Kicking BRASS....on all types of early type cars
Posted: Sun May 19, 2019 6:15 am
I had a disaster befall me at a car show a couple of years ago. I had my Neverout #80's headlites on my CDO replica, mounted on steel cowl brackets. Anyway while driving back ( 15mph) to load up in my trailer my left headlite bracket broke off and the Neverout landed on the road and I ran over it. It bent the lamp body, the 6'' convex lens was smashed, and the hinged headlight ring was mashed badly. I looked for replacement parts for a while, absolutely nothing for this large pair of very early lamps was available. Out pf desperation I decided to anneal the ring very carefully to soften the brass, using 3 types of body hammers to peck out the ring. After a weeks straitening and many test fits of the replacement glass lens and fitting of the ring to the lamp I sanded the brass smooth, starting with #400 grit wet or dry sandpaper and moving up to #1200 grit. Once all the lumps and gogs were smooth I finished up by polishing the door ring with Blue Magic brass polish. This took a couple of nights in front of the TV, rags in hand polishing away. I think it turned out well. Never toss a lamp part away, it may be able to be salvaged.
