Albright Supply
usually stocks them.

Some modern leather seems to be treated so much some of it seems to be close to a vinyl product anyways.

Three Rivers Supply and Veteran Supply should be able to acquire Tan Stayfast Wireon and Binding.

Haartz company has had a supply shortage due do the factories being shut down to covid. Haartz topping across the board can be very difficult to find right now. Haartz does make the best topping materials available today.

The longer the pen is left on the material the harder it is to remove all of it.

Thank you! They seem to have a nice size range in 9 gauge.

What do you consider a reasonable rate? Some states are very strict on insurance and it can greatly vary from state to state.

I don’t want to be negative but I know a few people who have been trying to find that material for years. I would include myself on that list. I will ask around again and see if anyone has come up with anything.

Sounds silly but flip the material over and stitch it again to get the seam tighter. Also if you can twist the walking section of the foot on your machine you can get the welting closer to the needle. Sometimes running a smaller welting foot will work but be careful you do not stitch over the welting.

I have used Oak Bows in Chambersburg PA (717)-264-2602. They steam bend bows in what ever shape and size you want.
They will get the basic shape but you will have to fit them into the sockets.

I think a few shops are running Boss laser.
https://www.bosslaser.com/

The German Loop carpet may be a good substitute. The cost is about $75 a yard.

http://www.xkss.com/samples/import_carpet_german_loop.aspx

I worked at a BMW dealership and replaced a few of Z3 rear window sections. They are not fun. The dealer stopped offering the rear window replacement and would only sell a whole top due to how often the replacements failed or did not fit. The biggest issue was the zippers. That was 8 years ago.

What version of Kydex do you prefer to use and what thickness?
https://www.curbellplastics.com/Shop-Materials/All-Materials/KYDEX-Thermoplastic-Sheet
This is what I found on Kydex as i have never heard of it before.

My bench is 70"x12'. I also have a sewing mahcine on one end of it with an infeed table behind it. adding to the length making it about 22' in total length. The bench is large but I can fit an entire hide on it. It is also nice to be able to roll out a 60" roll of topping and not have one side hang off the edge. the bench started its life in a trim shop in the 1960's.

I find 1/2 scrim foam to be too thick to be using with a French seam. It leaves it looking puffy in my opinion. I usually use 1/4 or 3/8 scrim foam.

I commonly use the old bow pads to set the rear bow height. They should have gotten back to you with a proper bow height from Electron Top. Tacking the top on and making adjustments is the best thig you can do in the situation you are in.
I am not suprised you had 36 hours in fixing a tweaked top. When top arms break it is usually by force meanig multiple things have been bent and tweaked. Tops do not really "settle and bow" with out some sort of extreme force. The most important thing in a top frame is that everything is square and straight. Sometimes you will never get it to measure properly but it must operate properly with tension on the top.
I do not think 36 hours is an unacceptable number when it comes to fitting a top on a tweaked.

I believe GAHH is owned by World now. I found their 50’s and 60’s kits work very well. The earlier ones from the 30’s are hit or miss.

https://gahh.com/

https://www.worlduph.com/

I cut clear plexy strips 1/4" - 2" every 1/8" in size 48" long. (A few are set to 1/16" dimensions.) I find many uses for them. They save a lot of time making beading and binding the correct size.

Is the leather very firm and almost crunchy where it turned white? I have had that happen to me before where I have heated the leather too hot and turned it white and crunchy.

How do you feel about it?
In my experience, it looks about right for a thin material with a large top thread and a thin bobbin thread.

Garret leather supplies the woven leather. It is very price over $700 per yard (or per foot I can not remember). I believe Singer gets their woven material from Spinneybeck leather

https://www.garrettleather.com/catalog/custom-services.html

https://www.spinneybeck.com/index.php?/shop/products/leather-weave-lw

Roje leathers sells aligator and other exotic materials.
I also have not worked with aligator but have worked with lizard and that is dificult because it's thin and does not stretch.

This is a sample piece for a customer. All the strips are 7/8 wide and hand woven together.