At 06:35 PM 11/26/04 -0500, Tucker J. Madawick wrote:
>"What appears to be horse hair welting at the rear edge of the trunk (boot) ledge and the body looks like it was stapled there at the factory and would have to have been put there before the body was assembled and painted. It looks like it could be a great sponge that help that area rust."

Yup, it was horsehair, or more likely felt material, and it was indeed attached there prior to body assembly. I believe the staples were actually resisrtance welded in place. Common modern replacement during restoration is lots of caulking. See picture.