1930-31 Headlamp Retainer Ring

[Roger V]

Does anyone know anything about '30-31 headlamp retainer rings being made from brass vs. the typical stainless steel? I have had the ones in the picture for years but never paid attention to the fact they're brass. Even at that they don't match color-wise. The left one is more yellow whereas the right one is a redder yellow tending toward bronze. Maybe aftermarket?

 

[C26Pinelake]

why not have them coated the same color that suits you?.

 

[Gary WA]

maybe from being part of the plating process.?

 

[CT Jack]

My limited detailed knowledge of 30-31 headlight assemblies leads me to believe all headlights were made of stainless steel. The rims in your photos look like plain steel as they are pitted. The yellowish finish looks to be nickel plating. Your rims might be 28-29 which were nickel plated steel but if they are I don't know if they would fit on a 30-31 shell. If you have an early 30 car they might have used leftover 29's on yours. Remember Henry was a penny pincher.

 

[Roger V]

My limited detailed knowledge of 30-31 headlight assemblies leads me to believe all headlights were made of stainless steel. The rims in your photos look like plain steel as they are pitted. The yellowish finish looks to be nickel plating. Your rims might be 28-29 which were nickel plated steel but if they are I don't know if they would fit on a 30-31 shell. If you have an early 30 car they might have used leftover 29's on yours. Remember Henry was a penny pincher.

'30-31 headlight shells were either stainless or magnetic steel(commercial). Before I noticed these, '30-31 rings were stainless whether used on stainless or magnetic steel shells. As mentioned these are brass not steel as I've sanded to the base metal. The pitting you see is in the plating on top of the brass. Nickel plating is not yellow like this. These are '30-31's whereby '28-29's are a different shape/design. The mystery remains..........

 

[john charlton]

My only thought is that they could be Russian GAZ . I have seen pics of GAZ AA trucks with black painted 30/31 rims so I would guess made of mild steel . Late English AA trucks in England also had these. Maybe Ivan thought he would pretty them up a bit .

John in cold dark Suffolk County England

 

[Roger V]

My only thought is that they could be Russian GAZ . I have seen pics of GAZ AA trucks with black painted 30/31 rims so I would guess made of mild steel . Late English AA trucks in England also had these. Maybe Ivan thought he would pretty them up a bit .

John in cold dark Suffolk County England

Interesting though I agree that steel makes more sense to paint just like the commercial radiator, headlight, & tail light shells and cowl band. I just noticed black painted rims/doors in the swap section for which that may explain.

 

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Roger, call Tim Johnstone in Texas. Tim has researched and judged lighting quite a bit, -and at the meet in San Diego, I judged Area 18 under him and he had quite a bit of reference material for us to use.

Another option would be for you to drive up to Bensen and pull the print on A-13043-B and look at the ERs to see if it mentions anything for export.

 

[Roger V]

Roger, call Tim Johnstone in Texas. Tim has researched and judged lighting quite a bit, -and at the meet in San Diego, I judged Area 18 under him and he had quite a bit of reference material for us to use.

Another option would be for you to drive up to Bensen and pull the print on A-13043-B and look at the ERs to see if it mentions anything for export.

Wish I knew that at Perrysburg as Tim and I had a lengthy conversation in the lobby. Too bad Will doesn't making one of his many trips to the archives anymore. Could add that to his list. Vince probably still goes regularly though.