Headlight Reflectors

[Geokop]

Hi Everyone,
I'm wondering about a few things...From my Internet searches, I've read that Model T headlights used glass reflectors; hopefully, this holds true for both gas, and electric types. Questions: Are these reflectors removable as individual pieces? On which side of the glass is the silver mirroring applied?
As a hobby only, I restore vintage (1930s, 40s, early 50s) traffic signals; part of this involved learning how to strip old, crappy, reflectors down to bare glass and resilver them using a drip silver kit (from a fine company called Angel Gilding). After much glass preparation, a silver layer is applied (flowed) on to the BACK, CONVEX side of the reflector, follow by a "sacrificial" copper layer, then special backing paint, primer, and a good aerosol top paint coat in the color of my choice. The mirror is protected and sealed behind the glass.
I'm just wondering if Model T headlight reflectors can be resilvered / restored in this manner.
Thanks for any and all input.

 

[rotorwrench]

Alchemy Mirror Resilvering is one of the few companies that still offers mangin mirror restoration for the early model T gas lamps. The electrics lights that Ford used beginning in 1915 don't use glass mirror reflectors. There were several manufacturers of the gas lamps used from the beginning by Ford. This would go back to the original 1903 model A up through the B, N, S, and K models that predate the model T debuting in 1908 although lighting was still kind of an optional thing in the very early years. The real early lamps may have only been kerosene fueled types on some cars.

Different manufacturers of gas lamps used different sizes and parabolic shapes in their different designs. The mirror has to be relatively close to the burner to get a good focus of the light beam. Glass mirrors could take the abuse better than metal but sometimes the non-plated frontal surface gets damaged over time and is difficult to polish out. Due to broken, cracked, or damaged surfaces, these reflectors are quite expensive now and resilvering them is also expensive. A lot of folks just put halogen lamps in with the plated brass reflectors so they can use the lamps without worry of deterioration. There used to be a small shop that reproduced some mangin mirrors but I don't think they're around anymore.

 

[Geokop]

Hi rotorwrench, Thanks for the reply. So, only the gas lights used glass reflectors. Good to know. I've never worked with Alchemy Mirror Resilvering; five + years ago they gave me a quote of $10 / inch diameter to resilver a signal reflector + shipping, so I bought an Angel Gilding kit and learned to do it myself. I'll keep Alchemy in mind should I come across reflectors that require attention. Just for jollies, I'll reach out to Angel Gilding and ask if they also offer that service. Thanks again!