CMP mirror replacement

Svenn Ryen · #1 26-05-13, 01:07

Hi guys

What are you opinions on this mirror regarding lookalike to the originals?

http://www.vintagecarparts.co.uk/pro...ar-view-mirror

Svenn

Lynn Eades · #2 26-05-13, 01:59

It is as close as you can get.

Ganmain Tony · #3 26-05-13, 04:24

They look good Svenn!

I'd be interested to see a picture of them on the truck!!

David Dunlop · #4 26-05-13, 04:37

I am not sure how accurate a side mirror you want, but the side mirror used on the CMP was a non-chromed version of the mirror used on the MG TC sportscar and other prewar British automobiles. Chromed versions of these are still readily available from a number of sources on-line and have the four small screws on the back plate for disassembly and replacement of the mirror glass if it breaks.

Prices vary wildly, as does the quality of the mirror glass. The one original CMP mirror I saw was a smoke grey curved glass and these tend to be on the high price end today. They can also be found in clear curved glass, smoke flat and clear flat glass. The flat glass are cheaper and the cheapest of all are typically a crimped sealed unit that you cannot take apart if the glass cracks or breaks (these have no screws on the back side).

Best regards,

David

Lynn Eades · #5 26-05-13, 07:48

Now that David has mentioned that the 4 screws are on the back, I now have to apologise for my hasty and incorrect comment.

Thank you David for the detailed response.

Hanno Spoelstra · #6 26-05-13, 10:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lynn Eades

Now that David has mentioned that the 4 screws are on the back, I now have to apologise for my hasty and incorrect comment.

Thank you David for the detailed response.

Svenn,

AFAIK, they come with screws on the sides and on the back, variations on a theme so to speak. The chromed ones for sale today are a perfect replacement - as long as you get rid of the chrome of course

Several years ago on this forum links were posted to a supplier who supplied both chromed and painted versions of these mirrors. Let me know if you cannot find the old threads, I'll try and have a go.

Hanno

Hanno Spoelstra · #7 26-05-13, 16:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Several years ago on this forum links were posted to a supplier who supplied both chromed and painted versions of these mirrors. Let me know if you cannot find the old threads, I'll try and have a go.

Here are some of the most relevant threads:

CMP NOS mirrors. Question?

The E-bay CMP mirrors

CMP Door Mirrors

CMP mirrors on european trucks ?

CMP Carrier type Mirrors

Maybe I'll do a thread merge someday....

HTH,
Hanno

Svenn Ryen · #8 28-05-13, 23:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ganmain Tony

They look good Svenn!

I'd be interested to see a picture of them on the truck!!

Hi

the Mirror is also available in brass. I have ordered one and will post Picture when it arrives.

Heres a pic of the one that came With my truck.

Svenn

David Dunlop · #9 29-05-13, 05:23

That is an interesting mirror, gentlemen. First I have ever seen with a curved metal frame and side screws.

All the mirrors I mentioned in my earlier reply came with the same flat style metal frame. It is the mirror glass inside that is either curved at the front, or flat.

David

Lynn Eades · #10 29-05-13, 10:00

I thought they were all curved.

Jacques Reed · #11 29-05-13, 11:12

Here's a picture of an original one on a restored Ford CMP ambulance at the Bandiana Army Museum in Victoria (Australia). As can be seen the sides are straight and the four screws are shown. Can't say for sure but believe the glass was flat and not curved.

Cheers,

Keith Webb · #12 29-05-13, 11:49

The glass is curved so the reflection is convex.

Lynn Eades · #13 29-05-13, 11:52

There is the possibility a new flat glass has been fitted, or indeed the possibility that more than one type was made. The one in your picture does look to be a straight frame.
The two I bought from Argentina through E bay a few years ago are both curved, and with some spotting to the glass I wondered how I might replace the glass.
These two pictures are my ones ,from one of the threads Hanno listed above. They came in original boxes.

Jacques Reed · #14 29-05-13, 12:02

Thanks Keith and Lynn for your info.

Looks like CO1Q 17702-C confirms it all.

Cheers

Alex van de Wetering · #15 29-05-13, 12:48

I believe the pictures that Lynn, Jaques and Keith posted are the ones that show the original CMP mirror (screws on the rear). This is modelled after a Lucas wing mirror as used on pre-war British cars and early MV's.

The other that Svenn shows is modelled after a Lucas interior mirror (screws on the sides) as used on pre-war cars....on the dash or windscreen frame.

At least that's what I have been able to conclude by comparing pics on the web with period CMP pictures!

Both types of mirrors are available from dealers that specialize in British classics. The "interior" mirrors seem to be cheaper, so that might be the reason you often see them on restored CMP's (?)

Alex

David Dunlop · #16 29-05-13, 16:39

If your mirror frames and the glass are in good shape, but the 'silvering' on the back of the glass is starting to deteriorate, check to see if there are any shops in your area that deal in mirrors.

Sadly, this seems to be more of a "Disposable Age" we live in today, but 30 or 40 years ago around here, it was possible to have mirrors resilvered for a fraction of the cost of buying new. If you are dealing with a smoked glass, curved mirror, and the glass is solid, that alone is irreplaceable today and worth getting redone if you can.

Cheers,

David

Harry Moon · #17 29-05-13, 17:11

Locally one of our guys went to a glass shop and had a matching round convex mirror cut to size and it matches the originals perfectly.
he had to pay for several as it is very hard to cut the curved mirror and a few were sacrificed in the process. but still came out at about $20.00 a piece.

David Dunlop · #18 29-05-13, 17:34

That is good to know.

While savouring a large beer mug full of tea a short while ago, something jogged in my mind that the silvering process for mirrors at one time involved use of a mercury based compound applied to the glass. Unless that process has changed recently, it might be hard to find a place willing to redo an older mirror of any kind. The very thought would likely send the nearest environmentalist running and screaming into the woods!

David

rob love · #19 29-05-13, 19:13

The part number : CO1Q 17702-C
In that part number, the "C" indicates a revision of some kind to the drawings. It could be as simple as a change to the mounting bracket, or as major as the curved glass. Without seeing an "A" or "B" type we will likely never know.

That said, every mirror I ever came across for the CMPs was curved. I also had success cutting other similarly curved mirrors to replace the glass. I believe the original AVGP mirror glass worked out OK.

David: Beer belongs in a beer mug...tea belongs in a tea cup.