headlight reflectors

Not sure if yours are original reflectors or repops.

Repops are not really "polish-able."

Original silvered reflectors can be polished with the finest of chamois and lampblack. Kind of messy, but the polishing method doesn't leave scratches.

I'm sort of thinking the yellow tarnish you see is actually the brass beginning to show through the original silver.

Originals are probably preferable to repop reflectors - well, possibly the NEWEST repop reflectors more truly have the proper parabolic curve. But an original reflector can be re-silvered (not cheap) or vacuum deposited (more permanent, not repairable and again not cheap.)

Take a pix of the backside of your reflector and someone here can probably tell you if yours is a repop or original.

Joe K
 
I agree, They won't stand much polishing before you hit brass. Its a good chance that is the yellow that you see now .
 
The new reflectors from Bratton's made a real difference on my car. I have a six volt system and the other day someone coming at me actually flashed their lights for me to switch to low beam. That never happened with the original reflectors in all the driving I have done since 1993 with this car. I can also tell the difference as I follow the focusing directions in the books. Now I can use my lights at night for seeing ahead of the car, not just as warning lamps to oncoming vehicles that there is something ahead in the road with two yellow lights.
 
daveymc29 said:
The new reflectors from Bratton's made a real difference on my car. I have a six volt system and the other day someone coming at me actually flashed their lights for me to switch to low beam. That never happened with the original reflectors in all the driving I have done since 1993 with this car. I can also tell the difference as I follow the focusing directions in the books. Now I can use my lights at night for seeing ahead of the car, not just as warning lamps to oncoming vehicles that there is something ahead in the road with two yellow lights.
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I also have had the same experience with my 1929 Tudor. Using just the stock 6 volt model A bulbs and the new reflectors....
 
A also purchased a pair from Bratton's at French Lick earlier this year; excellent and correctly made.
 
I used Silvo polish. Yes it made a difference but not fantastic. On one of my cars I installed new ones from Brattons and I was truly impressed.
Wayne
 
I also installed the Brattons reflectors. They seem to be correct and a quality repo. Only problem I had was the adjustment screw didn't seem to make any difference in the beam. Otherwise the lights are much brighter.
 
When you replace the reflectors remember you must re-focus the assembly. The bulb must be adjusted to the spot that allows the light rays to be bounced as a beam against the lens. That is why the lamp holder has a screw and spring on it. If you look at the owners manual you will see that pattern you are trying to match. This will give you the greatest projection of light.
 
From experience, cleaning the tarnish from headlight reflectors using any kind of abrasive polish has a high likelihood of ruining the silver plate. Do not use polish because it contains an abrasive.

Clean the tarnish off of the silver plate using this electrolytic technique:
https://video.search.yahoo.com/vide...:s,v:v,m:sa&hsimp=yhs-001&hspart=mozilla&tt=b
 
JOES31 said:
I also installed the Brattons reflectors. They seem to be correct and a quality repo. Only problem I had was the adjustment screw didn't seem to make any difference in the beam. Otherwise the lights are much brighter.
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Do your bulbs have the correct shape filement??

Bob
 

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Following up on Bob C 's comment about filament shape, the bulb should have a center length from bayonet pin to filament center of 1.25". The focus screw gives you a little each way, but many bulbs, especially the Halogens, cannot be focused. As a result you end up with a floodlamp that looks very bright but sends little beam down the road.

BulbComparison.jpg
 
The halogen bulb can be focused, but it takes a longer screw and spring. We reviewed these bulbs a few years ago and used the Computer test equipment required by the State of California. We were able to focus the halogen bulb that fits the original socket and achieved the same test pattern as is shown in the owner's manual. The modern style halogen bulb that is fixed to the reflector can not be adjusted and you will get a poor performance from it.
 
Just have your ORIGINAL reflectors re- silver plated. Use original type bulbs..Then coat with a Teflon metal coating and you are good for years....just like original! And you don't have to monkey around with longer screws to focus.
Chrome only has an 80 percent reflection of the original silver. Aluminum coated is supposed to be better than chrome though....near to the original silver coating.

Brian
 
JOES31 said:
I also installed the Brattons reflectors. They seem to be correct and a quality repo. Only problem I had was the adjustment screw didn't seem to make any difference in the beam. Otherwise the lights are much brighter.
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A lot of that has to do with the shape of the bulb filament as you have read.

The aluminized reflectors have damn near the same reflectivity as the original polished silver.
 
Thanks
I'll check what type of filaments the current bulbs I am using have. What supplier has the correct filaments. The bulbs I am using came from Snyder's.
 
JOES31 said:
Thanks
I'll check what type of filaments the current bulbs I am using have. What supplier has the correct filaments. The bulbs I am using came from Snyder's.
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I don't think any of them have the correct pointy filament. I got mine on ebay.

this is the style you are looking for;

http://www.donsbulbs.com/cgi-bin/r/b.pl/1000.html

There are other bulb numbers as well that will work. 1188 is a 52 / 32 bulb
 
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