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TTotal
Joined: 30 Aug 2008
Posts: 90
Location: Titchfield Common, Fareham
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 Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 12:52 pm Post subject: Warning about rare vehicles with toughened glass screens |
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OK we all know that toughened glass shatters unlike the "modern" laminated glass - but when it does go BANG! its a trouser changing moment!
We were trundling back home with 40 miles to go when the tiny road chip struck - in a tenth of a second Billy Bedford suddenly lost all his sight in a narrow country lane with darkness approaching. Luckily a chum lived not more than 2 miles away so we plodded on nervously choosing to brush the hedges rather than the oncoming traffic!
The RAC Autoglass guy said he'd better take measurements "in case" they cant find a replacement and one must be made...
Nearly 3 weeks later after ringing and emailing everyone in the glass world ( even spoke with Peter Swann at Pilkingtons in Kent who runs one of the only places that store tooling for the rarest of vehicles it seems that there is no surviving tooling for my Herbert Lomas 1965 ambulance conversion. Sadly my screen is not a Bedford part.
Chaucer insurance say that if the cost of tooling up and making a new laminated screen is more than Billy's agreed value (£2000) then they may decide to write him off.
After 6 months of touring the SW and Wales , nearly 3000 miles , with no problems whatsoever- 30mpg from this simple little 4 cylinder Velox engine, 4 speed and column gearchange too - its criminal to throw him on the scrapheap...
I am awaiting a call now from a contact on eBay that I have bought parts from, to confirm that he has an old screen behind his chicken shed.
Fingers crossed ; then instead of fitting it and hoping that this does'nt happen again, I shall get a mould taken off it and have a new laminated screen made by Pilkingtons.
So guys if you are running round in a classic with toughened glass, just beware of the consequences.
I shall update this post as soon as I have more info.
Then lets hope we shall once more be touring the UK again soon with Billy Bedford !
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Rick
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Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 22437
Location: UK
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Uncle Joe
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| Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 1:23 pm Post subject: |
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I have a contact that hand makes screens, so that could be a way out for you, but he will need the vehicle, and he's in Sweden.
It is a way out though.... |
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Scotty
Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 883
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| Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 2:29 pm Post subject: |
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Only a thought, but you never know - perhaps a call to the glass companies who cut glass for Plant Operators equipment, i.e. JCB's and the like?
They work with laminated glass and I would imagine their glass wouldn't all be just flat. I got a door window for the Chevy cut when the original split and couldn't afford the "genuine replacement", so I found one of these companies and they got the "boy" to cut me one using the original as a pattern (although I realise that isn't an option for you) during his lunch-time. Cost me a Big Mac and a £5'ver. 
One word of warning if you do decide to try it, check the thickness of the glass if they do have something available. My replacement was a millimeter or two thinner so I had a bit of packing to do - but its still in the car 10 years on.
Scotty.
Just had another thought, and forgive me if you knew this already - I wonder if the coachbuilders used a windscreen from another mass produced vehicle? I don't think they would commission a run of unique windscreens just for a single specialist vehicle, of course the key here is what vehicle did it come from and can you get one of those?
(I remember a sporty kit-car used the rear window from a mass produced euro-box to be its front windscreen.) |
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buzzy bee
Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 3382
Location: South Cheshire
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| Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 3:15 pm Post subject: |
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Hi
You want to see the screen on the new fast trac! 
Cheers
Dave |
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TTotal
Joined: 30 Aug 2008
Posts: 90
Location: Titchfield Common, Fareham
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| Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 5:02 pm Post subject: |
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Brilliant lead Rick, many thanks! Have sent them a note but concerned in case they deal with "pukka" ambulances not camper conversions which they may sneer at...
Definately worth a contact though so super news thanks!
John 
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TTotal
Joined: 30 Aug 2008
Posts: 90
Location: Titchfield Common, Fareham
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| Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 5:05 pm Post subject: |
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STOP PRESS !
