My 15 touring has been done for a couple of years now. It has the bulb actuated brass horn and I didn't have the heart to paint it black, but now it's time. I've never painted shiny brass before. I thought about spray appliance paint, but, I'm open to suggestions. Am I correct assuming that the horn only gets painted and the screen piece and from the brass elbow to the bulb stays shiny? Also, should the black horn be gloss, raven, or flat?
You are correct that the screen is not painted but I believe the elbow on the horn of my unrestord 15 has traces of paint on it too. The flex hose to the bulb is bare brass. The paint also appears to be glossy... for whatever amount of gloss was available back then.
Is your horn mounted on the door or steering column? Mine is very early production and mounted on the column.
My bulb is mounted on the fake door.
I liked the looks of a brass mirror offered by Langs for my 25 RPU, but did not want the brass to show on a black car. Sanded the brass well with 400 grit and painted it with a rattle can of automotive quality black paint. Still looks good after 5 years.
I agree with Bill above. The black will adhere to the brass better if it is not shiney.
Gloss black use's a cold thinner which should make it stick to brass more, where flat black use's a hot thinner which should make it have less holding power. But sanding the shine off the brass is a must or it will peel no matter what you do. On clear just a little scotch bright pad.
Charley
I'm confused -- why would you paint a brass horn?
If it's because you are tired of polishing it, I would suggest painting it with a rattle can of Brass paint. It will look like polished brass from more than 3 feet away, and it will not need polishing. If it gets chipped, just re-spray.
If this sounds like a good idea, there are other rattle cans of metallic paints. Maybe gold? Bronze?
Peter -- Some of us paint them because that's how they were when new.
While out recently with my 15, I encountered a guy that was an AACA judge (Model T's was one of his areas). He briefly looked over my T a few times over the course of a few days. When he left, he told me I really needed to get rid of that brass bulb horn and put the correct one on it--a hand operated Klaxton! I knew he was wrong, but, mine wasn't totally correct either, since it was not black. So, I figured it was time to make it right. I still don't know if I can bring myself to paint my beautiful varnished hood shelves yet!