Here is one for you university types, in the chemistry dept.:
In the late 30's M.G. made some very large touring cars. 4 seaters
with 4 and 6 cyl engines. these were called the SA, VA, and WA models.
Beautiful cars some with custom coachwork. I have one,
the SA drophead Salmons Tickford bodied touring car. we are about halfway
through a nut and bolt restoration.
One of the bigger mysteries on these cars is the instrument panel:
it is made out of brass, has raised bosses as a trim item which were
polished and lacquered. The panel itself was chemically treated to give a
very deep blue black appearance. probably the whole thing was laquered to
preserve the finish. the chemical treatment is lost
in antiquity (excuse my spelling). Some theorys are that the panel was
silver plated and then plunged into some magic potion at ? degrees F. Ebanol
C has been mentioned and tried but so far the results are not original.
Any leads or ideas will be appreciated by the few owners of the few
of these cars that didn't fall to the rust devil.
octagonally,
t a terry
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