MTFCA Forum

What are the chances being a “brass snob” goes back much further than the latter-day affliction that infects some of today’s hobbyists ? Did owners back in the day dote on their noble steeds, polishing brass to a blinding glow, while looking down on the slovenly who let it all tarnish to dull brownish-green ? Did the owners of cars two to eight years old lament the disappearance of brass ? Or did they applaud being released from the tedium of having to keep brass looking “pretty” when the Model T became more “business-like” and utilitarian as its numbers on the roads and byways began to increase at a geometric rate ?

I confess to having wasted many hours of my younger days polishing, primping and caressing automotive objects of affection into a state of transient beauty and “perfect” cleanliness. That quest no longer has a hold on me, and I actually kinda like my Lizzie best when she’s muddy and tarnished, but I have to admit there’s nothing quite as satisfying as bringing the luster back to tarnished brass. No plated bright work, nickel, chrome nor stainless can compete with the gratification I get from bringing brass back to a high polish !

Now let us not get into a match who can polish brass the best like MMO! Cabin Fever is hell but man our cars are ready for the road!!!!!

Hank

Well, seems like enough in the day didn't like to polish brass.....paint it black

We have some of Dr. Bonds journals he was the original owner, and in them he wrote how he enjoyed polishing the rad , but nothing else he also replaced his brass side lamps with all black lamps in 1915.

I have a steel 'black' T so no brass polishing for me but if i ever get the irresistable urge i have some brass artillery shells to satisfy my restless mind.
The big one is a 1917 4" shell of about Three! feet tall, it'll keep me busy for the better part of a day

I'm sure there were as many different attitudes back then as there are today. If I am going to show my '09 or'15 I can get enthused to polish the brass. Otherwise I let it go and appreciate the change in color. We see a lot of old photos showing the wear and tear and mud etc. As the cars aged it probably came less important to shine them. Then came the restoration craze and spit polishing became popular again.
I recall some older brass car owners who didn't show their cars because it took 2 or 3 days to make them pretty enough. I am getting to that age but have found that mine are just as show-able either way. Interestingly, The Street Car crowd seems intent on shining the chrome and metallic paint. Are they becoming the new purists?

Just my own opinion, but I don’t think the “purest” of Model T purists can hold a candle to guys who put mirrors under their show cars !