TheSamba.com :: View topic - Get my stuff from lampdoctor, unbelievable!

Tue Sep 15, 2009 11:20 am

Watch this, got my 46 reflectors back from Rico in Dresden. I send him broken trash and get like "NOS"

Will post some new pics from my 46 restauration soon.
Marcus

Tue Sep 15, 2009 12:01 pm

Wow :shock: That is some quality restoration work right there.

Tue Sep 15, 2009 6:16 pm

Looks nice. What does he charge for the restoration??

Tue Sep 15, 2009 7:59 pm

WOW :shock: Not ever sure what to say. Very nice work indeed.

Wed Sep 16, 2009 1:31 am

That is amazing work, got more pics?

Wed Sep 16, 2009 9:44 am

A restoration, and that again mirrors of a split brass reflector, cost 80 euros.

A oval 1200 bug reflector will be cost 50 Euro

At costs are added still the back dispatch!

Rico Pohlan from Dresden Germany
alias
the
headlight-doc

Wed Sep 16, 2009 5:15 pm

What plating are the reflectors done with? Originally they were "silvered" I think.

Also, can you re-create the original logo and number stampings on the back? Looks like you did in the pic. Nice work...

Wed Sep 16, 2009 5:39 pm

That is nice work. 80 Euro isn't bad turnkey with all the replated hardware and the VW/Hella ink stamp if thats the case. Those look chrome plated to me but maybe its the picture, whereas resilvering (actual silver) usually presents much brighter with not as much depth, but it could be the picture, still looks excellent though either way.

Only problem for those of us in the US is the ship cost back and forth to Germany is one of the most expensive shipping locations, maybe another $75+ there and maybe another $80+ back to the US.

I've used Steve's a few times here in the US:
http://www.stevesautorestorations.com/headlight.php
They've done headlights and foglites more than a few times for me in the past, always delivered perfect results, for about the same cost. But thats only for the resilvering, so you still have to respray the reverse bronze/gold-ish with maybe a clear coat to mimic the original close as possible. The VW/Hella ink stamp made could be made fairly easily through an online vendor if you sent them the art you wanted, which is sort of easy to make with just about any drawing software, if you really wanted to take it that far.

Wed Sep 16, 2009 9:22 pm

They look really good.....Well done.

What would the date stamp be for 2009???????

Thu Sep 17, 2009 3:19 am

Brezelwerks wrote: But thats only for the resilvering, so you still have to respray the reverse bronze/gold-ish with maybe a clear coat to mimic the original close as possible.

The pictured reflectors are pre-1950 brass units, so no spraying needed in this case. Looks like the back was cleaned up and polished, then re-stamped. Very very nice work!

Thu Sep 17, 2009 9:32 am

johnshenry wrote: What plating are the reflectors done with? Originally they were "silvered" I think.

Also, can you re-create the original logo and number stampings on the back? Looks like you did in the pic. Nice work...

Before the WWII the reflectors were silvered! After 1945 the reflectors were then reflected coated with a special procedure! The coating consists of aluminum particles and additionally still with a protective layer is provided! The stamp is almost perfect like the original for headlights to at the beginning of of 1949! Afterwards however looks the Hella logo and the part number the something changed. Of it I however still no stamp let manufacture!

Rico

Thu Sep 17, 2009 10:22 am

Brezelwerks wrote:

*The processing of over 50 years old brass reflectors is very complex! Tears must with silver brazing professionally be locked before it are again reflected, depressions must are eliminated, and those must metal parts for adjustment the reflectors dismantled, again galvanized and again are installed! With genuine silver reflectors covered, exist the possibility darkly of starting by air humidity and for other influences. This makes that in foreseeable time again up-polishes necessarily. !

*This concerns a special coating, which was introduced after 1945 and with which today still reflectors will provide! They are sealed in the end still with a thin protective layer. Guarantees a long continuing protection, become approximately matte the reflectors!

*Chromium plating or nickel plate do not bundle the light , but scatter it! This is a danger in the traffic! Silver and aluminium is good for reflektors. They have almost the same reflecting characteristics

*The back dispatch costs about 40 USD as registered transmission!

*The stamp is an accurate copy of original marking! Old VW indication, the numbers and other old details does not have an online stamp service in its computer!

Thu Sep 17, 2009 1:35 pm

I'd definitely say if you could actually ship a set registered to Germany and back redone like that for @$80 total shipping its well worth it. Seems short though based on alot of shipping I've done to/from Germany.

That stamp may not be correct for every reflector style, like for Bosch reflectors obviously, but I'm sure a Bosch stamp wouldn't be too hard to produce either. For thatmatter it would be also be useful to have the stamps made for the bucket assemblies as well, why stop at just the reflectors? That way the whole assembly gets done right.

Thu Dec 10, 2009 4:58 pm

Each job he does is priced different depending what he does for you and what he has to work with. He's done work for me, and when it comes to Headlight work, detail and knowledge, he's the guy to use if you want it right inside and out. Just dont be in a rush as perfection takes time. :D

Fri Dec 11, 2009 2:11 pm

Marcus.

Nice headlamps. I hope the rest of your car is going to be done to a similar standard. Please post some pics for us all to see.

Rich.

Fri Dec 11, 2009 2:24 pm

Brezelwerks wrote:

For thatmatter it would be also be useful to have the stamps made for the bucket assemblies as well, why stop at just the reflectors? That way the whole assembly gets done right.

I agree but with early Hella lights the only difference with the stamps in the bucket and the reflector is the last digit of the part number. In most original examples I´ve seen it is unreadable anyways.

Here are some pics of the work Rico Pohlan has done for me:

Pictures speak for themselves. But the most valuable thing with this fellow is that I get my own parts back and not some crappy reproductions or someone elses rusty parts repaired with bondo as is the case with two other service providers I´ve tried through Samba.

Fri Dec 11, 2009 2:57 pm

Nice! I think I will unpack my '51s lights and get in touch with him....!

Fri Dec 11, 2009 3:15 pm

Highly recommended. Here are the IA-50 parts he did for me. The thunder bolt had deep scrathes and dings and some of the mounting tabs were loose. Painting was not part of the deal.

Fri Dec 11, 2009 3:44 pm

RichOakley wrote: Marcus.

Nice headlamps. I hope the rest of your car is going to be done to a similar standard. Please post some pics for us all to see.

Rich.
Hi Rich,
i haven´t done much this year, because i had a lot of work in our upholstery shop to make all that Hebmüller guys happy for Hessisch :wink:
Some days ago i found that 1946 NOS lamp in CCG green
Here are some pics of my car
http://www.pixum.de/viewalbum/id/1234815
and of my work
http://www.pixum.de/viewalbum/id/4518201

Fri Dec 25, 2009 9:59 am

johnshenry wrote: Nice! I think I will unpack my '51s lights and get in touch with him....!

hi henry!

please look in my ads, therein you find some headlights completely restored by me.

There everyone can make itself an additional picture of my work.

rico