SWB signal light finishing, insides painted silver?

[718RSK]

Picked up my freshly chromed signal lights from the plater earlier this week. The insides reflectors will be send out for re-silvering soon. Curious to learn the experience of other with the finishing of the inside of the housings. All of mine (two car sets) showed signs of silver paint on the inside but the application was not very consistent from housing to housing.

On a related note, does anybody out there have an idea of the font style used for the ink date stamps on the housing?

[jaudette3]

Here’s a little snip from my website:

I have experimented with using vapor deposited aluminum on the interior of the housings but it isn’t feasible. For maximum reflectivity the surface needs to be properly prepared before the application of aluminum – cooper plating, polishing, nickel plating and polishing. This is very difficult on the interiors of the housings. I tested over 10 metallic and reflective paints and Rust-Oleum 7718 (found in Auto Restorer Magazine 2014) was by far the best, almost mirror like. Very satisfactory for turn signals.

It’s from a while back but I haven’t found anything better and I’ve been happy with it.

JohnA

[718RSK]

John,

Thanks for the pointer.

The housings I studied appear to have been chrome plated and a grey silverish paint applied to the inside afterwards. The actual reflectors are indeed vapor deposited aluminium. I have removed the reflectors on the mill and they will be vapor deposited shortly. I have experience with this from some of the 356 fog lights I have restored for myself and others over the years.

I have some ideas and will post results here when done.

[718RSK]

Following up. I got no real pointers on the finishing on the inside of the housings. I found a way to duplicate the look I found on my original ones and went that way. Next was to have the inside reflectors re-finished and re-install them. This was followed with installing the freshly detailed original lens. I am sure some of the professionals will have a better way of dealing with these units but this was the best an amateur like me could do without buying NOS assemblies. Date stamps will be next, still struggling with the fonts on those.

Still looking for good restorable front and rear passenger side assemblies and would not mind trying my hand at a set of EU assemblies also.

Thanks for following along

JK

[Jim Morris]

JK,
Magnificient!