Rotodip System

for those with Series MM sidevalve cars produced between September 1948 and February 1953
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seriesmm_1
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Rotodip System

Post by seriesmm_1 »

Does anybody know when the Rotodip system was put into production,the reason I ask this question is that recently I rolled my 1952 series mm (in the garage by the way) & found that under the lovely grease & oil the underside was black- a semi gloss (not underseal) where as the upper body is Clarendon grey &this is the original colour as I have a Heritage certificate stating that fact.There is no primer under the black it is straight on to the metal.
Regards
BrianR

DAVIDMCCULLOUGH
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Re: Rotodip System

Post by DAVIDMCCULLOUGH »

Hi Brian,
Im pretty certain that all the first mm's were roto dipped. On my lowlight it was a brown primer, same on my series 11 traveller, on Steveys series 11 saloon there wasnt any left to tell what colour it was!

Heres a couple of bits from a booklet I got on ebay lately issued by BMC in May 1953[frame]Image[/frame][frame]Image[/frame][frame]Image[/frame]


Too many Minors so little time.....
seriesmm_1
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Re: Rotodip System

Post by seriesmm_1 »

Thanks for your reply David,if yours was done on the Rotodip I assume that the underneath is the same colour as the upper body top coat,is this correct.
Regards
BrianR

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Scott
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Re: Rotodip System

Post by Scott »

I've always read that the hole behind the battery was for the Rotodip shaft to pass through.

If that's the case, then the first Series MMs might not have been through the process as they didn't have the hole behind the battery.
Scott

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seriesmm_1
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Re: Rotodip System

Post by seriesmm_1 »

Scott,mine is a 1952 4 door & it has the hole behind the battery compartment so the facility was there but not used ?
BrianR

pde2000
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Re: Rotodip System

Post by pde2000 »

seriesmm_1 wrote: Fri Apr 04, 2014 8:24 pm Does anybody know when the Rotodip system was put into production,the reason I ask this question is that recently I rolled my 1952 series mm (in the garage by the way) & found that under the lovely grease & oil the underside was black- a semi gloss (not underseal) where as the upper body is Clarendon grey &this is the original colour as I have a Heritage certificate stating that fact.There is no primer under the black it is straight on to the metal.
Regards
BrianR
That's exactly what i found on my '54 s2mm. The rest of the car has a tough beige primer below the original black paint, but underneath, when some of the rubber-seal is peeled away there is a glossy black paint and shiny metal directly beneath. My car's original owner paid a handsome sum to have the car sprayed with rubber-seal when he got it delivered.
Black 4door series2 deluxe 1954, mostly original, a bit tatty but reliable runner. purchased 1996
c a addison
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Re: Rotodip System

Post by c a addison »

The rotodip system started to be used in july 1950 (google "rotodip"). It was really a phosphating system, with the addition of the rotation to cover all surfaces. The great benefit was that the insides and outsides of the body were uniformly coated with a coating that did not rust.
So, my car was produced in september 1950 and has the hole in the battery tray, so was dipped (hurray).
Colin
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