Lamenting on when it was easy to get stuff locally

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The last time I needed glass for a Model A, (around 1989) I went to a local glass company. The owner grabbed a template off his wall to cut the window I needed for my 30 Tudor. He cut and polished and attached the channel and I was out the door in less than 1 hour for less the $40.

This week I decided to replace a cracked driver's side door glass on my 29 CCPU. Before ordering from a Model A vendor I thought to check locally for one. My old glass company is now long gone. So I started to call all of the local glass shops to get some quotes.

Wow, everyone now seems to be part of a Nationwide Corporate Company. They do not cut safety glass and just install glass from the auto companies or their own brand. (Did you know that Farmers' Insurance owns Safelite? That is why they always refer you to them.)

I did though find a company that said that they will do it and they want me to drop it off and they will try to get to it in a couple of weeks. Phone quote of ~ $130....

Should have just kept the window rolled down.....

[mshmodela]

Glass cutters are sadly going away...

[Terry, NJ]

I have two, Hance's and Doylestown Glass. Hance's charged me $150 + tax for the wind shield. That was installed. About a year ago. Try the vendors, Brattons, Bert's, Mac's, Snyders.
Terry

[Mitch//pa]

I got all the glass cut locally for my Tudor @ 350 last year. . I have a lot of places around the area that still offer this service

[jeep44]

Radiator shops that can fix Model A radiators are a vanishing breed,too.

[Keith True]

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There are still a few places around me that will cut it for you.BUT,they won't install it.They will not touch the door panels or regulators in an old car.A couple of them will install the windshield in it's frame,but if you want them to use the original rubberized cork bedding they just say no.I have a friend that does A windshields for most of us,$100.installed in the frame.Set in rubber,he says if we want the original type stuff it will be time and materials.He also says he hasn't had a call to do it the old way for over 35 years.

[C26Pinelake]

my glass supplier tells me that flat glass is a thing of the past. He also says with the unique tints they can't possibly keep up with the times. I found it to be just as cheap at the Model A vendors and you know it will be correct. most people want to buy local to save money and that is not always the case. Wayne

[Tom Wesenberg]

We've also lost a few local glass companies that I've used for auto glass.

LKQ is buying up several of the local junk yards and even auto paint supply stores. When one outfit has a monopoly, it's never a good thing.

[700rpm]

Accounting strictly for inflation, your quote should have been around $80 for what cost you $40 in 1989.