MTFCA Forum

I have a fairly decent set of windshield support rods for my 1912 Roadster, with the exception of cracking as shown in the photos. Since I believe these are brass plated steel, I am thinking they could be repaired by TIG welding and then replated. I am guessing you brass guys have run into this very thing. Any advice?

Looks like a good candidate for silver soldering. Amazon sells Harris Safety Silv 45 and flux as a kit. I was told this stuff approximates the color of brass and is a good general purpose silver solder. I will be using it on a crack in my windshield frame.

Are the rods usually made by flattening the ends of some plated steel tubing? Mine gave separate brass cast ends, inserted and pinned to solid brass rods. One of these was broken and i carved a replacement out of solid brass rod.

Allan from down under.

I don't know the answer to your question, but I have seen both types of support rods. The ones I have came with the car, FWIW. One question I do have, is are they brass plated steel or some sort of steel rod with a brass sleeve pressed on it. I would think it is brass plated steel, but one authority insists that they are steel with brass cladding. Makes a difference in any repairs.

The one original that I've seen was a brass tube over a steel core

The original pair that I have are also made of steel tubes with a thin
brass tube covering the steel. They too have longitudinal
cracks in the brass that need silver solder repair.
Harry Lillo

FWIW My '12 Torpedo has a cast fitting at that connection for the brass tube. Never had any cracks or problems top or bottom. Check your tube with a magnet.

There is a picture of this type of rod on page 122 of the Bruce McCalley encyclopedia. It is shown on a 12 Torpedo.

The brass clad tubing was also used on antique brass and iron beds. When restoring those I used chrome plated,brass sheathed bathroom towel railing, until they started chrome plating directly onto the steel tubing. Then I had to go to solid brass tubing. The brass covering on the steel tubing is not plating. If rust gets under the brass, it can literally be peeled off.

Allan from down under.