1949 Split screen chrome retainer

Post by **philclem** » Wed Jun 21, 2006 11:47 am

Greetings - I am in the process of having the windscreen replaced by professionals in my 1949 2 door car. There is a chrome surround attached to the outer edge of the screen - it is not part of the rubber. 1st question - is that usual? Also inside the car is a brown screw on metal strip which covers the rubber. My second question is - is the rubber for this model different to any split -screen Minors that are of a later vintage. I have a rubber but it just seems wrong....however the part number is supposedly correct and it also includes the universal drawings and words about fitting a screen to one of these earlier cars.

Post by SR » Wed Jun 21, 2006 9:36 pm

ello phill, i had a fella put the glass and chrome strip in my 55, its seperate on mine, i imagine the rubber may be different for the 49, to accomadate the metal strip, phone ESM i suppose, ill be going through this malarky myself next year or two

,steve , any pics?

Post by **rayofleamington** » Wed Jun 21, 2006 11:52 pm

Hi There - There are different types of Windscreen rubber (and Chrome) depending on the age of your MM

'Cam' can probably tell you in glorious detail a bit more about them.
His car has the 'body mounted' chrome...
If he's not spotted the post in the next couple of days you could try to PM him. In the mean time I've moved this thread to 'MM' section

Post by **philclem** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 3:03 am

Well, an update - The windscreen company "Winstone Glass" in Upper queen Street auckland, has decided it is too hard to finish the job. They've left me with screen out and I have to take the car somewhere else. (Which I'll do today). I believe there is no longer a correct rubber for the very early Minors. I'll keep this up to date, but if there is any assistance anyone can give I'd appreciate it.
Thanks,
Phil.

Post by **Scott** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 7:17 am

Good luck trying to find a rubber. All the Minor "specialists" don't even acknowledge that the early MM had a different rubber (well, a while ago they didn't ).
I've had to use the SII type in mine.

Post by **Cam** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 9:58 pm

Hi Phil. The early cars (up to around mid/late 1949) did have a different screen rubber and a body mounted chrome trim. I have one of these on my '49 and I'll be having the same problems when I come to putting the screens back in.

Let us know how you get on.

Post by **philclem** » Mon Jun 26, 2006 3:28 am

An update - and thanks to all of you who have replied. I have established that the original cars had a chrome retainer fixed to the inside of the bodywork, effectivly crimped around the inside lip of the windscreen orifice. The proper rubber has a lip that fits over the edge of the chrome. On the inside of the car where the brown-painted finisher fits on the bodywork, and covers the edge of the winscreen rubber there is another slot in the rubber which sits over the edge of the finisher. This proper rubber is not available - and don't let anyone tell you that Spectrum rubber part number 218-408 is the right part - it's not, and it won't fit even if their directions tell you so. And if you find a genuine rubber - congratulations - you've found hens teeth.
My car is now at a different glass company, driven by me in the middle of one of the coldest spells NZ has seen in recent years (about 7 degrees C, and a cold wind blowing). They have looked at it and are going to manufacture a seal from two different rubber conponents and fuse them together. I am told it will be virtually indistinguishable from the original, but I have yet to find out. I'll let you know, and see also if I can post a photo.
PC

Post by **philclem** » Sat Jul 01, 2006 9:07 am

Greetings - the end of the saga. I have established how different the original 1948/early 49 screen is compared to anything after that. I've managed to speak to a few people around the globe recently, so thank you all. For the record, and if you have an early Series MM lowlight this is an option available to you.
The rubber that is supposed to be available? - forget it - there isn't one. if you look closely at your car and discover that the chrome is fitted to the body and not fitted into the rubber then this is for you.
The glass company have fitted a rubber between the screen and the chrome so that it sits like the original rubber. They have then urathaned the screen into place which forms the water tight seal. They have then fitted a second rubber on the inside of the screen between the glass and the brown finisher, and then screwed the finisher back in to place. A very tidy job, and I would say almost indistinguishable between that and an original rubber. The outside looks great with the screen sitting back just enough to be the same thickness as the chrome center piece. The inside - the rubber has a small lip that fits over the edge of the finisher just like a real one! The end of a mission - all I need now is a wet day to try it out!
Oh - and price? All up about the same as the price of a rubber seal.
Phil.

Post by **NZJLY** » Sat Jul 01, 2006 11:20 am

Glad to hear it all worked out. Which company did the glass in the end. I have a 55 that will one day get the rubber back in (I have one from ESM). I am based in Hamilton

- small world ;)

Post by **philclem** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 9:23 pm

Hi,
The company that completed the job was Smith And Smith in Penrose, Auckland. Tony Cribb was the guy's name - he's worked on old cars before.

Post by **bigginger** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 11:09 pm

I LOVE a happy ending

Congratulations