The Ford Barn

Ed in Maine · 02-17-2025, 04:08 PM

The landau irons (or hinges) do not look too bad and may actually be acceptable with some polishing. I have the following questions:

What is the base material, steel, brass or SST?
Were the hinges chrome plated when new or are they SST?
How is the center button removed? What is the material of the button?
How are the irons separated?
How have other 31 cabriolet owners refurbished their hinges?

Thank you for your suggestions. Ed

Oldbluoval · 02-17-2025, 04:56 PM

The slant landau irons were brass castings as I’ve found. They were chromed
The center medallions were brass; found pot metal prior to and until early 31. That’s by experience and not from tech or JS
The medallions can be hard to get apart. I use penetrating oil, let set a bit, use wood wedges on opposing sides if the same side medallion. Tap somewhat gently and alternate wedges. The pot metal ones will break…..
Done quite a few of these.

rotorwrench · 02-17-2025, 07:46 PM

A magnet checks for ferrous metal. Ford used some zinc cast stuff but it's not all that common in the model A era. Just a few things here and there. The electric wipers were an exception and they liked to fall apart over too much time in the elements. The Trico wipers were also zinc castings.

ronn · 02-19-2025, 08:00 AM

How have other 31 cabriolet owners refurbished their hinges?

I too would like to know that question..................

Oldbluoval · 02-19-2025, 09:27 AM

The center hinge pin usually wear and let them wobble. It’s a machine shop issue to make a new pin and ream the holes in the arms if necessary. The center pin has to accommodate the two big medallions and have proper standoff from the arm bodies.
One side of the hinging pin is affixed to the body and the other pivots. The medallions are affixed to the center pin. The landau arm assembly needs to be a bit ridged, not sloppy back and forth. When the top is up, the landau arm should have some pressure to the front. The folding irons put pressure toward the back. The counteracting pressures on each other keep the top in place and not slough down when driving, etc

ronn · 02-19-2025, 10:01 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

thank you Bill.

appreciate the explanation.

Ed in Maine · 02-19-2025, 12:28 PM

Thank you for your comments, especially about the irons being rigid when the top is up. Sounds like I could do a lot of damage getting them apart and then have nothing to work with when I put the top on the car. I think I am going to wait on separating the arms and re-plating and see just how they behave when I install them. Does anyone have a suggestion for replacement hinge pins? Thanks again for all your comments. Ed

Oldbluoval · 02-19-2025, 01:17 PM

Ed
Not available as I know. The hinge pins have to be made to fit each arm. Wear is different on each one. Besides, the demand is negligible. I make them custom for each project on a lathe.
Each arm is a snowflake. I suppose they could be made and then the arm reamed to fit the pin. I just don’t do them that way .
Imho

02-17-2025, 04:08 PM	#1
Ed in Maine Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cty., ME or Flagler Cty., FL Posts: 1,193	1931 Cabriolet Landau Irons The landau irons (or hinges) do not look too bad and may actually be acceptable with some polishing. I have the following questions: What is the base material, steel, brass or SST? Were the hinges chrome plated when new or are they SST? How is the center button removed? What is the material of the button? How are the irons separated? How have other 31 cabriolet owners refurbished their hinges? Thank you for your suggestions. Ed

02-17-2025, 04:56 PM	#2
Oldbluoval Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Signal Mtn, TN (SE TN) Posts: 2,591	Re: 1931 Cabriolet Landau Irons The slant landau irons were brass castings as I’ve found. They were chromed The center medallions were brass; found pot metal prior to and until early 31. That’s by experience and not from tech or JS The medallions can be hard to get apart. I use penetrating oil, let set a bit, use wood wedges on opposing sides if the same side medallion. Tap somewhat gently and alternate wedges. The pot metal ones will break….. Done quite a few of these.

02-17-2025, 07:46 PM	#3
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 17,410	Re: 1931 Cabriolet Landau Irons A magnet checks for ferrous metal. Ford used some zinc cast stuff but it's not all that common in the model A era. Just a few things here and there. The electric wipers were an exception and they liked to fall apart over too much time in the elements. The Trico wipers were also zinc castings.

02-19-2025, 08:00 AM	#4
ronn Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: NNNNNNNNJJJJJJJJJJ Posts: 7,650	Re: 1931 Cabriolet Landau Irons How have other 31 cabriolet owners refurbished their hinges? I too would like to know that question..................

02-19-2025, 09:27 AM	#5
Oldbluoval Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Signal Mtn, TN (SE TN) Posts: 2,591	Re: 1931 Cabriolet Landau Irons The center hinge pin usually wear and let them wobble. It’s a machine shop issue to make a new pin and ream the holes in the arms if necessary. The center pin has to accommodate the two big medallions and have proper standoff from the arm bodies. One side of the hinging pin is affixed to the body and the other pivots. The medallions are affixed to the center pin. The landau arm assembly needs to be a bit ridged, not sloppy back and forth. When the top is up, the landau arm should have some pressure to the front. The folding irons put pressure toward the back. The counteracting pressures on each other keep the top in place and not slough down when driving, etc

02-19-2025, 10:01 AM	#6
ronn Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: NNNNNNNNJJJJJJJJJJ Posts: 7,650	Re: 1931 Cabriolet Landau Irons Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) thank you Bill. appreciate the explanation.

02-19-2025, 12:28 PM	#7
Ed in Maine Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cty., ME or Flagler Cty., FL Posts: 1,193	Re: 1931 Cabriolet Landau Irons Thank you for your comments, especially about the irons being rigid when the top is up. Sounds like I could do a lot of damage getting them apart and then have nothing to work with when I put the top on the car. I think I am going to wait on separating the arms and re-plating and see just how they behave when I install them. Does anyone have a suggestion for replacement hinge pins? Thanks again for all your comments. Ed

02-19-2025, 01:17 PM	#8
Oldbluoval Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Signal Mtn, TN (SE TN) Posts: 2,591	Re: 1931 Cabriolet Landau Irons Ed Not available as I know. The hinge pins have to be made to fit each arm. Wear is different on each one. Besides, the demand is negligible. I make them custom for each project on a lathe. Each arm is a snowflake. I suppose they could be made and then the arm reamed to fit the pin. I just don’t do them that way . Imho