Restoring Fog Light Reflector?

[craig-o]

Has anyone restored the reflector on a 1955 (or similar) fog light?

My fog lights are original, but as the gasket around the lens failed many years ago with the previous owner, there's dirt, oxidation, pitting, and peeling of the reflective surface.  I've had mirrors re-silvered, and other parts re-chromed, but I'm wondering what the appropriate surface would be for these reflectors, and if the multi-planed surfaces of the reflector are part of the cast metal back.

Any guidance (or alternatives) would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Craig

[Roger Zimmermann]

Craig, when I restored my '56 Biarritz, I let rechrome the reflectors. They were maybe silvered originally, but it was easier to chrome them.

[harry s]

Craig,  Check with Richard Sisson at Chevy Chase Plating in Rockville, MD (301-230-7686). His company does silver plating. He is a club member with a very nice 1954 Eldorado. Good Luck, Harry

[craig-o]

Thanks for the suggestions Roger and Harry.

I have a very good chrome plating shop only a few miles from my house; I'll drive down there today and see what they suggest.  The pitting is what has me worried, so I'd like someone who can hold it in their hands and look at it to tell me if it's restorable.  Fortunately the reflector backing is cast aluminum and not potmetal.

Somewhere I heard that chrome plating does not do well in high-heat situations (>170*F).  Not sure how hot the bulb will get, but Roger, I presume you haven't had any problems with the plating?

Craig

[Roger Zimmermann]

Well, Craig, no, I have no problem with the plating. To be honest, I don't use the fog bulbs, they are just there for the fun. I'm also using the directional indicators with parcimony; the bulbs are too expensive!
Are you sure that the reflector is aluminum? I have the impression that it's pot metal, but I can be wrong. By chance, my reflectors were just flat, without pitting.

[craig-o]

FYI, I picked up a pair of foglight bulbs from someone on eBay for $8.95 (+ $4 shipping) for a pair.  http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&vxp=mtr&item=180859360684#ht_4232wt_1267  I just got them in the mail yesterday and thought I should have ordered 2 pairs!

The other potmetal parts that I've had rechromed have at least some iron in them, as tested with a magnet.  The reflector is nonreactive to a magnet, so I presumed it was aluminum...

[Roger Zimmermann]

There are repro fog bulbs on the market which are not correct. Are these bulbs the right ones? To tell the truth, I would not buy these, even if they are cheap.

[craig-o]

These are stamped "made in Taiwan", but they do fit the rather unusual housing and they are functional.  I removed and saved the originals; but for a consumable item, I will use these and replace them with the originals if ever I need.