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Old 03-16-2015, 07:27 PM   #1
wrndln
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Default 1928 open car latch handle finish

I need to know what the finish should be on a 28 open car handle. 1928 open cars, roadsters, phaetons and open cab pickups, don't have outside door handles. The handle is an inside lever and I would like to know what the proper finish should be - nickel plated or painted body color. My handles are so weathered, I can't tell what they originally had for a finish. I have seen the handles painted and nickel plated on restored cars. I pasted in a picture of one of the handles below. My car is a September 28 roadster if that makes any difference. Any help would be appreciated.
Rusty Nelson

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Old 03-16-2015, 08:59 PM   #2
Tom Wesenberg
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Default Re: 1928 open car latch handle finish

I bought 2 NOS 1928 latches and the handle (hex knob) and rod it's screwed to are both nickel plated.
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Old 03-16-2015, 10:39 PM   #3
BRENT in 10-uh-C
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Default Re: 1928 open car latch handle finish

Rust the early levers were Nickle plated and later followed by body color. The knobs are indeed Nickle plated too.
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Old 03-16-2015, 10:47 PM   #4
Marco Tahtaras
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Default Re: 1928 open car latch handle finish

Quote:
Originally Posted by BRENT in 10-uh-C View Post
Rust the early levers were Nickle plated and later followed by body color. The knobs are indeed Nickle plated too.
Brent, Can you tell me just when Ford specified the lever no longer be nickel plated?
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Old 03-16-2015, 11:23 PM   #5
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Default Re: 1928 open car latch handle finish

Yes, Brent, same question as Marco ask. I see nothing in the Judging Guidelines about 28 open car handles (maybe I missed it, but I don't think so). Maybe the next revision will have something about them. I noticed Dave Lopes 28 phaeton had painted handles. I think we all agree the knob was always nickel plated.
Rusty Nelson
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Old 03-17-2015, 07:44 AM   #6
Tom Wesenberg
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Default Re: 1928 open car latch handle finish

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Here is a front and a rear handle on Dean's A495.
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File Type: jpg Dean17.jpg (74.7 KB, 93 views)
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Old 03-17-2015, 07:57 AM   #7
wrndln
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Default Re: 1928 open car latch handle finish

I have the same pictures as Tom posted above of Dean's car showing the handles plated. Dean's phaeton was very early 28 (1927), so it reinforces Brent's information that the first handles were nickel plated. The question now is, if or when the handles were changed from plated to painted. Any information on that Brent?
Rusty Nelson
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Old 03-17-2015, 08:38 AM   #8
Tom Wesenberg
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Default Re: 1928 open car latch handle finish

My 9-27-28 Phaeton had an amature black paint job put on in the mid 50's and they sprayed everything including the door handles. Under the chipped black paint I can see nickel plating.
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Old 03-17-2015, 10:05 AM   #9
d.j. moordigian
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Default Re: 1928 open car latch handle finish

Could it be, when the 28 latch changed from the "V" notch catch too the squared
opening catch? The later is in Rusty's photo....
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Old 03-17-2015, 10:54 AM   #10
BRENT in 10-uh-C
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Default Re: 1928 open car latch handle finish

Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco Tahtaras View Post
Brent, Can you tell me just when Ford specified the lever no longer be nickel plated?
Quote:
Originally Posted by wrndln View Post
I have the same pictures as Tom posted above of Dean's car showing the handles plated. Dean's phaeton was very early 28 (1927), so it reinforces Brent's information that the first handles were nickel plated. The question now is, if or when the handles were changed from plated to painted. Any information on that Brent?
Rusty Nelson

I honestly do not know the time-frame. I know we are 're-freshening' an early January '28 Phaeton and ran into this on this car when we were rebuilding the latches. I do not have time to dig thru my notes and pictures to verify it any more ...but I think I first asked Doc about if this was correct, --and maybe Bill Sturm too. It also seems like I verified this looking on a door latch assembly print.

Below are some pictures showing the latches coming part and you can see the original rivet and the worn Nickel plating. Dudley, it is not the V notched latches style but this door is the earlier door as shown below. I guess I'm not much help on this!

