The Ford Barn

Geokop · 12-17-2025, 11:10 PM

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.

12-17-2025, 11:10 PM	#1
Geokop Member Join Date: Sep 2023 Posts: 44	Headlight Reflectors 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. Last edited by Geokop; 12-18-2025 at 01:11 PM.