Where To Get An Antique Radiator
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If you're restoring an old tractor, car or truck, finding an authentic radiator might be one of your biggest challenges. Brassworks, a California company, can provide a new radiator or restore an old one. Either way, you'll have an authentic radiator better than the original. The key is to have the original radiator for the company artisans to work with, and that is especially true of tractor radiators.
Lee Chamberlain, owner, Brassworks, says, "We find that tractors have incredibly tight tolerances, more than trucks and cars, even more than planes. If we have the original, we can test and shape the replacement to fit the dimensional mounting points as well as available space front to back."
Brassworks prides itself on making old radiators better, using seamless copper tubing that is a better conductor than old seamed copper. They also offer improved designs, such as with Model A radiators. Where Ford used 6 fins per inch, Brassworks will do the same, but recommends 10 fins per inch for active driving. Another option is a higher pressure cap neck installed out of sight and beneath the hood. The original is blocked off, but left in place. The authentic look is retained, but the boiling point is raised for a cooler engine, especially important for slow driving during parades or long, steep inclines.
Brassworks produces round tube, tube and disc, cartridge and a variety of honeycomb cores. The company has patterns from the early 1900's through the 1960's. If a pattern doesn't exist, the company can use existing parts or sketches to reproduce a dimensionally accurate core.
In addition to crafting the core, the company polishes, renews and replaces brass and other components. If dies aren't available for replacement parts, alternatives are suggested. One-of-a-kind, custom reproductions are expensive, warns Chamberlain, but can be done.
"Where there is a will, there is a way, but in custom jobs there may need to be a will with an inheritance to pay for it," he says with a laugh. "We can make anything, but the worst situation is an expensive radiator and a low value car or tractor."
He gives the example of a 1917 Allen car that is worth $8,000, but to redo its radiator would cost $20,000 because of dies and tooling.
"I've seen a totally refurbished tractor worth $5,000 or less with a radiator that cost $1,000," says Chamberlain. "I will often suggest that a customer go to swap meets to find something to use rather than make one from scratch."
In addition to radiators, Brassworks makes stone guards, brass headlamps, and special orders like custom radiator necks and caps. They have more than 130 stone guard patterns. Each stone guard is hand formed from cold roll steel, triple chrome-plated or nickel-plated.
Because of their expertise, the company often does short runs of a unique nature. A manufacturer of cooling systems for trains wanted a production run of 50 cooling systems. A performance Jeep conversion company wanted better cooling systems.
"We aren't afraid of short runs," says Chamberlain. "While everyone wants to get bigger and focused, we look at things and ask if we can build 6 of these."
Brassworks has broad capabilities in its own right, but also works with others to get the job done. If nickel coating is desired, they have a vendor that specializes.
"We are always trying to connect with skilled craftsman and other companies," says Chamberlain.
With expanded interest in restorations, Chamberlain warns that low-cost imitation reproductions are showing up in the marketplace. Before accepting an inferior or inaccurate replacement, Chamberlain suggests calling to discuss restoration needs. Brassworks tries to tailor each job to the customer's budget and standards.
"If we can't do it, we will tell you who to get in touch with," he says. "We are always looking for ways to lower the cost and expand the market by working with others."
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, The Brassworks, 500 Linne Road - Unit I, Paso Robles, Calif. 93446 (ph 805 239-2501; sales@thebrassworks.net; www.thebrassworks.net).
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Where To Go An Antique Radiator TRACTORS Antiques If you re restoring an old tractor car or truck finding an authentic radiator might be one of your biggest challenges Brassworks a California company can provide a new radiator or restore an old one Either way you ll have an authentic radiator better than the original The key is to have the original radiator for the company artisans to work with and that is especially true of tractor radiators Lee Chamberlain owner Brassworks says We find that tractors have incredibly tight tolerances more than trucks and cars even more than planes If we have the original we can test and shape the replacement to fit the dimensional mounting points as well as available space front to back Brassworks prides itself on making old radiators better using seamless copper tubing that is a better conductor than old seamed copper They also offer improved designs such as with Model A radiators Where Ford used 6 fins per inch Brassworks will do the same but recommends 10 fins per inch for active driving Another option is a higher pressure cap neck installed out of sight and beneath the hood The original is blocked off but left in place The authentic look is retained but the boiling point is raised for a cooler engine especially important for slow driving during parades or long steep inclines Brassworks produces round tube tube and disc cartridge and a variety of honeycomb cores The company has patterns from the early 1900 s through the 1960 s If a pattern doesn t exist the company can use existing parts or sketches to reproduce a dimensionally accurate core In addition to crafting the core the company polishes renews and replaces brass and other components If dies aren t available for replacement parts alternatives are suggested One-of-a-kind custom reproductions are expensive warns Chamberlain but can be done Where there is a will there is a way but in custom jobs there may need to be a will with an inheritance to pay for it he says with a laugh We can make anything but the worst situation is an expensive radiator and a low value car or tractor He gives the example of a 1917 Allen car that is worth $8 000 but to redo its radiator would cost $20 000 because of dies and tooling I ve seen a totally refurbished tractor worth $5 000 or less with a radiator that cost $1 000 says Chamberlain I will often suggest that a customer go to swap meets to find something to use rather than make one from scratch In addition to radiators Brassworks makes stone guards brass headlamps and special orders like custom radiator necks and caps They have more than 130 stone guard patterns Each stone guard is hand formed from cold roll steel triple chrome-plated or nickel-plated Because of their expertise the company often does short runs of a unique nature A manufacturer of cooling systems for trains wanted a production run of 50 cooling systems A performance Jeep conversion company wanted better cooling systems We aren t afraid of short runs says Chamberlain While everyone wants to get bigger and focused we look at things and ask if we can build 6 of these Brassworks has broad capabilities in its own right but also works with others to get the job done If nickel coating is desired they have a vendor that specializes We are always trying to connect with skilled craftsman and other companies says Chamberlain With expanded interest in restorations Chamberlain warns that low-cost imitation reproductions are showing up in the marketplace Before accepting an inferior or inaccurate replacement Chamberlain suggests calling to discuss restoration needs Brassworks tries to tailor each job to the customer s budget and standards If we can t do it we will tell you who to get in touch with he says We are always looking for ways to lower the cost and expand the market by working with others Contact: FARM SHOW Followup The Brassworks 500 Linne Road - Unit I Paso Robles Calif 93446 ph 805 239-2501; sales@thebrassworks net; www thebrassworks net
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