Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Three Wheeler & Super 3 M3W Body-Forming Tooling

There has been some talk about the heavyweight body-forming tooling in the 'M3W on TV tonight' thread but as it's so impressive I think it warrants it's own thread.
Here are some photos that I took at the Pickersleigh 3 event in August 2019.

Thanks Bunny for posting these fascinating pictures, apart from the laptop it looks more like something you would see in Fred Dibnah's workshop.
Would love to see how it all works and am surprised there is not a video of bodies being made on you tube, I always thought the body of the M3W was a beautifully made thing.

The years of accumulated expertise is just astounding. No Big Bang high speed forming going on here. I guess production quantities are too small to even consider farming this out to a big press shop? - long live traditional craftsmanship - although I am not sure that it will!

My other occupation is flute making and that is now on the heritage craft associations "red list" of endangered crafts. Covid has seen me turn to upgrading M3Ws more and more because no one wants to try an instrument that you have to put in your mouth and I am sure that this, in conjunction with the stopping of exhibitions will be the end of some makers careers. I continue to make instruments between visits from M3W owners and I hope to continue for as long as I can but the thought of aerosol transmission of the virus by wind instrument players is quite depressing. It is a pity that taking on an apprentice is such an onerous business - if there were any youngsters interested in training to be dinosaurs , of course.

Have a happy Sunday afternoon folks.

I too was surprised to see the rear body was hand formed in the programme. Always assumed it was bought in pre-formed like the wings on Classics.

You are partially right Richard. Some of the panels arrive roughly formed and are then fettled into the final shape using the tooling (and lots of skill). Here is a pre-fettled pressing:

Photo: Paul Rand

Fascinating. Thanks for posting, Bunny.

Richard, you are correct, bodies were outsourced until this year, now made in-house.

Came back in house early / mid 2019.

Thanks Bunny,
Never seen them before.

Stefan

Nice to see that sandbag - would love to watch one in use.