Just curious

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Rich Bingham
Posts: 1922
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:23 am
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* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1913 runabout
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Just curious

Post by Rich Bingham » Wed Mar 25, 2020 9:46 pm

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 !
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Henry K. Lee
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Re: Just curious

Post by Henry K. Lee » Wed Mar 25, 2020 9:57 pm

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

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DanTreace
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Re: Just curious

Post by DanTreace » Wed Mar 25, 2020 10:06 pm

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


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Colin Mavins
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Re: Just curious

Post by Colin Mavins » Wed Mar 25, 2020 10:54 pm

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.

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Kaiser
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Re: Just curious

Post by Kaiser » Thu Mar 26, 2020 6:07 am

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 :D
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Rich Eagle
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Re: Just curious

Post by Rich Eagle » Thu Mar 26, 2020 12:54 pm

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?
When did I do that?


Topic author
Rich Bingham
Posts: 1922
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:23 am
First Name: Rich
Last Name: Bingham
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1913 runabout
Location: Blackfoot, Idaho

Re: Just curious

Post by Rich Bingham » Thu Mar 26, 2020 1:29 pm

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 ! :lol:
"Get a horse !"

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