1951 Cub Tail Light Brass Reflector

[Gary1959]

During the restoration of our old 51 Cub, I pulled the glass cover off the tail light to find what looks like a brass reflector behind the bulb. The guy I was working with thought we should use steel wool to clean it. Anyone have any knowledge on the best approach? As the reflector is now, its not very shiny and seems to have more of a rough and "grungy" surface. Maybe this is suppose to really polish well and be really shiny. Would appreciate any knowledge on this subject. thx.

[Urbish]

Steel wool will scratch up the reflective surface. I prefer a product like "Never Dull" for jobs like that:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00097CRY6

[Glen]

Hi,
Below is a listing at TM Tractor for a new reflector for the Teardrop style light. They were used from 1947 - 1953.
If your rear light is the same as the front lights originally were, and not a tail light with a built in red light in the case, then this reflector should be the same. They were shiny when new, it looks like.

http://www.tmtractor.com/new/el/949fp.htm

Below is a page with lights and light parts.

http://www.tmtractor.com/new/el/el_002newparts.htm

[Rodney51Cub]

I second using Nevr-Dull. I have used it on several reflectors on my Cub and H's. Cleans up real nice.

Rodney

[Willy]

20 years in the Navy and I cal confirm that Nevr-Dull works. We used it all the time for shining up brass and copper. The old saying there was if it aint painted, polish it.

I haven't messed the front lights yet, but I ended up taking my rear apart to figure out why it wasn't working (worn out spot in the wire insulation ground it out). The rubber seal looked terrible, but the reflector was pretty shiny.

[Bob McCarty]

The reflector side had a silver coating to enhance reflection. If you're seeing brass, the plating is probably gone.

[Scrivet]

The reflector side had a silver coating to enhance reflection. If you're seeing brass, the plating is probably gone.

Or really tarnished.