27-11-2017, 09:42 PM
Double Duck was certainly available in the mid-1930s: MG even used the term to describe the hood material in the J-Type catalogue of the period. I see no reason why Austin wouldn't also have used it.
My 1936 APE 2-seater had a similar disreputable hood when my brother acquired it (before passing it on to me) in 1961, although that had a lighter-coloured inner cloth and a black outer cloth. But from my experience a Double Duck hood in regular use only has a life of perhaps 10-15 years, so I doubt if many hoods in the '60s were still the factory original.
My 1936 APE 2-seater had a similar disreputable hood when my brother acquired it (before passing it on to me) in 1961, although that had a lighter-coloured inner cloth and a black outer cloth. But from my experience a Double Duck hood in regular use only has a life of perhaps 10-15 years, so I doubt if many hoods in the '60s were still the factory original.