Repair of brass headlights

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sundown9
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Repair of brass headlights

Post by sundown9 » Thu Nov 21, 2019 2:53 pm

I have a pair if E&J 466 brass headlights which need to have the barrel straightened. Who is capable of making such a repair? I am located in the Tampa area. I tried to post a photo, no luck.The opening against which the lens door closes is bent back at the bottom so the lens door is tilted downward.
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Topic author
sundown9
Posts: 8
Joined: Mon Jul 22, 2019 4:27 pm
First Name: Steve
Last Name: Boyd
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: '14 & '15 touring, '14, '15, '15 Roadster, '17, '23 Hack, '23 TT, '23 CTR DR
Location: Dade City, FL
MTFCA Number: 25975
MTFCI Number: 18287

Re: Repair of brass headlights

Post by sundown9 » Thu Nov 21, 2019 2:54 pm

I see the photos posted. Both lamps have the same damage.

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tinman080
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Re: Repair of brass headlights

Post by tinman080 » Thu Nov 21, 2019 4:45 pm

Is the brass split at the bent area? Annealing the brass will soften it to where it can be worked. Old brass is difficult to deal with as it tends to crack with age. Extreme care must be taken around solder joints. I dropped a lamp and ran over it, crushing the lamp door. By annealing it I was able to hammer and peck until it looked okay. By sanding the peck bumps with progressively finer sandpaper and then polishing with blue magic. It came out okay for my purposes.
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Allan
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Re: Repair of brass headlights

Post by Allan » Fri Nov 22, 2019 8:19 am

Steve, the best solution is to have a pro do the work. New flares would be most satisfactory. If you want to have a go first, you may be able to save some cash.
I would use a press to get things back in shape before working on any dents. The damaged section of the flare needs to be supported from behind, perhaps by a thick half circle piece of MDF and pressure slowly applied to a block of similar material to the junction of the flare and light body. A press allows gradual pressure to be applied, and you can even take things past where they need to be, so they can relax back into place. There is every chance that the solder joint between the flare and the body will be cracked, but that is likely whatever method is used. There is likely no need to remove the door from the flare, but if necessary, the pins should be driven from the hinge so there is no need to drill out the brass rivets.
In all of this, a second pair of hands would be a big help, either to hold the lamp or work the press.
Light hammer/picking work can be used to work dents out. Again, a wooden drift shaped as needs be, can be used to drive out the dents in the rim without leaving multiple hammer marks. Save those for fine work in sharp corners once things are back in shape.
Your lights look deformed rather than dented. Pushing them back into shape before resorting to hammer work is likely to simplify the task.

Hope this helps.
allan from down under.


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Re: Repair of brass headlights

Post by Russ T Fender » Fri Nov 22, 2019 8:43 am

If there is a musical instrument repair shop near you they can probably repair your lamps. They are used to straightening mangled and dented instruments. I had one do a horn for me.


Topic author
sundown9
Posts: 8
Joined: Mon Jul 22, 2019 4:27 pm
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Re: Repair of brass headlights

Post by sundown9 » Fri Nov 22, 2019 1:28 pm

Allen - I have learned about and spoken with people at Brass and Woodwinds Shop in Lutz Florida. A musical instrument repair shop seems like a place that can fix this. These are the pros to which you refer. Steve, owner of the shop, is curious about this fix and has offered to give it a go after the Thanksgiving holidays. Steve says "brass is brass and this can't be that different than fixing damaged tubas, trompones, trumpets, saxiphones etc". I have a perception this might go pretty well. To make things even better, Hagerty Insurance says they will cover the cost of the repair. That is good news.


Allan
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Re: Repair of brass headlights

Post by Allan » Fri Nov 22, 2019 5:41 pm

Steve, if Hagerty will pay postage to Australia and back, we have the most excellent brass light restorer here in South Australia. His work is world renowned, but not exorbitantly priced to reflect this. He did all the lights on my 1912 van, and just recently repaired a hinge on one side light, free of charge, after 25 years! Where do you get a warranty like that? I can refer him to your post if you like.

Hope this helps,
Allan from down under.


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Re: Repair of brass headlights

Post by BigAl » Fri Nov 22, 2019 6:10 pm

From my experience and all those I know that have had antique brass restored the only place to go is Brittens Brass Works. The owner is Rick Britten and can be contacted at 269-979-3928. He is located in Ceresco, Michigan. You will not be disappointed! Excellent work and great guy to work with.


Topic author
sundown9
Posts: 8
Joined: Mon Jul 22, 2019 4:27 pm
First Name: Steve
Last Name: Boyd
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: '14 & '15 touring, '14, '15, '15 Roadster, '17, '23 Hack, '23 TT, '23 CTR DR
Location: Dade City, FL
MTFCA Number: 25975
MTFCI Number: 18287

Re: Repair of brass headlights

Post by sundown9 » Fri Nov 22, 2019 6:42 pm

Thank you folks for the useful replies. I will work with the "local" brass shop and if that does not work out I will pursue help at Brittens or the shop is South Australia. The logistics are much easler when Lutz, FL is 25 minutes drive. Allen - feel free to forward my post to the restorer there. I would be interested in his comments if he has any.

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