1931 roadster dash panel
- Thread starter guyrube1
- Start date
Don Turley
Well-known member
There were some 1930-31 instrument panels made of brass, but they were nickel plated, not left as just plain brass. No original panel was brass plated.
Attachments
Charlie Stephens
Well-known member
Mike V. Florida
Well-known member
Read the last line;
The new design commercial bodies introduced in
June 1930 utilized the round speedometer panel.
• June 1930 through August 1930 the panel was
steel and finished in bright nickel.
• September 1930 through the end of production Butler
nickel was specified for 50%. of production.
• January 1931 through February 1931 - A brass
panel was optional. (Otherwise same as above).
Mike V. Florida
Well-known member
Don help me understand the standards and statement,
"January 1931 through February 1931 - A brass
panel was optional. (Otherwise same as above)."
Why would someone want an optional brass panel if they were all plated?
And what does it have to do with commercial vehicles?
Don Turley
Well-known member
Mike, I think that the word "optional" is confusing in this case. The purchaser of a new Model A did not have the "option" of choosing a steel panel or a brass panel. He got whatever happened to be on the vehicle. It's just that in January - February 1931, some of the panels were made of brass rather than steel. The brass ones got plated, just like the steel ones. The statement "Otherwise same as above" is a reference that the brass ones were finished (plated) just like the steel ones, not left plain. If you look at the photo in Dan Bixby's ad, you can see that most of the original plating is gone, but there is still some remaining where the ignition switch cover plate was and also in the insert areas that were originally painted black.
In the restoration process, if you send a brass panel and a steel panel to be plated, you will see that the brass one turns out better. This is because in the preparation process, it is easier to polish the brass ones than the steel ones. Over the years, the steel ones develop pitting that is more difficult to remove. Once the panel is installed on a car, you will not be able to determine a brass one from a steel one, unless you test it with a magnet. A magnet sticks to steel but not to brass. Therefore, except for use on a judged car, the brass one could be used from June 1930 until May 1931 and appear the same. In May 1931 the design of the panel was changed to include a distinct line around the ribbed area. Since the brass ones were only produced in January - February 1931, there are no brass ones of the later 1931 style.
There was no distinction between passenger and commercial instrument panels. Commercial vehicles used the same panels as passenger cars.
I have a restored one for sale in the FordBarn Model A Swap Meet page.
http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=129705
Dan Bixby has one that has not yet been re-plated.
http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=204181
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