Talkin`Factory Seatbelts

[special-K]

Has there ever been a thread to talk about all the differences in seatbelts before?


I can`t recall.I was just out messing with my seatbelt collection to get some pictures when it occured to me.


Tell me what you see.

[19673ontree]

in the second pic about the middle of the pile and to the left is something I have never seen before , it is a truck retractor but it has the GM car deluxe style end , if the other end's of it are in that pile they will look different than the rest also , I was unaware that truck's could get the deluxe seatbelts ?

[Chevy4Life]

Are the re-tractors with the small holes for the 67 style latches? If so I'm looking for a couple to go with the inner belts I picked up today.

[special-K]

Did you notice the different supplier names for beginers?Robbins and Irwin.What else is different in the picture?
These are the same pairs in all pictures.Here`s another.What`s different here?Irwin left/Robbins right:


How about here?Irwin top/Robbins bottom:


Here?Robbins left/Irwin right


and here?Robbins left/Irwin right:


I`ll let these soak in before I show the buckle side.

[jc]

TIM you suck !!! lol
now i have to learn something new!

in post 4 i think one of your pics are labled backwards but im not sure which one.

i see differant shapes of the male ends.


i never paid attention to the manufactures names.

post 4 2nd pic- idont recall ever seeing a cover like that on the one in the bottom. and i also dont recall ever seeing the floor mount piece shaped like that one.

[jc]

post 4 3rd pic
your pic lable is backwards i think
it reads
Here?Robbins right/Irwin left

i think its supposed to be
Here?Robbins left/Irwin right

i dont know what that robbins one is for that looks like an odd ball?
suburban?? or panel? i dont know

[txriverrat]

Here's my newbie seat belt question: did any 67-72s come with shoulder belts, or were they lap belt only?

Also, do you get pulled over more often by police who think you're not wearing your seatbelt with lap belts?

Thanks
Cole

[special-K]

jc,I`ll check it out.I added the brand names by looking at the picture/edit,look at picture/edit one at a time.When editting it`s just the codes.I tink I get conused.
I noticed names/dates but never put together that it`s not always the same name.I never noticed so many differences.I was trying to match up pairs and it went from there.

Cole,all good questions and never hold back.Ask away and you`ll find yourself answering.Shoulder belts were a rarely ordered option.They now go for mucho dinero.They are actually seperate with the same type buckle.And,yes,it`s very possible for a cop to assume you`re not wearing a seatbelt.Especially young ones who weren`t around before shoulder belts were mandated.The seatbelt law is just a way fo for them to go fishin`.When it`s a good arguement that you`re better off not wearing a lap belt as wearing one.That`s the reason for shoulder belts.You still thrust orward and head injury is not prevented.You stand a chance to sever your lower spine as well as back injury by having your legs held while your torso keeps going.
Guys are usng S10 belts alot.

[Bugsy_malonn]

At the moment I dont even have belt in i and cops dont mind at all. I do have a set I just got and have in the truck now just not bolted down yet. I wouldnt even have them but I have a year and 1/2 old son now LOL

[67CHIP72]

I just went out and checked mine. The name is DAAI and Model #9600 with a similar plastic moulding to the Robbins type in Black.

[beautimus]

If your trying to restore a set for correctness, it might be worth noting that the robbins belt label is sewn in with a running tack. (straight line) i cant tell how many stitches are in the back tack, from the pic. (a back tack is the number of stiches that the machine backs up before going forward and the number of stitches that it backs up again at the end, to keep the stitches from unraveling) and the other label is a box tack. (the overlap where the stitches join prevents unraveling.) for a purest it would be notable to count the number of stitches in either one to make sure a restoration is authintic.
the machines that they would have been sewn on would have been cam driven and made the exact number of stitches each time.

[special-K]

That`s very true.I noticed the different in stitching,too.
Look at that name again.I believe it says DAAL.Robbins seems to be the dominant maker.The Irwin male end has a number punched in it.The The Blazer belts were either DAAL or ROBBINS.The retractor covers are the same.That`s because they are all made by Robbins.Robbins seems to label their pieces more while the others are plain.
Here are some K/5 pictures:



This cover is on a DAAL:

[big_al_71]

Tim, now I know that you have it worse than me when it comes to collecting stuff...

