MTFCA Forum

Hi All,
I am restoring the side and taillights on my 1915 back to working condition. I have a few questions.
1. What primer and paint should I use? I am worried about heat blistering when I light them. Do I need to use engine paint?
2. The reflectors: Are these painted or polished metal? If they are painted what color should they be?
3. Were the glass lenses bedded in glazing putty?
4. Was the chimney painted or polished?

Thank you all! I you think of something I missed about the restoration please let me know. the more information the better.
Michael

The lamps have holes near the bottom and outsides of the chimney to allow cooling ventilation. They do get more than warm, but generally not hot enough to seriously burn a finger. So engine paint is not needed.
I use Rustoleum spray cans. Probably not the best choice, but it seems to work for me. I have not yet lit any of the ones I now have, so I cannot really speak to what is best.
The reflectors changed through the years. So are yours the true '15s? Close to true '15s ('17s, '18s?)? Or the later ones with the square shaped inside? Some of the earliest ones had spun brass ball shaped reflectors inside. They appeared to be tin plated. Some '15s and nearly all for the next couple years had a stamped steel ball shaped reflector, they were tin plated and polished. I have used silver paint in mine, both the current restoration and the car I had thirty years ago. It seems to work fine.
No glazing putty was used on the lenses. How they were held in varied from manufacturer to manufacturer, and probably even from run to run. Some, like many of the later ones, were crimped in place and can be very difficult to replace the lens. I have managed a couple times to fold open the crimp halfway around, just barely enough to remove a cracked lens, and slipped a replacement lens in place. Then partially re-crimp being very careful to not break the glass. Then a little epoxy to final hold the lens, applied where it will hardly be seen. Some of the earlier ones are wonderful! They (some of them) held the lens in place with a spring wire. A bit tricky to get a hold of, but once you get a pin or ice pick to slip under one end, the wire slips right out. No forcing of the lens, and putting the wire back in is easy.
Chimneys were painted black like the rest of the body. The cap should match the rim/bezel, brass for cars built before August of '15, black for most cars built after August of '15

wayne as given you a comprehensive answer. 1915 lights should have divers helmet, round, brass reflectors. I believe they were nickel plated, but this was done over the natural brass without any preparation and polishing.

Allan from down under.

Here is a pair of E & J Model 8 side lights for the 1915 Model T Fords. Even though they need restoration, they have pretty nice examples of the round "diver's helmet" reflectors that Allan is describing.

I am also trying to get my '15 oil lamps going. I would like to replace the burner mechanisms but can't locate any. Any of you have suggestions?
Thanks

John

How many you need John ?

We have these in stock now with tabs to hold the glass, and we sell them with glass installed, Bob

Thanks! lots of good info. Which leads to more questions... I have the "diver helmet" on my sidelight reflectors and the one with the flat edges on the taillight reflector. All three are steel. Should they be nickle plated? My lens for the sidelights are smooth ( no circular ribs) is this just a variation?

Your sidelights and lens are correct Michael. Clear lens enable the skeptics to see the correct ‘divers helmet’ (I never heard it called that )
reflector. Bead blast it, mask it off and spray paint it silver. Was originally plated..

I am not sure about the lenses for the early side-lamps. Some of the originals I have do have the round rings lenses, and appear to be untouched since new. I have seen a few cars with the smooth clear lenses, but I suspect they were "restored" that way. The several companies that made the lamps for Ford, also made after-market lamps for replacements and other uses. There was a series of lamps made to be mounted on the back of trucks for loading or other work after sundown that had smooth clear lenses (I have a pair of those the right and the left, but not quite complete). They have the large smooth clear lens with a small clear lens in one side like the tail-lamp had (but a right and a left). I have seen a very few era photos of trucks with such lamps mounted high on the back of the cab. I suspect such after-market lamps gave their lenses to some of the brass lamps that have them now. Era photos suggest that the ringed lenses were mostly used from the beginning.

A side speculation. While lenses that have turned purple are popular today, I suspect that was not a problem with the '15s. The color turning was a result of wartime usage of certain minerals used in glass to keep the clarity sharp and clean. In 1915, the war had not ramped up enough for shortages of those minerals to be a problem yet. The couple original brass rimmed lamps I have still have sharp clear lenses. Speculation, but I suspect the purple lenses are correct for mostly '17s through maybe '20, and they were not purple when new.

As for the reflectors. If you have reasonable plating services available (forget it in Califunny!)? And can afford it. Nickel or tin plating would be a great way to go. A few original reflectors (mostly later square ones) I have appear to be tin plated, although I have seen nickel and it looks good. I use silver paint because it looks good with all the doors closed, and seems to work well enough for brighter light. I cannot afford to have the plating done, or I would do so.

I could use 2 working burners..Thanks for asking