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File Type: pdf PlatedDoorHandles.pdf (1.35 MB, 31 views)
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Old 03-17-2015, 11:28 AM   #11
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Default Re: 1928 open car latch handle finish

Quote:
Originally Posted by BRENT in 10-uh-C View Post
I honestly do not know the time-frame. I know we are 're-freshening' an early January '28 Phaeton and ran into this on this car when we were rebuilding the latches. I do not have time to dig thru my notes and pictures to verify it any more ...but I think I first asked Doc about if this was correct, --and maybe Bill Sturm too. It also seems like I verified this looking on a door latch assembly print.

Below are some pictures showing the latches coming part and you can see the original rivet and the worn Nickel plating. Dudley, it is not the V notched latches style but this door is the earlier door as shown below. I guess I'm not much help on this!

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Brent,....What makes you say it's an "earlier door" ?
It looks like the second style to me..
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Old 03-18-2015, 09:46 AM   #12
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Default Re: 1928 open car latch handle finish

Good questions!.......with no definitive answers yet...
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Old 03-18-2015, 02:11 PM   #13
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Default Re: 1928 open car latch handle finish

My 28 roadster (Nov. 28) has nickle-plated handles. I have had the car less than a year, so I have no idea whether they are original or not. I will try and post a photo later.
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Old 03-18-2015, 05:27 PM   #14
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Default Re: 1928 open car latch handle finish

I am starting to think maybe all 28 inside latch handles were nickel plated.
Rusty Nelson
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Old 03-18-2015, 07:38 PM   #15
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Default Re: 1928 open car latch handle finish

Rusty,
I was able to photo my Original Aug./Sept. Roadster today. The photos show the lever and Knob are Nickel plated. Jim Sinclair
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Old 03-18-2015, 08:27 PM   #16
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Default Re: 1928 open car latch handle finish

Quote:
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Rusty,
I was able to photo my Original Aug./Sept. Roadster today. The photos show the lever and Knob are Nickel plated. Jim Sinclair
Thanks Jim, that helps (and what I expected). I'll add three comments:

1. I'm confident that the lever was never buffed prior to plating and retained the original texture of the steel.

2. I suspect that many of them were painted body color over the nickel. It would be interesting to see what type of reusable "mask" they used as it had to cover the complete lever including into the latch OR covered the lever and part of the latch so that area of the latch would always be black when viewed through the escutcheon.

3. If Brent was correct and Ford at some point specified the nickel plating be discontinued, it was likely late enough to apply to the Open Cab which continued to use these latches until early June 1930. That is specifically why I asked Brent if he could offer a date.
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Old 03-19-2015, 12:53 PM   #17
BRENT in 10-uh-C
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Default Re: 1928 open car latch handle finish

Fred Morse and I were talking this morning and he told me where this is listed in the Standards. While I agree with Marco that body color overspray onto the plated lever was likely, notice what the Stds. call for.


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Old 03-19-2015, 01:00 PM   #18
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Default Re: 1928 open car latch handle finish

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg View Post
I bought 2 NOS 1928 latches and the handle (hex knob) and rod it's screwed to are both nickel plated.

Great question for I'd like to know as well.

Not to hijack, but if anyone has a set of early latches (triangle) in nice shape for sale, please PM me. I would like to purchase a nice set.
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Old 03-19-2015, 01:03 PM   #19
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Default Re: 1928 open car latch handle finish

Brent,
Thanks to you and Fred in finding the small obscure paragraph about the handles. I guess that is pretty much the final say in the matter. I appreciate you guys taking the time to find the answer.
Rusty Nelson
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Old 03-19-2015, 01:38 PM   #20
BRENT in 10-uh-C
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Default Re: 1928 open car latch handle finish

Quote:
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Brent,
Thanks to you and Fred in finding the small obscure paragraph about the handles. I guess that is pretty much the final say in the matter. I appreciate you guys taking the time to find the answer.
Rusty Nelson
I will probably be back up to the 'archives' later this year and will try to pull a print to see if we can get the true "final say in the matter".
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