Posted 8 years ago
akrodog
(51 items)
Hey Guys and Gals,
Here is a sign I am currently restoring and would very much like to find original parts to complete resto. Do any of you folks know where I might be able to procure some of these porcelain/ceramic bushings? There is a viable/period part which is somewhat different that I can use for this piece, but would like to be as correct to the original sign as possible. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
what a beauty...
the closest match I could find: http://intekcorp.com/parts-and-services/high-temp-component-parts/ceramic/
can't tell the dimensions.
there's also this one, at the end of the page I'm linking you to, but I think the dimensions are not right (I don't understand mesurment systems other than the metric one): https://www.infraredheaters.com/insulator.html
Many thanks to everyone for the love! mcheconi, thank you very much for the suggestions. I very much appreciate it but those puppies just won't work. They would fall right through the holes in the sign.
Now, searching for "porcelain eyelets" I found these (look for grooved eyelets and clips) :
http://www.m-bindustries.com/eyelets
mcheconi, I truly admire your persistence and am very grateful, but have done a good bit of research myself and just can't find a modern piece that is compatible. Looks like I need to find someone who has a hoard of old neon components. Wish me luck on that one!
Perhaps you could write the measurements ID and OD that you want in inches as well as the metric sizes.
akrodog, maybe these companies could help you find it. I wish you the best of lucks, of course. This neon sign deserves it, for sure.
another company that offers porcelain panel bushings https://www.mumpowersignsupply.com/catalog/159.html
Gillian, perhaps you are correct. I just thought the calipers which show inches as well as metric would do the trick. O.D. is almost 2" or 50mm, with an I.D. of 1 1/8" or 27mm. These bushings would be found on neon signage from the 30's to the 60's.
Thanks a bunch!
mcheconi, You are 100% correct! This sign deserves to be respected. I have been fabricating commercial signage for over 30 years which is a bit boring to me now, so in my semi retirement I have gravitated to the much more rewarding task of restoring these old beauties. As a "sign guy" I have easy access to all the modern parts that are available and there is a "modern" alternative glass housing which is still "retro" and looks like that is the route I will have to go. Have reached out to all my contacts and looks like I will have to go with what I can purchase now. Even though they wouldn't be correct to this original sign the glass housings that are available are still period correct, it just totally sucks that they are now made in China!
99.9% of the folks that will give you compliments on the finished resto will not even be aware that glass housings were used vs the period correct ceramic versions. The neon will steal the show. Love this sign!