Dash pannel

[Lee83]

What are the centre dash panels made from and why? Is it brass?

[piman]

Hello Lee,

off hand I can't say but I would be surprised if it is brass, too expensive, William Lions was quite economical with his production. I would expect it to be mild steel sheet?

Alec

[Lee83]

Hello Lee,

off hand I can't say but I would be surprised if it is brass, too expensive, William Lions was quite economical with his production. I would expect it to be mild steel sheet?

Alec

Copper plated maybe?

[PPV]

Hi, having just been working on mine doing a bit of wiring refurb etc I can say that they are all mild steel sheet, painted grey primer in my case. They are original so no brass I am afraid.
Regards,

[Lee83]

Hi guys

Here is the one i have. Looks plated in copper but there is no green or rust on it.

[oldtimer]

Very interesting comments, especially steel plate with grey primer, I wonder if the cost saving on the 240 and 340 went in that direction.
My memories of the time that it was copper not brass

Come on folks, help me , is copper magnetic ? To cold to go into the workshop and check.
If copper is not Magnetic then you have your answer.

If all fails try drilling a small hole that will soon tell you - copper is quite soft

Somebody will tell us

Oldtimer

[oldtimer]

Hi Lee83 and others,
I have just ventured into the workshop and confirm that copper is not magnetic.
So, Lee try a magnet which should not stick.

Lee, Now you can confirm to us

Oldtimer

[piman]

Hello all,

that is most peculiar, I don't believe that the dash panel is made of copper, same reason as before, too expensive and also copper is soft and so is more likely to distort than steel. That said it looks like copper so copper plated? The magnet will stick to copper plated steel.

Alec

[Lee83]

I can confirm that after intensive magnet testing on the dash panel the magnet did stick!

So I'm guessing the it must be metal plate plated in copper.

I wonder why they did this???????

[PPV]

Just tested mine. Defintely magnetic and therefore suggest mild steel.
Regards,

[oldtimer]

I am amused at the attention this topic has attracted , at least we will never forget.

So we now all agree , copper flash over steel.

Will there be a rush on magnet sales just to check.

[poprivet]

If the instruments/light bulbs are earthed through the panel the plating would help with electrical conductivity I suppose.