Cabriolet 1952 MY

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James Davies
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Re: Cabriolet 1952 MY

#16 Post by James Davies »

Brett Johnson wrote: Tue Feb 14, 2023 7:44 pm Regrettably, the parts catalogs can be incomplete (and incorrect!).

<snip>

Item #8
356.57.355 Plastic window as previously described
356.51.861 "Rear window frame (Wood) -- Convertibles 5015--60389" 5015 was the first Reutter cabriolet. 5001 was the first Gläser cabriolet which didn't have replacement parts
356.51.862 "Rear window frame (plywood) -- Convertibles 5015--60389"
356.57.351 "Rear window glass -- Convertibles 5015--60389"
356.57.353 "Weatherstrip for rear window Convertibles 5015--60389"
Hi Brett, I agree with Alan and think these were plastic, based on existing cars. And I think the 1955 parts book has just mistranslated into English. Here's the full page of what you describe above, including the original German:
Screenshot 2023-02-16 at 4.15.46 PM.png
It only uses "glass" in the English translation. But this was written by Germans, and in German Glas does not necessarily mean that it is made of glass, only that it is either glass or hard plastic. Note too elsewhere in both the 1953 and 1955 parts book, they describe the blinker lenses as "glass" in both German and English, but all the SWF lenses were plastic. Same with the chintzy interior light lens - called glass in both German and English in the parts book, though clarified there as "Cellon", which was a brand name for a cellulose acetate made by Deutsche Celluloid Fabrik.
Screenshot 2023-02-16 at 5.08.45 PM.png
Conradt may have well called the rear window "glas" in the original German, but again, that means only that it was hard plastic or glass. And he may have been cuing off the parts book as well, though I believe he had a 1953 cabriolet. Who knows.

There are some existing 1952 cars with their original tops that could settle this question. I'll reach out and see if they are glass or plastic. But I do think this is a mistranslation error on all counts.

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Brett Johnson
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Re: Cabriolet 1952 MY

#17 Post by Brett Johnson »

Well, that certainly explains my misunderstanding. If you verify original cars have plastic, I will make appropriate corrections in the next printing of my book. I'll also put this info in the magazine since not everyone follows this forum. You're the best!
Brett Johnson

Andrea Scaioli
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Re: Cabriolet 1952 MY

#18 Post by Andrea Scaioli »

Hi Brett

I have Conrad book in italian language and infact on page 41 he says Glass (in italian):
C0D76BF0-75D2-4F68-B209-AC84102B8507.jpeg

and on page 78 says Glass till April’53, after this it is bigger and syntetic material (plastic) :
Image
54E3B912-A4B4-450A-842B-454CAE24614A.jpeg

Bigger and plastic as my ex 53 Cabrio :
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1FBBF653-CE7D-47F3-A1DB-CBAA16DA7BD0.jpeg
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Martin Benade
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Re: Cabriolet 1952 MY

#19 Post by Martin Benade »

James that’s some pretty nice detective work on word meaning, usage, and translations. You have verified that the answer is unclear unless someone has an original car.
If a few examples show up it might turn out that both materials were used by the factory.
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James Davies
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Re: Cabriolet 1952 MY

#20 Post by James Davies »

One extra bit of evidence in the 1955 parts book is that all the actual panes of glass listed - windshield, door windows and coupe rear window - are all identified by their manufacturer, either Sigla or Sekurit, with the implication that the glass is either laminated or tempered, respectively. If the cabriolet rear window was also Sigla or Sekurit, you would think they would mention it, given the pattern.

They don't list a manufacturer for coupe rear quarter windows, but in fact they used both Sekurit (early) and Sigla (late) during the 356 period, with the change coming sometime in 1951. But the panes are interchangeable.

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Brett Johnson
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Re: Cabriolet 1952 MY

#21 Post by Brett Johnson »

I have always wondered why Sigla (laminated) glass was used on rear quarter windows. I have to suspect that the Sekurit (tempered) glass ones must have shattered due to some flex when the windows opened/closed.
Brett Johnson

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