1951 Frazer Tail Light Lenses - New Production

[Doc]

Good news!  Thanks Joe.  Eagerly await results.  I think I just got some incentive to head down to the cold garage on this wet day and do some work on the '51. 

[Doc]

Keep us posted. I just saw a used set with bezels that need rechrome (add another $250+ and wait of six + months) go for $350 on the ebay!

[Fid]

That used set on ebay brought $350 so I am sure new ones would be a welcome product.

[kaiserfrazerlibrary]

The only thing to remember is that the tooling to make the mold for plastic will probably run in excess of 40-60K, maybe even more.  It's a one time charge that would produce a number of good parts runs.  The plastic and finishing would be very little, but I have no doubt that whoever does the project would have to try and recoup the tooling cost on the first run.  I would be VERY interested to see the projected costing on this project.  I've been in the die casting business for over 20 years now and it's about the same as injection moulded plastic except for temp and pressure characteristics.

[Doc]

Wonder if anyone produces or can produce a glass lens and what the cost would be for it. 

[Logan]

Were any originally glass or were they all plastic?

[kaiserfrazerlibrary]

For the 1949 model year, Frazer lenses switched from glass to plastic; 1949-50 Kaiser lenses (K-F factory part) were glass, but I seem to recall an aftermarket company producing them in plastic.  For 1951, Kaiser went with plastic.

[Logan]

Good to know.  I've only owned two (53) Kaisers and they are plastic.  I also have a set of '54 lenses which are plastic too, so I didn't know there had been some glass used.

[KWZ]

Count me in for any reproduction 51F taillight lenses or emblems.  I have an NOS pair of lenses but they came from two different places and were completely different colors when illuminated.  I shelved the NOS lenses and used decent original lenses on my convertible after I restored them by removing the crazing in the plastic. 

[jerussel]

And how did you remove the crazing?  I have an unbroken pair on my '51 Vagabond, but they are crazed.

[KWZ]

Purchase several quarts of straight 30W motor oil.  Submerge (ie, weigh down) the lenses in the oil inside a sealed container (I use a 5 gal. tar bucket) and walk away for about three months.  When you take them out they look practically NOS.  Somehow the old plastic pulls all the oil into the crazing and makes it almost dissappear.  Some people at the '07 national asked where I got the NOS lenses and were shocked when I told them they were old originals.  In noon sun they could not tell.  This whole process assumes your lenses have decent pigmentation.  I have used this trick on red plastic lenses from several vintage cars with excellent results.

[jerussel]

Thanks much - Will try this tonight.
Maybe the car will be (almost) ready when I take the lenses out of the oil!  ;-)

[1948 Kaiser]

I'm a plastic injection mold maker by trade. So just a quick note on plastics and vinyls, they are all "petroleum based" products. Through heat, age, UV rays etc. they dry out, get brittle and crack. Bathing them in oil stablizes the "dry" plastic and "brings them back to life" so to speak. It's like putting chapstick on dry lips if that makes more sense.
Products like armorall are petroleum based products with UV blockers added. It works on the same principle.

[Doc]

Any updates on the status of the '51 Frazer taillights?

[joefrazer]

As a matter of fact yes...I have a note going in this month's KF bulletin asking for folks who may be interested in a pair of lenses. Once I have an idea as to the number of lenses, we'll be working with the vendor on firmer pricing. So...we're getting closer!