'33 gauge panel and trim ring chrome

[highbeams]

'33 dash gauges panel and trim ring chrome .......

gauge panel front.jpg

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by highbeams

'33 dash gauges panel and trim ring chrome .......

[rockfla]

What are the two little black looking balls on either side of the speedometer???

[rockfla]

There should not be anything there

[deuce lover]

Turn signals most likely ?.That ring needs to go to the chromer.

[rockfla]

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Originally Posted by deuce lover

Turn signals most likely.That ring needs to go to the chromer.

I bet getting a bulb into the "left" indicator is a challenge, looks like its right behind the mounting bracket?

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by rockfla

There should not be anything there

[DavidG]

The purpose of this thread isn't obvious. Are we to critique your instrument panel insert? If so, Robert has done that nicely. Clearly a situation where a photo isn't worth a thousand words.

[TJ]

I thought the first post was an ad to sell the parts, but there was no price.

[Newc]

33 Trim rings are VERY delicate Newc

[highbeams]

[I apologize. This post was supposed to to be with an interrogatory - this is an original panel from my '33 3w, with an afternoon of Bon-Ami, baking soda, water and cotton cloth rag. I submitted three photos with the prior post.

This panel-front had rust, but no pitting (to speak of.) But, there was one brown/black mark that had to be gently scraped off; upon pocketknife scraping, one ballpoint diameter pit appeared, lower right panel.

Then two pinpoint marks appeared with the Bon-Ami; and I noticed miniscule 'points' not palpable; visible upon viewing from different angles in sunlight. I think that these 'points' are ready to pop with rust. But this panel face is done, not to be touched again!

The panel back photo - which doesn't appear here - had serious rust, with a few little areas of pitted rust. The entire back was 'cleaned up' with a Brillo pad, ooo+- sandpaper, flat screwdriver tip for pitted rust, and Bon-Ami. Cleaned up nicely for being the back, including the machine-thread nuts.

The panel ring photo - which doesn't appear here was in similar shape 'sprinkled' with pits. I attacked it with the Brillo pad; surprisingly it finished gleaming, into the pits as well.

What was the Ford chroming process relating to the front of the dash-gauges panel and front of the trim ring being chromed, but not the back of the dash-gauges panel and not the back of the trim ring.

thank You.

[DavidG]

Dull nickel was used as a base for the chrome and only raised or visible areas were polished before chrome plating. It's quite obvious on bumpers and on original '34-'37 grilles where only the raised portions were polished, hence only the front of the grille bars were polished, not the sides. It takes some effort to recreate that original appearance as very few platers use dull nickel these days.


The dull nickel of the '33 grille bars were not polished originally and therefore even the leading edge had a dull finish. In order to ensure a uniform appearance for the grille bars some were actually painted with argent paint as witnessed by some NOS examples of the '33 grille. As a result, 99% of all rechromed '33 grilles have a non-original finish on the grille bars and the outer perimeter.

[hotcoupe]

Engine turning (spotting) nickel plating is the difficult part.
Tom

[fourfords]

It's the little details like this engine turned dash that oh-so-slightly gives an edge to the '33's in desirability over the '34 for me. Keep that elbow grease movin'!

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by hotcoupe

Engine turning (spotting) nickel plating is the difficult part.
Tom

[whizzernick]

I have the machine that I can do correct engin turning on 1933 ford panels. I no longer want to do this work. I would like someone that is interested to call me at 510-889-1933IMG_20230623_111710569_HDR.jpgIMG_20230623_111710569_HDR.jpg

IMG_20230623_111442159_HDR.jpg
here are several examples. (on allumum )

[highbeams]

Originally Posted by TJ

I thought the first post was an ad to sell the parts, but there was no price.

I apologize. I submitted three photos w/out a description. I had just finished removing the rust upon two afternoons of solid sweating work. the dull. pitted trim ring actually took only a minute's work with a Bon-Ami pad. The two afternoons described on my other post, entailed the dash gauges panel front and back. The front-side panel rust was gently removed with water-wet rag, Bon Ami, baking soda. Thank you -

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by whizzernick

I have the machine that I can do correct engin turning on 1933 ford panels. I no longer want to do this work. I would like someone that is interested to call me at 510-889-1933Attachment 528702Attachment 528702

Attachment 528703
here are several examples. (on allumum )

[highbeams]

Originally Posted by fourfords

It's the little details like this engine turned dash that oh-so-slightly gives an edge to the '33's in desirability over the '34 for me. Keep that elbow grease movin'!

I as well! Including the 36 grill bars as opposed to '34s 33 bars. The 36 bars hide the radiator, and of course with the 'shovel' design adds 'class' significantly. ('33 hubcaps have a better design and better V8 design, personal opinion.

[TJ]

Originally Posted by highbeams

I apologize. I submitted three photos w/out a description. I had just finished removing the rust upon two afternoons of solid sweating work. the dull. pitted trim ring actually took only a minute's work with a Bon-Ami pad. The two afternoons described on my other post, entailed the dash gauges panel front and back. The front-side panel rust was gently removed with water-wet rag, Bon Ami, baking soda. Thank you -

No need to apologize. Thanks for the update on your post. Nice job on restoring the panel. The '33 had a classy dash as my first early Ford V-8 was a '33 four door sedan.