MTFCA Forum

I have this original pair of E&J tank brackets. The paddle section is steel that is riveted to the brass piece that clamps the top tank to the bottom tank. Were the steel sections brass plated or painted black?

Those arms on the generator of my 1912 Flanders are also steel, with light surface rust. If they were ever plated or painted, the coating is long since gone.

Very interesting Mark. I thought I had saw a photo somewhere of them being black… it looks though if the reproductions are brass.

They were likely "flash" brass plated, like speedometer swivels and early gas and spark levers and 1915 quadrant. The flash plating quickly disappeared and rusted. If made of solid brass, the lever part would likely bend over time with use. Since the reproductions and not intended for use, they can be made out of brass.

I painted mine black.
You could plate it with a Casswell kit:
https://caswellplating.com/plug-n-plate ... g-kit.html
and get similar results.

I used the above kit on my spark and gas rods on my 1911 and got the expected low quality result.
I subsequently painted them with gold paint...

: ^ )

Keith,
That sounds likely what they were. It’s interesting that there were a few parts in the Model T that were flash brassed.