[special-K]

You`re very perceptive.I didn`t think it showed.Is it because it doesn`t even have to be pretty and shiney and in my den?hey,I collect pictures,too!

Here are more pics:

[69lemans]

Originally Posted by special-K

Guys are usng S10 belts alot.

What year S10? I need to look for a set for my truck

[70rs/ss]

A pair of center belts will work for shoulder belts, my 70 camaro had a retractable lower belt with a non-adjustable belt up top and an adjustable belt/buckel for the other half of the should belt, they are the same as the truck shoulder belts, OH CRAP I just let my secret out, well anyways a center belt is the same as the shoulder belt and the muscle car belts of that era are the same as well 68-72 Camaro, Chevelle, etc, etc. Get them you need em, last night a gal and her friend were tossed out of the vehicle and both were killed, even a lap belt will save you. I'd rather be paralyzed than dead, how about you??

[leddzepp]

Originally Posted by 70rs/ss

A pair of center belts will work for shoulder belts, my 70 camaro had a retractable lower belt with a non-adjustable belt up top and an adjustable belt/buckel for the other half of the should belt, they are the same as the truck shoulder belts, OH CRAP I just let my secret out, well anyways a center belt is the same as the shoulder belt and the muscle car belts of that era are the same as well 68-72 Camaro, Chevelle, etc, etc. Get them you need em, last night a gal and her friend were tossed out of the vehicle and both were killed, even a lap belt will save you. I'd rather be paralyzed than dead, how about you??

LOL...I just posted this info on shoulder belts in another thread the other day!

Here's my secret....you can also use the driver and passenger lap belts if you remove the rubber boot and retracting mechanism. The lengths are identical to the shoulder harnesses. All you have to do is have the flat mounting tab re-sewn in place.

[70rs/ss]

Originally Posted by leddzepp

LOL...I just posted this info on shoulder belts in another thread the other day!

Here's my secret....you can also use the driver and passenger lap belts if you remove the rubber boot and retracting mechanism. The lengths are identical to the shoulder harnesses. All you have to do is have the flat mounting tab re-sewn in place.

Where can you get them resewn? I don't know about that, maybe have them rewebbed to be sure as near 40 year belts are likely stretched and or deteriorated?? But good info for sure!!

[leddzepp]

I had an upholstery shop re-sew mine. Be sure to use belts that are in good condition though.

[El Jay]

Originally Posted by 70rs/ss

Where can you get them resewn? I don't know about that, maybe have them rewebbed to be sure as near 40 year belts are likely stretched and or deteriorated?? But good info for sure!!

I know you don't have any in your immediate neighborhood, but look around an airport for a shop that does rewebbing.

[chipflyer]

Very Interesting, in addition to creating new shoulder belts, did you guys now that there is a supplier of the tags, Robbins or Irvin? I had a set made for my shoulder belts that are identical to the originals, except that they are clean

Jeff

[special-K]

Let`s get back to the topic.If there`s another thread on shoulder belts take it there.This thread is about the differences between diferent belt suppiers.Ever notice that before?In all my years I never did and thought others might be interested.Take a shot at pointing out what you see.

[67CHIP72]

Yep DAAL, I said DAAI but it was dark last night when I checked. Have we limited it to 3 belt manufacturers or could there be more?

[special-K]

Just three that I know of.I didn`t mean to run everyone off before anyone got to learn something new.Just saw the thread get hijacked and trying to bring it back to help others learn a new thing.
I was going to get into shoulder belts also.But,since there was another thread I`ll leave it to that thread.

[72 Super]

Tim, funny you bring this up. When I was at Spring Carlisle last year I was talking to Jerry Brown about restoring my seatbelts from our original owner truck. When I got home I got them together and sent them to him. Few weeks later he calls me and tells me I have mis matched tubes(just as the picture you posted.) So I started thinking maybe my dad may had switched one at one time years ago although the dates were the same. I found another tube to make them match, but if I would of known I would have left them that way.