Mock Walnut

         (or how to woodgrain your R.N. saloon)

   When the long‑wheelbase RN saloon was introduced in October 1931, it was described by Austins as the "New Seven Deluxe Saloon". In order to live up to that name it was given certain "deluxe" features such as a higher price, leather upholstery and sliding roof. Another "deluxe" feature which has largely been removed from existing RNs was the wood‑grained finish of the door finger plate, that the chrome pull handle fits on to, and the interior door sill, that the winding mechanism is rivetted to.

  When I restored my RN I found out how to paint this graining but I got the colour wrong. Recently though, a fellow enthusiast has got the correct finish using a finger plate, in original condition, as a pattern. This is how it is accomplished: ‑

            First, strip the plate down to bare metal, emery away all the rust and treat with your favourite rust preventative. Allow this to cure/dry then paint with red oxide primer and fill any pitting as necessary.

When this is dry, paint over with J. H. Ratcliffe's Mid‑Venetian Red—No. 67743 undercoat and when this in turn is dry, paint with Ratcliffe's Walnut 2775 oil scumble. This should be the consistency of muddy water and while it is still wet, draw a clean, dry brush horizontally along the metal. This gives the wood‑grained effect. When this is dry it can be varnished. The metal should now look like dark walnut and can be fitted to the doors.

  You will then have the pleasure of people saying to you at rallies "I didn't know Austin Sevens had walnut door trims!".

   I believe some of the Rubys also had a wood‑grained finish but it may have been a lighter shade. Anyhow, it is always advisable to check an original example to get the correct shade.