Windshield Etching

BadgerA

Senior Member
Who sells the etching kits for model A's? Looking for the correct one for a June 1931 68C. Also, did Ford put any "bugs" on the side windows for that car? Thanks.
 
Roy Nacewicz pioneered that, and Michael Driskell bought Roy's business after he passed away back in 2019. I know that Michael had offered those kits at one time, but I have not seen anything listed by him for the Model-A era etching kits in awhile. You might reach out to him at Third Gen Auto in McMinnville. 844-327-5988 or thirdgenauto.com

If you don't have any luck, I have 4-5 different dates for the Model-A era if you wanted to come warm up in Tennessee for a day and do your glass while on a mini-vacation. ;)
 
The original bugs were in the laminate between glass. The etch goes to outside of glass.
What do the judges say in fine point? Current bugs best available???
 
I have found a guy on E Bay that advertises that he "bought out" Carlton Glass? He says he has them available but I know nothing of him or his company. Either Ford or TriPlex available with date. Does anyone know if it would be correct to do the side windows as well on a mid 31 cabbie?
 
Cabby side glass was not 1/4” as windshield. So they may have been plate rather than laminated. Plate would not have logo. Might ask what cabby club knows or they may chime in here. I’ve never had an original side glass
 
I have found a guy on E Bay that advertises that he "bought out" Carlton Glass? He says he has them available but I know nothing of him or his company. Either Ford or TriPlex available with date. Does anyone know if it would be correct to do the side windows as well on a mid 31 cabbie?

That is Michael. Carlton Glass was Roy's company because Roy lived in Carlton, MI (-he worked for Ford Mtr Co in Dearborn as his day job).

It has been my experience that the Judges basically go by what is printed in the Judging Stds book, so as long as your date is before your Assembly date (such as Jim's stencil date of February 1931 as mentioned above), then you are ok. Bill is correct in that only glass that was safety glass was logoed.
 
Cabby side glass was not 1/4” as windshield. So they may have been plate rather than laminated. Plate would not have logo. Might ask what cabby club knows or they may chime in here. I’ve never had an original side glass
Henry only put the expensive laminate in the windshield. That decision was made after one of his test drivers had been cut up in a crash. The side and rear glass was regular plate glass. Today many use the laminate for those too. You can also use tempered glass (the stuff that breaks into a 1000 tiny pieces) but that is hard for local glass shops to work with.
 
I used tempered glass in one A about 20 years ago.My friend that does glass work said that he'd hooked up with a new tempering outfit,and it wouldn't be much more to temper it.He cut the plate,ground and polished the edges,and sent it out for tempering.It was his one and only transaction with that outfit.It was astronomical.I get it being pricey,as it's a multi step process,as tempered can't be cut.( not feasibly for a small glass company anyway)Plate glass is cut,then boxed up,and sent out for the tempering,and has to be brought back.Billing four times the estimate was not the way to go.
 
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