Brass windshield support rods... Is anyone making them?

[James_Lyons-WV]

When not playing with my 1913 or 1915 Ford's, I'm working on my 1911 Model Q-11 Maxwell. The car is very complete but it underwent an "incorrect" color restoration in dark green and black, back in the 1950's (It should be light blue). In any event, I have the brass windshield but the long brass support rods are missing. I figured Lang's made something for the 09-12 Model T that I could adapt, but saw nothing in their catalog or the website. So the million dollar question is: where does everyone get them? Are we left with making them from scratch? Your input would be appreciated.

max

[Tbird]

James,
I’m pretty sure Rootlieb makes them. I also though I saw them in Chaffins catalog as well

http://www.rootlieb.com/accessories.html

[James_Lyons-WV]

Mike... thanks for the info!

[JTT3]

Speedway motors use to carry them for t buckets

[Jack Putnam, in Ohio]

Mcmaster-carr is you friend. They have brass tube which can easily be made into windshield support rods. It is a ridged tubing that requires heat to bend.

[Rich Eagle]

I made mine from the thinnest tubing I could find. I made ends and soldered them in place. If I was doing it again I would use a bit thicker wall tubing and pin and silver solder them. I had do redo the solder and pin the bottom. The thin tubing vibrated some and sometimes made noise.
I hope you can find or get some made.
Rich

Here are some of John Hatch's from this posting.

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/33 ... 1365628634

[James_Lyons-WV]

All,
Thanks for he replies. I had already gone to the McMaster site and was planning on going that route. Just thought I'd see if there was someone out there already doing this. Since It's most definitely not a Ford, I'll probably have to go the custom route.

[Erik Johnson]

Original brass windshield rods, regardless of brand, are typically thin brass over a steel tube.

[JTT3]

Erik I believe that to be true but can’t make a blanket statement on it. It was about 20 years ago that I learned that when trying to repair a crack on a 12. Apparently to much heat will melt the thin brass off the steel rods.

[otrcman]

Ditto on the brass-over-steel construction of the support rods. One of my rods has a crack in the brass which is a real finger slicer if you're not careful. The rod's not structurally compromised, so we just have learned to be careful. Not sure how to repair it other than to glue it down with some structural epoxy and then posish off any residue.

I've often wondered how the heck they pushed that piece of steel through the thin brass outer. Did they shrink it on, or have some magic lubricant ? No real idea. But one thought did cross my mind: Do you suppose they plated brass over the steel ? I know a plater can put one metal over another without having the two bond together. If I had to make a new rod and no others were available, I think I'd go with the brass plating method even if the outer brass was a bit thinner than original.