MTFCA Forum

There was an excellent discussion on the old forum regarding the above subject. It was April 2018. Unfortunately, it was in the Classifieds and has been purged. Normally I save those things to a Word document and this time forgot. If would be much appreciated if the useful contributors to that thread could do so here so we could have a "permanent' record. Thanks in advance!

Larry "Original" Smith would be the fellow to ask.

Restoration Supply has them https://www.restorationstuff.com/

McMaster-Carr has 1/4 id x 5/8 od red:

https://www.mcmaster.com/gum-rubber-tubing

I just went through all of that. The correct hose is currently NOT being made. The man who used to make it correctly was Ron Gocek in Pennsylvania.
I had a talk with him at Hershey last year, and he is aware of the problem. The correct ID must be 1/4" and the correct OD is 7/16", although 1/2 will work fine. He doesn't know when he will make another run of it. He is listed in the HCCA Roster, and his email is in there too. I was very lucky advertising for it, and I found a couple of guys who had bought the old stuff and never used it.

I realize early car people search for red tubing, but from various relics I’ve had in my hands over many years, I do believe the original rubber hose was actually a cream color, or even closer to white. I have some rock hard samples still attached to lamp burners and such that show as off white now , 120 years later.
Ran 8nto the same search for use on real early antique phonographs, ones made before horns were even offered. The sound transmission was so faint, hearing tubes were originally used. Again, surviving artifacts showed a hard white rubber tubing or hose. I was pleasantly surprised to find this through McMaster-Carr supply and it’s a prefect replacement. I am posting a quick screen grab, but those in need may want to check out the total offering. I have some in use that I sent maybe ten years old now and as it’s starting to age, I can see it eventually becoming the same as my rock hard originals.

Apparently I'm not allowed to post a photo of it, but a page from a 1914 auto supply catalog lists only red acetylene generator tubing, in several sizes.

That’s just about when they starting coloring tires, Black, RV. Perhaps whatever was red added to the strength of the gum rubber, as the carbon black added to the longevity of tires.

The tubing Restoration Supply has is 5/8, and won't work for a '13-14. It will work on a 12 on back, but I wonder about it fitting through the hole in the splash shield.

Posted below is the page from R.V.'s 1914 auto supply catalog. Thanks to all for the replies. This is a good discussion.

Thanks for posting that, Walter. Dunno why I'm not allowed to post photos. 'Spec I'll get it fixed some day.

Here you go, guys:
From the People's Republic of China at your local friendly Harbor Freight!
1/4" ID, 1/2" OD.
For $5.99 for a five foot section, just cut the ends off. I'm sure the printing on the tubing will come off with a little thinner and rubbing with a scotch bright pad.

: ^ )

Keith

Keith:
The label clearly says it's air hose. Do you think it would do the job with acetylene?

Larry-
I would not hesitate to use it!
: ^ )
Keith