The Ford Barn

Richard Lorenz · 08-04-2013, 08:00 AM

I want to put an old DO RAY NOBBY reflector on the back of my pickup truck. This reflector has a 5 inch diameter steel housing containing 37 red glass marbles 3/8 inch diameter that do the reflecting.

My housing is rusted and I would like to disassemble it for refinishing. Does anyone know what holds the glass beads in place inside of the housing? If I take off the back will the insides fall apart? Thanks, Richard Lorenz

Tom Wesenberg · 08-04-2013, 08:10 AM

I have a similar reflector someplace, and it has the rear cover riveted on. If I removed the rear cover the marbles would all be loose.

If the inside of the back plate was painted white or silver, it would seem like the marbles would make better reflctors. I haven't looked at mine in years, so I don't know how it was originally painted.

MikeK · 08-04-2013, 08:39 AM

Painting the inside may help, but is not the best way to increase reflectivity of gigantic glass beads like marbles. For best reflectivity you would need to silver or paint the back half of the glass surfaces themselves. Think of cheap rhinestones. Colored glass, the back half is painted silver.

super flat · 08-04-2013, 11:52 AM

I use the shiney silver duct tape, it reflects much better inside lights and reflectors! Gary

23hack · 08-04-2013, 12:20 PM

Do a search on ebay for "sign marbles". It will show you what is inside a reflector. Not really a marble.
'

Richard Lorenz · 08-12-2013, 09:08 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

I took my DO RAY apart and found a solid glass piece with a fiber pad between it and the steel backing. Each "nob" on the front had a larger semicircular bulb shape behind it that was silver plated to form a focused mirror. The patent date was January 12, 1858. No details available on-line about the patent, but it probably concerned the silver plate. Someone asked who had a light in 1858 that needed reflecting. The answer might have been that high-quality horse-drawn coaches had kerosene lamps with a focusing lens on the front. Pretty dim, but the driver could see what the horses were doing.

Mark W. · 08-12-2013, 11:22 AM

A layer of aluminum foil was added to one of mine - it worked well and is cheap to replace.

ivoryjohn · 08-13-2013, 11:08 AM

I restore om and took it apart to better clean the "marbles". It turned out they weren't marbles at all but were a solid glass molding with the silver painted on the back. I have to believe that it is an attempt at mirroring. I was able to get it clean and it looks and reflects beautifully.

08-04-2013, 08:00 AM	#1
Richard Lorenz Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 447	DO RAY Nobby Reflector repair I want to put an old DO RAY NOBBY reflector on the back of my pickup truck. This reflector has a 5 inch diameter steel housing containing 37 red glass marbles 3/8 inch diameter that do the reflecting. My housing is rusted and I would like to disassemble it for refinishing. Does anyone know what holds the glass beads in place inside of the housing? If I take off the back will the insides fall apart? Thanks, Richard Lorenz

08-04-2013, 08:10 AM	#2
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: DO RAY Nobby Reflector repair I have a similar reflector someplace, and it has the rear cover riveted on. If I removed the rear cover the marbles would all be loose. If the inside of the back plate was painted white or silver, it would seem like the marbles would make better reflctors. I haven't looked at mine in years, so I don't know how it was originally painted.

08-04-2013, 08:39 AM	#3
MikeK Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Windy City Posts: 2,919	Re: DO RAY Nobby Reflector repair Painting the inside may help, but is not the best way to increase reflectivity of gigantic glass beads like marbles. For best reflectivity you would need to silver or paint the back half of the glass surfaces themselves. Think of cheap rhinestones. Colored glass, the back half is painted silver.

08-04-2013, 11:52 AM	#4
super flat Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: west bend wi Posts: 314	Re: DO RAY Nobby Reflector repair I use the shiney silver duct tape, it reflects much better inside lights and reflectors! Gary

08-04-2013, 12:20 PM	#5
23hack Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 52	Re: DO RAY Nobby Reflector repair Do a search on ebay for "sign marbles". It will show you what is inside a reflector. Not really a marble. '

08-12-2013, 09:08 AM	#6
Richard Lorenz Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 447	Re: DO RAY Nobby Reflector repair Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I took my DO RAY apart and found a solid glass piece with a fiber pad between it and the steel backing. Each "nob" on the front had a larger semicircular bulb shape behind it that was silver plated to form a focused mirror. The patent date was January 12, 1858. No details available on-line about the patent, but it probably concerned the silver plate. Someone asked who had a light in 1858 that needed reflecting. The answer might have been that high-quality horse-drawn coaches had kerosene lamps with a focusing lens on the front. Pretty dim, but the driver could see what the horses were doing.

08-12-2013, 11:22 AM	#7
Mark W. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Maine Posts: 342	Re: DO RAY Nobby Reflector repair A layer of aluminum foil was added to one of mine - it worked well and is cheap to replace.

08-13-2013, 11:08 AM	#8
ivoryjohn Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: picauyne ms. Posts: 251	Re: DO RAY Nobby Reflector repair I restore om and took it apart to better clean the "marbles". It turned out they weren't marbles at all but were a solid glass molding with the silver painted on the back. I have to believe that it is an attempt at mirroring. I was able to get it clean and it looks and reflects beautifully.