Art & Inspiration Period correct hardware

I'm building a 20s speedster type thing. There will be a lot of exposed parts. One of my pet peeves is having parts that don't mesh with what's going on around them... such as torx bolts, modern hose clamps, plastic wiring..

Where do you all source your hardware?

 

been saving/collecting old hardware for years.

 

I save every old car and truck piece I can get, they just look better, and the quality seems better.

 

But the question is really where can he get the old style stuff...

 

Architectural salvage yards. More than likely if they have 1920’s- 30’s fixtures those would have bolts,nuts , fasteners. Doors with knobs would have period correct screws etc.
I’m just tossing it out there.

 

My favorite cousin!


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It absolutely drives me nuts to see torque heads, plastic, and modern phillips screws on a "rare period correct" vehicle. I usually look on the interwebs for the correct fasteners. All restoration web sites should have them.

In fact, looking for those type items on a "barn find" car has helped me to further validate a few stories.

Nick

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Many old-style fasteners can be sourced but they're expensive. I've gotten a LOT of my old hardware at estate sales. I don't chase it down anymore but that's where I'd start. Especially living where you live. There's still a lot of old stuff and old people out there.

 

I'd agree with the salvage the old stuff. Still some of the hardware stores that cater more to industrial plants may have fasteners that have "the look" and still have the needed strength if you need strength. If it isn't suspension, brakes or steering a plain old grade 2 bolt is probably plenty strong enough for most applications. You don't need grade 8 to hold body panels together. Some AG supply houses have plain black coated bolts for use on farm equipment that look old school bolt wise.

 

Looking at that pic, I'd say from @tb33anda3rd !

 

Try Michael @ Third Gen Automotive.

 

I really dislike Torx screws, anodized anything, and on and on. It's probably a good identifier of a street rod though...

 

Dang I don’t feel so bad now, I only have half or better of your stuff, I look at my stash every time I go out to the shop and think “ I am a hoarder “ .

 

Loved all the above and keep what I can of old stuff as well.

One suggestion: Restoration supply company.

 

I got a box of 3/8 Ford marked bolts in the ford box (gpw ww2 jeeps) when a old guy was moving out of his house. Did I say for free.

 

Holy crap!!!

 

Pillips( X) head started showing up in cars in late 1930,they were invented in 1930{Pat date} Auto factorys used then as they could have less stripped heads an there for were stronger an looked better. Any car from from 40 up can use them ether as OEM did,or as better build ,often looks is good ,but use what ya had around happen first.

 

Antique swap meet. I worked in a factory which had been in use over 150 years, back bins in the stock room were filled with square headed bolts.

 

On non critical bolts& nuts grind the grade markings off the bolt heads. Heat them up with a torch, drop them into a container of old used motor oil while hot. This will result in a natural dark color. I collect all the old high headed bolts I can find Greg

 

Years of saving and collecting and small details like hardware really make a car in my opinion. Try swapmeets or your local model A or T club . Even posting want ad on the hamb or ford barn. I hate throwing out old parts but just pitched a bucket of early ford parts along with a couple of 1932 steering wheels

 

Coming from a Willys jeepin background i know what you've got there. The hard core Ford guys go bonkers over that F- script stuff. I had a black out light mount one, threw it on Ebay and it went to France for almost $800. All because it was stamped with the F

 

Not to hijack, but I have been looking for the older style hose clamps with the round screw head with a flat screw driver slot. I have some old ones I've saved but kinda worn out. Any where to get new ones?

 

You can get the "double band" hose clamps from most early Ford repro companies. Old hardware, if square heads are used just be patient and buddy up to guys restoring old anything. An alternative to socket heads and the like would be slotted screws in any size, just be consistent in their use. Any major supplier can provide Fillister head screws on order. They tend to always look "right" when used:

Get a McMaster Carr catalog or perhaps even Fastenal. Just be creative and don't follow trends. Spend some morning coffee time looking at engines and the like.

 

I found a guy who cleaned out a old dealer that was getting demolished. He has new old stock Wittek hose clamps and swapmeets are a good source for such items.

 

I agree. I used to go to a lot of auctions and yard sales in more rural areas. Auctions at closing machine shops yield all kinds of treasures. The only problem with this is you have to have the time to do so. I have had luck at obtaining hardware at industrial factory supply stores. A while back I needed a 7/8 fine thread nut and got it at a industrial place.

 

You can get most of the bolts and the bolts with taller heads in various sizes and grip lengths from restoration supply and can download their catalog from the web site https://restorationstuff.com/

 

Assemble the car, figure out what you need and ask any old timer(hobbyist)

if they have a stock pile in there collection. You will know by then what you need. I`m sure they would be glad to help out. I have numerous people stopping by asking for obscure old stuff, and off the wall things they can`t find anywhere else. You never know what you mind find if you just ask.

 

I found s few boxes of old bolts after my grandpaw died in his shop. He used to work on a lot of model Ts. There were lots of square head bolts.
If these are what your looking for, try the Model T Heaven. If they don’t have a source for new they will have used.

X2 on assembling with new, use them to figure out lengths and quantities

My old bossman wanted an old bolt look on one of our builds. He used a lathe to radius the heads on all the bolts. They looked great.

Looked similar to this. Smooth and no modern markings.

 

There is a place near me that is an industrial recycler. They resell about everything used in industry. Machinery, tools, chemicals, all types of metal. Most importantly for here is that they have trailer loads of nuts, bolts, and other fasteners and hardware. There is a lot of new stuff, but sometimes they clean out an old company and you can find some really old stuff. Usually they do not care how old it is and sell it by the pound like any other metal.

 

Safety wire can be used for a cool hose clamp.