Just had an email
| Quote: | Hi John,
Have spoken to Rob in Staffordshire from whom I purchased the Lomas CA spares, he has confirmed that I did have the windscreen along with the other spares from the Lomas CA he scrapped, have recovered the windscreen from the back of the shed and placed it ontop of the windscreen on my Lomas CA, I would say its definately the correct windscreen. There is slight marking on the glass on the passenger side from a duff windscreen wiper but hopefully will polish out.
Have taken a photo of windscreen resting on top of the fitted windscreen on my CA its a bit lower than it should be as its resting on the windscreen washer outlet nozzle, hope you can view the photo, have tried to reduce it in size as instructed by my computor tutor, my 11yr old son but hes not around at the moment to confirm I've done it properly.
Please let me know if you still want the windscreen and would you be able to collect? it is a heavy object and quite large.
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And that is FREE of charge too, what a gent!
So I think we shall see if we can get a new toughened one taken as a mould off this old one, fantastic news ! 
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TTotal
Joined: 30 Aug 2008
Posts: 90
Location: Titchfield Common, Fareham
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| Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 5:07 pm Post subject: |
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PS Sorry - thanks Scotty and Joe for your kind suggestions too! Many thanks all.
John
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buzzy bee
Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 3382
Location: South Cheshire
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| Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 5:47 pm Post subject: |
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Excellent news! Let us know how you get on!
I had a contact for a glass company, that have alot of screens in stock, will try to find it, as it may benifit you or someone else that reads this post in the future.
Cheers
Dave |
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TTotal
Joined: 30 Aug 2008
Posts: 90
Location: Titchfield Common, Fareham
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| Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 6:07 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks Dave
Here is the screen - sure looks like its the right one, being held up to the guys own Bedford.
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Phil - Nottingham
Joined: 01 Jan 2008
Posts: 1252
Location: Nottingham
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| Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 7:45 pm Post subject: |
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I had the same story for the toughened windscreen of my 1965 Rover 3 litre (P5). a new laminated one was made as one -off costiong £700. This got cracked by a flying stone a year later and Autoglass replaced it again from stock within the week.
Old toughened glass is weak and new modern laminated is far safer.
Yours is the later Zone toughened type which has an area which allows limited vision provided no hile is made it will stay intact so as to drive to safety/garage where it can all be removed
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Rick
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TTotal
Joined: 30 Aug 2008
Posts: 90
Location: Titchfield Common, Fareham
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| Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2008 9:33 am Post subject: |
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| Phil - Nottingham wrote: | I had the same story for the toughened windscreen of my 1965 Rover 3 litre (P5). a new laminated one was made as one -off costiong £700. This got cracked by a flying stone a year later and Autoglass replaced it again from stock within the week.
Old toughened glass is weak and new modern laminated is far safer.
Yours is the later Zone toughened type which has an area which allows limited vision provided no hile is made it will stay intact so as to drive to safety/garage where it can all be removed |
Thanks Phil, can I ask where you had your Rover screen made? 
John
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TTotal
Joined: 30 Aug 2008
Posts: 90
Location: Titchfield Common, Fareham
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| Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2008 9:35 am Post subject: |
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| TTotal wrote: | | Phil - Nottingham wrote: | I had the same story for the toughened windscreen of my 1965 Rover 3 litre (P5). a new laminated one was made as one -off costiong £700. This got cracked by a flying stone a year later and Autoglass replaced it again from stock within the week.
Old toughened glass is weak and new modern laminated is far safer.
Yours is the later Zone toughened type which has an area which allows limited vision provided no hile is made it will stay intact so as to drive to safety/garage where it can all be removed |
Thanks Phil, can I ask where you had your Rover screen made?
John |
That's because the quote I have is about £1700
John 
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Phil - Nottingham
Joined: 01 Jan 2008
Posts: 1252
Location: Nottingham
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| Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 5:28 pm Post subject: |
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It was through a Rover P5 Specialist Wadhams - I did have label with date of manufacture that stuck on but when it cracked I threw it away!
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