 280SL does the inside material colour match the MBTex?
Post by: mbzse on April 23, 2015, 11:42:56
Quote from: mmizesko
.../...Heresay also tells me that the wooden screwdriver came with the 63 230SL's, but I do not know the crossover date to plastic../...
Here is another piece for our tool kit puzzle.
Attached is an image of a completely NOS tool kit. You can note the original delivery plastic bag at the side, marked "280SL".
The Felo screw driver in this kit has a black-painted wooden handle. Correlates what 49er states in reply No7. So, there is strong indication that wooden handles did come with [early] 280 SL tool kits, from Jan 1968 and some time after. However, the Felo factory soon changed into plastic type handles, a production adjustment...
Note cheramic 8A fuses in plastic box also, the fuse metal being silver colour.
/Hans in Sweden
.
Title: Re: Toolkit for 1969 280SL does the inside material colour match the MBTex?
Post by: mmizesko on April 23, 2015, 12:09:40
Hans,

Thank you for the reveal.  I am interested in the VIN number of the vehicle if available, and the make and sizes of the wrenches.  I'm assuming 4, 19/17, 17/14, 13/11, and 10/8, but it could have a Walter 17/13?  Mind doing an inventory for us?  I notice no fuse pullers.  Did the fuse kit have the 4 white stubbies in addition to the 8a white/silver longies?

The wood handle surprises me on the screwdriver, but what do I know. Damn, How do I find a bunch of wood handle screwdrivers????

Mike
Title: Re: Toolkit for 1969 280SL does the inside material colour match the MBTex?
Post by: mbzse on April 23, 2015, 12:27:25
Quote from: mmizesko
../...  I am interested in the VIN number of the vehicle if available
Sorry no, it's a "disengaged" NOS kit; was never in a car

Quote
the make and sizes of the wrenches
19/17, 17/14, 13/11, and 10/8, all Dowidat

Quote
I notice no fuse pullers
That is so. I wonder if these were some kind of "extra" or just included during some periods of time(?)

Quote
Did the fuse kit have the 4 white stubbies in addition to the 8a white/silver longies
Yes, certainly

Quote
The wood handle surprises me on the screwdriver

Me too. I have seen [several] 250SL kits with plastic Felo handles. Perhaps it was a case of what was on the shelf at the factory (?)
/Hans in Sweden
.
Title: Re: Toolkit for 1969 280SL does the inside material colour match the MBTex?
Post by: mmizesko on April 23, 2015, 13:07:33
Hans,

Boy, Certainty with tool kits seems to be as elusive as a unicorn.

Thanks for your data.

Mike
Title: Re: Toolkit for 1969 280SL does the inside material colour match the MBTex?
Post by: Jonny B on April 23, 2015, 15:31:37
My understanding is that the fuse pullers were an extra item, not a part of the regular tool kit. I think that one of the wrenches had a 14mm end in early production, then a switch to the 13. But not sure which of the two would have had the 14 mm.

I think Hans may have hit the screw on the nose (?) about the screwdriver handle. It is really difficult to know if there was a hard cut off on some of these items. They may have gotten a new batch, or a trial batch, or ??? Part of the fun and the discussion!
Title: Re: Toolkit for 1969 280SL does the inside material colour match the MBTex?
Post by: mmizesko on April 23, 2015, 16:02:16
what confuses me is with the supposition that the fuse pullers were extra, I can't imagine a sales person selling a $9,000 convertible, that comes with a tool kit, and asking the customer on the way out the door if they would like the optional fuse pullers.  Just Saying.....

Mike
Title: Re: Toolkit for 1969 280SL does the inside material colour match the MBTex?
Post by: hkollan on April 23, 2015, 22:10:15
Hi,

Interesting discussion for a long time tool-kit collector as myself.
My two 68 280's #440 and #1022 came with toolkits with wood handle screwdrivers, the 1970 has a toolkit the plastic handle screwdriver.
My guess is that there was a hardcut somewhere in between, probably around the end of 1968.

The wood handle surprises me on the screwdriver, but what do I know. Damn, How do I find a bunch of wood handle screwdrivers????
Mike

Not a bunch, but one for a start Mike.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mercedes-FELO-DBGM-Schraubendreher-Two-n-One-Screwdriver-Wood-Handle-/291440665840?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_77&hash=item43db37a4f0 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mercedes-FELO-DBGM-Schraubendreher-Two-n-One-Screwdriver-Wood-Handle-/291440665840?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_77&hash=item43db37a4f0)

Hans
Title: Re: Toolkit for 1969 280SL does the inside material colour match the MBTex?
Post by: mmizesko on April 24, 2015, 12:53:01
Thanks Hans,

I went for it.  Nice specimen.

Some one told me that there is medication for what I have.  I should probably get some.

Mike
Title: Re: Toolkit for 1969 280SL does the inside material colour match the MBTex?
Post by: Naj ✝︎ on April 24, 2015, 13:31:36
Thanks Hans,


Some one told me that there is medication for what I have.  I should probably get some.

Mike

The 'screwdriver' may fix it

naj
Title: Re: Toolkit for 1969 280SL does the inside material colour match the MBTex?
Post by: mmizesko on April 24, 2015, 14:53:50
Naj,

You mean Vodka and Orange Juice, I hope, rather than a Lobotomy????

Mike
Title: Re: Toolkit for 1969 280SL does the inside material colour match the MBTex?
Post by: Jonny B on April 24, 2015, 15:13:49
Good observation on the fuse puller, but I will hold that they were an extra. Just like the supplemental tool kit (see the wiki for a picture and description), which went for the princely sum of $14 in the day!
Title: Re: Toolkit for 1969 280SL does the inside material colour match the MBTex?
Post by: gimp on April 24, 2015, 19:57:00
I bought this car in 1972 and this is the tool kit that came with it
Frank
Title: Re: Toolkit for 1969 280SL does the inside material colour match the MBTex?
Post by: gimp on April 25, 2015, 11:42:08
Sorry
Lesson learned preview first
Frank
Title: Re: Toolkit for 1969 280SL does the inside material colour match the MBTex?
Post by: 114015 on April 28, 2015, 20:48:37
Quote
My two 68 280's #440 and #1022 came with toolkits with wood handle screwdrivers, the 1970 has a toolkit the plastic handle screwdriver.
My guess is that there was a hardcut somewhere in between, probably around the end of 1968.


Wow,
you guys really beat me out here. :o :P :'( :-*
I always believed that I know very much about these toolkits since I have got six. :P
But nothing about this.
Not only are my toolkits incomplete, you guys also know much more about them than I do. :o 8)
Still have to learn _a lot_

Now, where do I find the missing five wooden handle screw drivers ....?

Here I have one toolkit for you collectors.
Not mine, it's the one that belongs to serial no. 000024.

Enjoy !

Achim

P.S.
Mike,
are you please uploading/updating your WIKi appropriately?
Thanks a lot !!
Title: Re: Toolkit for 1969 280SL does the inside material colour match the MBTex?
Post by: Jonny B on April 28, 2015, 22:06:29
Achim, patience is required to source the wood handle screw drivers. They are very rare. I have purchased a group of items just to get the screwdriver. Which means I am able to help the SoCal group out with missing wrenches and such (the easy stuff).

The early tool kit - no slip joint pliers??