Clark, tell your buddy good luck on trying to find one of these...they're more rare than the pilot/copilot seats(one per plane)...
While we're on the subject of bomber seats I have a question.... I have a pair of seats manufactured by Beach Aircraft Corporation, Wichita, Kansas, U.S.A. with the numbers 734-83297 and 734-83297-1. The very reliable source I purchased them from said they are from a P-18 Navy trainer. They are a matching pair with original paint on the backs with small remnants of vinyl fabric and flat black over green aluminum primer on the seat side but the paint is quite warn on that side. So here are the questions...Does anyone know if I can have the white stamped numbers reproduced onto a rubber stamp? I may have them beadblasted if I decide to use them with my currant roadster project. I'd like to be able to stamp them again after they're cleaned up. Next question, what are they worth?
You guys are good! I'll let him know. They are gonna try to restore this seat. I think the problem area is the edge beading down low. Parts of a regular B-17 could be used to help fix it. Now if i could only come up with a match to my wood bomber seat. Clark
You have a wooden seat? Is it kinda short? That would be B-29 fire control seats. RARE. Here's the one in FIFI. I know of at least 1 museum that needs one.
HEY! That's where the bungee's off my cub went! Thats a great idea though! I would love to see a duck! those things are RARE!! Mike
The Stearman Biplane Trainers used a similar bungee setup on the seats for height adjustment, (actually fairly common in military aircraft), also had neat seats, some aluminum, some wood. Have a friend who restored a beautiful one and reproduced the wood ones for his build. After making the two seats he said he would never want to make another pair. Very labor intensive with all of the steam bending and laminating, but if you are into major woodwork, could be a fun project.
Django....mine looks like your average bomber seat ...just in plywood. I think it was Larry that pointed out that they used just about any material at the end of the war. Clark
Can't make any judgements as to what the seats would be worth, but you should be able to get the stamps reproduced. Some of the warbird restorers have been doing this for years. Just let your fingers do the walking in the yellow pages or online to find an outfit that does rubber stamps.
Any clues where he could look to find one...even one of the pilot seats that could be used for parts. He did say he had someone working on restoring this seat but due to age and abuse the seat doesn't take to welding too easily. Clark
The 4 seats I have left are fighter/trainer seats (smaller), and wouldn't work. I'll do some checking...
Just one other thing to thin about guys, a lot of parts like that were farmed out to different company's. Any one model of a given aircraft could have had a number of different seats! The unfortunate thing is, you are only going to find what you want from someone that knows exactly what they have. Maybe tell them your father was a pilot and you want it for part of a memorial to him? I have worked restoring a few aircraft and understand the over zealousness some people guard the parts with and the ill feelings toward someone that wants to use them for something other than the intended purpose. Often the almighty $$ will win them over, be prepared to part with a chunk of change! Doc.
Just found this thread, There was one on the big auction site this week. Hope it was you who got it for your resteration. I was bidding on it to make a pair of seats as I have the match to the one that just sold. Damn I guess i'll have to keep looking as well.
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