fixing curved windows and badges for 60 van

[viscount60]

My 60 viscount is coming back to life slowly, but I need some help with:
1. sourcing a SE Melbourne supplier of curved front windows.

and
2. how do I restore this old viscount badge?
It is pretty flaky, looks like it was a gold coating or something. Any clue what material it might have been and how to get restore it?

It was on from the front but I suspect there was another one on the back, given the dirt marks you can see in the picture. . I am not sure whether it is beyond hope.


Thanks,
Rex

PS. I have the 1960 viscount customer brochure, with lots of pictures, so am workinmg to that. But the pictures all show a decal style, not a metal badge. Maybe it was added later or by the dealer.

[shesgotthelook]

Hi Rex & welcome. The curved windows are no longer made. I had polycarbonate cut to size at a plastics business.

You can read my story here;

vintagecaravans.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=photo&action=display&thread=11919

Or do a search for viscount or curved, perspex, polycarbonate etc windows. When doing a search, make sure to scroll down to the bottom & change the days field to 7000 & no of posts to 100.

Not sure what the best way to clean up the badges is but I'm sure someone will be along shortly!

I have sent you a personal message (PM)

[2up]

Hi Rex and welcome. Pressure wash the lichen off and buff with Purple polish. This is how mine came up, not bad for 51 years old! If they are cracked and not worth saving try talking to Indesign Plastics 25 Cheltenham road Dandenong . You might find some badges around the permanent vans in parks. Cheers Les

[greedy53]

here is a parts place that mite be able to help
bestoffers.au.com/Caravan%20Second%20Hand%20Parts?gclid=COuFgIaYn7cCFUodpQodKkcAdw
www.budgetclassifieds.com.au/category/1805/Caravans-and-Acc/listings/27133/coronet-caravan.html
www.cfrsydney.com.au/default.php
caravansplus.com.au/catalog/index.php?cPath=986_36_576_490
stores.ebay.com.au/Huntsman-Products/_i.html?rt=nc&_sid=918069265&_trksid=p4634.c0.m14.l1581&_pgn=3

[carmeljturner]

Hi Rex I have a 1967 Franklin freeway with 4 curved Perspex windows and took the windows out (carefully) and took them to a plastic fabricator, I googled "Perspex windows in Bendigo" (where I live near) rang to check they could do what I needed exactly and today took them in, to be copied. Very happy with the price $160 for all 4 windows and pick up on Friday. hope this helps Carmel

[Franklin1]

G'day Rex, whatever you do, don't throw the Viscount badge away. Sometime in the future when you least expect it, you'll find an opportunity to have it restored, or copied.

I suspect the badge was die-cast, probably using a white metal compound. Similar to how matchbox cars were made in the early days.

The Viscount crown badge was often used in the early 1960s. I guess you wouldn't be able to find the original chassis number given that the van had a Jones Dolly wheel fitted. Usually the chassis number was welded on the standard drawbar where the jockey wheel was fitted. I've seen these crown badges more on the Victorian Viscounts from the early '60s rather than the NSW models, which tended to get the transfer.

See if there's anybody in your region that has a hobby of making their own miniature military figures, or makes scaled figures for miniature railways. These guys know all about white metal casting, and can give you some pointers on how the crown badge could be reproduced.

cheers,
Al.

[viscount60]

Thanks for all the helpful leads. This is how I bought it, 12 mths ago. It matches the look of the 1960 Viscount van manual brochure.


Where can I get the 'Purple Polish' from that was mentioned?

In-Design Plastics cant do curved acrylic widows, I tried. But I had a breakthrough today finding a really friendly boat repair guy at Futura Marine in Boronia, VIC that can make the curved acrylic windows for $80 each. I could have bought and heat bent the acrylic myself but too risky. They also have the edge moulding and the backing strips for my alu framed opening windows. Plus he showed me a tool to gouge out the dead hard rubber and insert the moulding.

I have stripped out windows, ceilings, wiring, shelfs as you can see and slowly restoring.


What I most like in the van is the original 1960 interior, esp the cupboards and laminex.

[viscount60]

Today I picked up the new curved acrylic windows I got from Futura Marine for $200, with holes drilled. He told me to use a blunt bit when drilling any holes.

Tomorrow I will try to fit them with the new window shelf and its central window. Will post pics.

Then it will begin to look like a van again ands will keep out the rain that hasnt stopped in weeks.

[cruisindoug]

Nov 13, 2013 21:55:42 GMT 10 viscount60 said:

He told me to use a blunt bit when drilling any holes.

Wouldn't have to look far in my shed for one of those

Looks like a nice project, have fun!