MTFCA Forum

Has anyone found a good way to remove the brass top from a sidelight? I have 2 lights I need to take the tops off to repair the dents. Looks like they have a rolled edge holding them to the top of the light

I'd like to know also... I have a JNO Brown light that I'd like to do the same to...

I’ve destroyed several caps trying to lift the edge to separate them from the steel disk on the underside. I’ve tried annealing the brass prior to lifting the edge, using a razor to try and lift the edge without cracking the brass with not much success. So I looked on line about pulling dents and ending up on Tbay looking at inexpensive paintless dent pullers. Ordered one with extra strong glue sticks & I had moderate success doing that. I had little success at pulling sharp creases,You mileage may very

John you know what is the “coupe de ville”?
When a guy has a nice set of non dented side lights at a swap meet and everyone acts like he is crazy for asking more that scrap price for them.
Nice ones are hard to find any more.

Dan you’re absolutely correct some folks want top shelf single malt at rot gut prices. I constantly marvel at the professionals that restore them. Even with correct early double twist horns you may get a bargain price on some, then spend $400-500 to have them restored & I understand that if it’s a show car but I image most owners don’t mind a bump or two. Just my opinion. Best John

If there is a void between the brass crown and the steel underneath, you might drill the steel so you can push the dent out with a rod from below. Drill to coincide with the dents. Clamp a rod in a vice. Push the cap against the rod rather than hammer the rod in the cap. It will help to put a small radius on the rod to prevent sharp edges on any brass you push up. Finish with fine wet-n-dry paper and buff to polish. The drilled holes are not seen when the lamp is assembled.

I would not bother with the minor damage in your lamp top.

Hope this helps.
Allan from down under

I have not tried this, but just a rambling thought.
Back in the day we used to take dents out of off road exhaust pipes by filling the pipe with water and putting it in the freezer overnight. The frozen water would expand and push out the dent.
I wonder if one turned the lamp upside down, drilled a small hole in the underside if there would be enough space for water to fill between the underside and the brass top. If so, maybe freezing it would push the dent out.
No guarantee, it might even damage something. If someone had a disposal one it might be worth a try.

MarkS wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 26, 2024 9:20 pm

I have not tried this, but just a rambling thought.
Back in the day we used to take dents out of off road exhaust pipes by filling the pipe with water and putting it in the freezer overnight. The frozen water would expand and push out the dent.
I wonder if one turned the lamp upside down, drilled a small hole in the underside if there would be enough space for water to fill between the underside and the brass top. If so, maybe freezing it would push the dent out.
No guarantee, it might even damage something. If someone had a disposal one it might be worth a try.

Thats a great idea. Nothing to loose by the attempt.

The odd dent here and there is ok on a 100 year old car .My 1912 has all its original dins They should be there at 112 old . I say to the people that complain my car leaks my answer is lets see what leaks out of you when you are 112 years old