55 Wagon Progress

[MP&C]

Thanks Jim!


We had a customer bring in a "Patent Idea Display". This had a battery pack inside that powered the headlights (headlight bezels not shown) and featured a rod down the bottom that would oscillate the left headlight, and I believe would flash that headlight as well (based on linkage tied to a relay inside). The control switch is actually the left half of a Model T instrument cluster.















It has obviously had parts (hood) that went missing over the years and an aluminum flashing replacement had been added. He wanted a hood fabricated that looked more period correct, so we offered to do louvers and a faux hinge at the top.


For the hood we used 19 gauge AKDQ, and for the louvers we are using the Diacro press brake. The louver dies weren't tall enough for the Diacro, so an adapter was used at the top to make up the difference.





Our practice punches worked fine, but the machine did not have enough depth to the vertical supports of the press brake for the size of our hood. We would need to get sketchy. Real sketchy.

With only about half of each die in the machine, and two set screws holding on for dear life....








https://youtu.be/2ktrqMyY2VQ





With louvers punched, we used the highly technical argon bottle radius brake to add our hoop. next on the list was to make our hinge using a piece of 1/4" stainless tubing.











Next, our hood needs the beltline bead to match cars of the era, and to simulate the hidden hinges for the hood sides.


https://youtu.be/Vm47BL7zQ8g


Our "hinge" was plug welded in place...








Media blasted for better paint adhesion, and ready for delivery..