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Mon May 06, 2024 5:22 pm

sebgi1 wrote: RockStock wrote:
Can’t figure a way to look at it. What is it?

KTPhil wrote: This pic was posted about six months ago, maybe also earlier. Maybe a jig for evaluating wipers?

What’s going on in that picture has nothing to do with the assembly line, and more to do with research and development. On the left side is a type 1 windscreen and surround, and on the right is a type 2 windscreen and surround. If you look closely you can see there is someone behind the type 1 windscreen, and his attention is drawn to the bottom driver side corner of the “A” pillar.

This photo was posted earlier in the “Barndoor Junkie - Vintage Photos” thread page 274.

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Wed Jun 19, 2024 10:44 am

Tue Sep 24, 2024 9:29 am

photos by Willy Lehmacher, early 1953

Tue Sep 24, 2024 10:54 am

Well they’re pretty cool…find some more, finster!!

Tue Sep 24, 2024 1:00 pm

Those are some outstanding photos.. Definitely nice to see some new ones

Tue Sep 24, 2024 1:19 pm

Wooden bucks inserted to check the windscreen + seal will fit?

Check out the 6 deluxe dashes hooked on the rhs wall, ready to be installed post-paint.
Each dash would be Assembly Number matched to a particular bus.
The guy in the bus looks like he’s installing a dash/setting the beading.

Similar story with the doortops getting installed on the bus behind.

Tue Sep 24, 2024 9:04 pm

finster wrote: photos by Willy Lehmacher, early 1953

Cool pic, check out the clipped air cleaner instead of a strap.

These photos are from Early 1953?
I wonder if it's Early 1954 instead?

Kombis didn't get a rear bumper until 12/1953

Tue Sep 24, 2024 9:07 pm

RockStock wrote:
Wooden bucks inserted to check the windscreen + seal will fit?

Interesting, is he grinding because it didn't fit or?

It looks like that first Bus, the one to the right of the guy grinding, has a tab for safari windows

Wed Sep 25, 2024 12:50 am

FB photo caption:

Quote: Willy Lehmacher was often on the road in the 1950s. On behalf of Hagen companies such as VARTA, he visited trade fairs, production plants and shops. In the spring of 1953, Lehmacher visited the Volkswagen plant in Wolfsburg. There he made several films about the production of motor vehicles. We present a selection of the negative films. He paid particular attention to the installation of VARTA starter batteries in the vehicles.

The images now available in the Hagen City Archives provide an insight into the then booming automobile industry in the “economic miracle” of the Federal Republic of Germany. The photographs show the assembly of the first series of VW “Beetles” in the model series built from March 1953 with an oval rear window instead of the “pretzel window” that had been common until then. In front of the assembly and production plant, there are large parking lots with different versions of the “Beetle” with fabric roofs and in different paint finishes.

But another legendary VW model appears in the photographs: the T 1 transporter, nicknamed "Bulli". Here, too, Lehmacher photographed every stage of assembly and acceptance. The "Bulli" model series with flatbeds and as a bus, introduced up to 1953, can also be seen.

Text and research: Dr. Ralf Blank, September 2024; Photographs Willy Lehmacher © Hagen City Archives

Must be loads more BD assembly line pictures to be unearthed from Willy Lehmacher…

Wed Sep 25, 2024 10:00 am

EverettB wrote: finster wrote: photos by Willy Lehmacher, early 1953

Cool pic, check out the clipped air cleaner instead of a strap.

These photos are from Early 1953?
I wonder if it's Early 1954 instead?

Kombis didn't get a rear bumper until 12/1953
When did flat taillights end?

Is the strap air cleaner both Mann and Knecht or just one of those brands?

Definitely after October 1953, as the singlcab had late gates which happened at chassis number 20-066116

Thu Sep 26, 2024 6:53 pm

Lind wrote: EverettB wrote: finster wrote: photos by Willy Lehmacher, early 1953

Cool pic, check out the clipped air cleaner instead of a strap.

These photos are from Early 1953?
I wonder if it's Early 1954 instead?

Kombis didn't get a rear bumper until 12/1953
When did flat taillights end?

Is the strap air cleaner both Mann and Knecht or just one of those brands?

Definitely after October 1953, as the singlcab had late gates which happened at chassis number 20-066116

Good question on the taillights as I couldn't quickly find the date or VIN #

Strap air cleaners are all Knecht AFAIK
53

54

I'm pretty sure Barndoors could have either though but not sure if that was 53-up or not.

The air cleaner above looks like what is considered a 54-58 Mann Beetle air cleaner but that could have started in late 1953 too

Now that I look again, that Kombi appears to have the whole engine compartment painted Dove Blue. Interesting as I think most of them were primer with some dusting and edges painted but I think that was sort of random too.

Fri Sep 27, 2024 12:38 am

EverettB wrote:

Now that I look again, that Kombi appears to have the whole engine compartment painted Dove Blue. Interesting as I think most of them were primer with some dusting and edges painted but I think that was sort of random too.
Random
Engine Bay Paint thread
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=204025

Fri Sep 27, 2024 8:41 am

Yes, I shouldn't have said "I think" as I know it was random. :)

I wonder if Hans got in trouble for "wasting" paint on Commercials if they did the whole compartment.

Wed Oct 02, 2024 6:10 am

One possible conclusion would be that each bus was designated a certain amount of paint ( ie. litres) which got filled in the paint guns. If some painter applied less paint on the body, there might have been leftovers that got sprayed in the wheel wells or engine compartment. It is also possible that VW went back and forth in saving paint vs having complaints about surface rusted or dull primered tin.
The pics are fantastic !

Wed Oct 02, 2024 8:26 pm

Your theory sound good to me.

I wonder if it was also a destination thing, similar to how we've seen people discuss whether later (split-case too?) transmissions were painted from the factory or not. Some are black, some are just coated, even from the same year vehicles.

My '54 Truck compartment was full primer but it was delivered to Los Angeles so maybe they thought it didn't need the extra paint back there.

Thu Oct 03, 2024 1:07 am

EverettB wrote: Your theory sound good to me.

I wonder if it was also a destination thing,

could be, but you would assume export models - especially those going to america - would get the full paint treatment. home models would be lowest quality...

Thu Oct 03, 2024 7:29 am

finster wrote: EverettB wrote: Your theory sound good to me.

I wonder if it was also a destination thing,

could be, but you would assume export models - especially those going to america - would get the full paint treatment. home models would be lowest quality...

Was it typical for VW or others car to "shortchange" the home market?

Thu Oct 03, 2024 9:06 am

finster wrote: EverettB wrote: Your theory sound good to me.

I wonder if it was also a destination thing,

could be, but you would assume export models - especially those going to america - would get the full paint treatment. home models would be lowest quality...

Could it reflect the climate of the destination? (To reduce potential corrosion?)

Thu Oct 03, 2024 9:23 am

EverettB wrote: finster wrote:
could be, but you would assume export models - especially those going to america - would get the full paint treatment. home models would be lowest quality...

Was it typical for VW or others car to "shortchange" the home market?

rolls royce used to do this - cars/parts had three grades - ok, better, best. all the best parts went into cars for the saudis. middle grade went to usa and the home market got the passable ones.

Sun Feb 16, 2025 2:53 pm

1953 Panel