TheSamba.com :: View topic - how to: headlight reflector bowl restoration?

Fri Jun 02, 2006 4:17 am

Hello,

Does somebody have any idea how I must restore the reflector bowls of mine 1953 oval? Are they normally chromed or is it emaille on it?

Grtz Michel

Fri Jun 02, 2006 5:21 am

The term for restoring that mirror finish on your headlight reflectors is called "resilvering", same process used to make/restore mirrors. There are a few places that do that work here in the states, and they can be found in Hemmings Magazine. Check around your region though to see if you can locate someone closer who can do the work, good luck.

Gary

Fri Nov 02, 2007 3:22 pm

Anyone know of a place that can resilver h/l reflectors? Everyone I try says they can only do mirrors...

Thx

Fri Nov 02, 2007 7:30 pm

http://www.stevesautorestorations.com/headlight.php

Sat Nov 03, 2007 9:47 am

i have had them ceramic coated (like exhaust) and them polished by hand.
it is about 96% as shiny as the original but still not like a mirror
but the lights were way brighter than before it was done

Mon Nov 05, 2007 6:35 am

I redid mine on my first oval.

stripped what was left off, primer painted and rubbed down until perfectly smooth and then used a couple of coats of chrome look spray.

By the time the light units were back together you couldn't tell, and the lights were as good as any other 6 volter ( ie terrible)

Fri Mar 24, 2017 12:45 pm

Found this old thread and thought I should add my late experience on the subject. I spent a lot of time this winter restoring a pair of those for a -51 split. I found the reflectors to be made of brass metal with a silver finish. They were in very bad shape so I used several hours grinding and polishing the inside and then after a lot of experimenting managed to electroplate them with silver giving a good result. The other day when I was about to install the very nice looking headlights I found that the bulb holders which were already connected to the car did not fit. The explanation was this. I have one more -51 split waiting for restoration. Apparently I had mixed up the headlights. The pairs are of different fabrication, one is Hella the other one is Bosch. I had restored the Hella pair.

Now I have started to work on the Bosch reflectors. According to the date stamp they are made July 1951. The metal is steel. The finish layer I assume is silver but under this is a layer which I have not been able to identify. At first I thought it was copper but a closer look tells me it is not. Additionally there is a strip of black paint about half way around the very rim of the reflector. The function of this puzzels me. Does anyone have any information about how these reflectors were made?
Appreciate all info related to this topic.