Is it worth having my original Jn. Brown glass reflectors re-silvered and if so, does anyone have any recommendations? Both are very scratched up and one has a large spot missing the silvering. These are from my 1914 T and I'm going to be using the carbide generator for lighting.
Bill,
I was told to use silver nitrate and mercury mixture to resilver, I have never tried it, my daughter that is a chemist told me to be very careful playing with this combination, I have both chemicals but have never tried it. I have asked on the forum before if any one has tried and no answers?
I had the reflectors on my wife's 23 Runabout re-silvered about 6 years ago and it cost me $180.
They are the brightest headlights (6 volt) I've ever seen on a T.
John,not exactly the same thing. One is glass,the other metal. I have found the brass light reflectors are best for resilvering. The steel ones arn't worth messing with.
I had some John Brown glass reflectors done probably 30 years ago. They looked just as bad when I got them as when I took them in. They said the glass was scratched so it really did no good to have them re-silvered.
Bill, contact A Moment In Time at mirrorrepair.com. They have experience with antique auto headlights, unlike other shops I contacted. I had them do mine and they are nice. They will fill you in on everything (including potential problems) and treat you right.
I am referring to acetylene headlights.
Thanks, Greg, I will call them sometime today. What did they charge you, and do you have any before/after pictures?
OK. I'm going to ask what I consider a dumb question but have any of you "wallet challenged" (read cheapskate) guys ever tried something like tin foil or chrome tape? I wouldn't do it to some expensive lamp I was restoring but on a pretty much stock black nothing special T would it be considered?
Charley B
"A pretty much stock black nothing special T, "
In my mind ANY T that has survived is PRETTY SPECIAL.
John
Your reflectors will need to have the old silver stripped and the glass polished before they can be resilvered, or they will look just like they did before you had it done, as Verne has said. This is a critical step. I don't recall if A Moment In Time will do this (I have used them, they do good work) or if you need to have it done elsewhere first. Not all re-silverers will polish, and not all polishers will re-silver.
And not all Silvers have the Lone Ranger riding them!
High HO Silver Away!