RK "bumpers"

[Howard Wright]

Thanks both

Reproducing the fluted steel may be difficult.

Strange apron under the cowl?

Howard

My Swallow saloon has bumpers (manufactured by Wilmot Breeden) and the ones fitted to the 1930/31 cars were made from cast-iron (the 1932 version was different from steel) - same as the Swallow saloon in Ruairidh's post.   . 

My blacksmith is making up new rear bumper irons to replace the very corroded originals and talking to him on Friday, he was suggesting to replace the cast-iron bumper blades (these are quite badly pitted, so aesthetically, will need a lot of work to restore a decent finish) with a stainless steel channel to match the original section size (which is a channel) and he said it was not a problem to cut the "flutes" (each blade on my bumpers has two "flutes"), the channel is just run through with an appropriate cutter and the job is done!

We originally chatted about using mild steel channel, and then getting this chrome-plated, but as I live by the sea, chrome-plating is not a good idea on a ferrous metal, and if a stainless steel channel of a suitable size is available this would be the best option, on the Swallow, the bumper blades have a tight radius bend at each end (double rails) and the blacksmith did not see a problem bending this exactly right.

Suggest you talk to a blacksmith to see what can be done, the bumper blade in the photo in this posting is much simpler than that on the Swallow, so you should be able to get something done that looks right.

Gary

Thanks Gary

I hadn't thought of using stainless steel and am very gratified to know that fluting is relatively easy.  I'll have a word with the local blacky.

Howard