Kaiser Frazer Owners Club Forum

General Category => Henry J & Allstate Forum => Topic started by: BigDave LM6174 on September 07, 2013, 12:15:58 PM

Title: Heater Box Color
Post by: BigDave LM6174 on September 07, 2013, 12:15:58 PM
Almost have my interior complete.  Looking at the Heater that came with the parts for the car and parts from 2 other Henry J's.  not sure if heater came out of this car or another.  Should the heater box match my Gray interior paint?  We're all heaters brown?
Title: Re: Heater Box Color
Post by: Fid on September 07, 2013, 01:10:33 PM
It depends on which heater you have. There were three types used in the Henry J (4 if you count  the very early ones, some of which used the 1947/48 Kaiser "Air Conditioner" heater.)
The most common one is this one, all of which were metallic gray
(https://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a6dd04b3127cceebe6ad3194cd00000030O01SatmLdmyB7efAA/cC/f%3D0/ls%3D00203070160520160325175326165.JPG/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D720/ry%3D480/)
Some '51s and a lot of '52s I've seen were equipped with left-over '49/'50 Kaiser heaters, which were metallic tan, maybe there were other colors but I've never seen one:
(https://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a6dd04b3127cceebe6d3ad155e00000030O01SatmLdmyB7efAA/cC/f%3D0/ls%3D00203070160520160325175227252.JPG/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/)
Then there's this one,
(https://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a6dd04b3127cceebe76909b4db00000030O01SatmLdmyB7efAA/cC/f%3D0/ls%3D00203070160520160325175227548.JPG/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D720/ry%3D480/)

which I've seen in metallic gray and metallic tan but I don't know if the tan ones were original or not. Actually, the one pictured looks like it's been painted or it's very nice NOS.
Title: Re: Heater Box Color
Post by: BigDave LM6174 on September 07, 2013, 05:07:49 PM
Thanks Fid, I have the first one with the defroster knob.  Is the gray the same as column or different color?
Title: Re: Heater Box Color
Post by: BigDave LM6174 on September 07, 2013, 05:36:07 PM
It's pretty decent.  Already have new knob to put on for defroster.  Just debating on repainting it.
Title: Re: Heater Box Color
Post by: Gordie on September 07, 2013, 06:06:14 PM
It depends on which heater you have. There were three types used in the Henry J (4 if you count  the very early ones, some of which used the 1947/48 Kaiser "Air Conditioner" heater.)
The most common one is this one, all of which were metallic gray
(http://home.comcast.net/~ljfid/fids_hj_photos/htr2.jpg)
Some '51s and a lot of '52s I've seen were equipped with left-over '49/'50 Kaiser heaters, which were metallic tan, maybe there were other colors but I've never seen one:
(http://home.comcast.net/~ljfid/fids_hj_photos/htr1.jpg)
Then there's this one,
(http://home.comcast.net/~ljfid/fids_hj_photos/image076.jpg)

The brown heater and controls illustrated appear to be the same as 1946-48 Ford and Mercury.  They should be fairly easy to obtain.  I would imagine that the Allstate cars used the generic Allstate universal model.

which I've seen in metallic gray and metallic tan but I don't know if the tan ones were original or not. Actually, the one pictured looks like it's been painted or it's very nice NOS.
Title: Re: Heater Box Color
Post by: Fid on September 07, 2013, 08:59:45 PM
Yours looks great just as it is Dave. I would not change it. The one I posted was repainted too so it's a bit darker than the original ones I've seen.
Title: Re: Heater Box Color
Post by: pnw_oldmags on September 07, 2013, 09:20:07 PM
Hi Dave,
Here is an original one.
(http://circlekf.com/henryj/Photos/Inspect/Heater.JPG)
Title: Re: Heater Box Color
Post by: Fid on September 07, 2013, 10:07:37 PM
You beat me to it Jim! I just found that pic and was going to post it but I see you already did so. Dave, this would be the best reference to go by. Great picture.
Title: Re: Heater Box Color
Post by: pnw_oldmags on September 07, 2013, 11:45:50 PM
If you need a better shot let me know.  I will unbox it again and get a close up with todays camera
Title: Re: Heater Box Color
Post by: BigDave LM6174 on September 08, 2013, 01:38:08 AM
Thanks guys, that picture will do.  Think all I need is make a k sticker.


Title: Re: Heater Box Color
Post by: porsche1914 on September 08, 2013, 08:23:56 AM
Dave,
I have a '51 J and it came with an original heater like yours. The paint on the heater had kind of a bumpy or mottled finish to it, it was not a smooth finish. I may be wrong but I think that's how they were originally.
The other guys may have more knowledge of this.
My heater was a little worn in some places so I redid it. I found Rustoleum has a paint line called Hammered colors that give you that look, kind of bumpy or fish-eyed. It is a little brighter silver or gray but it gives you a pretty similar finish.
Just an idea you mat want to look into.
Good luck with your car.
Don Holt #1913
Title: Re: Heater Box Color
Post by: Fid on September 08, 2013, 09:40:45 AM
Don, that's interesting because the one I posted was repainted back in the 70s. My dad used "crinkle paint" on it and claimed that's how they were originally. Most I have seen are not but perhaps they weren't original examples. The one in Jim's picture does look like the surface is textured and it's NOS. Or maybe some were and some weren't. I've seen a lot of subtle, and some not so subtle, variations on all models of KF radios I've worked on so perhaps there are variations on the heaters as well. The one I posted looks very similar to the one Jim posted so maybe mine is pretty close.
Title: Re: Heater Box Color
Post by: BigDave LM6174 on September 08, 2013, 10:48:53 AM
Yes, paint has roughness to it, almost like the feel of slight surface rust.
Title: Re: Heater Box Color
Post by: Henry's HenryJs on September 10, 2013, 08:33:30 AM
This is the one in the 51
Title: Re: Heater Box Color
Post by: porsche1914 on September 10, 2013, 08:58:11 AM
The heater I have in my J is like the one Jim Betts shows in his picture.
Don
Title: Re: Heater Box Color
Post by: retired wrench on September 10, 2013, 11:52:11 AM

    The J I  had  when I was  a kid had a heater like the first one of  the pictures (like the one  you have) I bought it from the original owner (a mechanic at the Kiser dealership) It was a metalic grey smooth paint. The interior of the car was painted the same  color as the outside. Just my first hand account.
Title: Re: Heater Box Color
Post by: Fid on September 10, 2013, 02:46:22 PM
I've seen several early Aloha Green '51 Henry Js that had the KF "Air Conditioner" heater which was used in the '47/'48 Kaisers. My dad said the first one he had (serial #K514-002510) had that style. I saw one in AZ, serial number K514-001613 which had that one as well.  Also  the one Don Dettore has in IL (seen in the pictures from Sublett), an early '51 with the open steering column also has that heater it  in. See below:

(http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a3d731b3127ccef441f7c682b700000030O01SatmLdmyB7efAA/cC/f%3D0/ls%3D00203070160520130910194520181.JPG/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/)

The label is covered with a dash plaque but it's the '47/'48 style heater.