emblem enigma

[Robert Walker <walker@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hugh,

I think 'Emblemagic' sells reproductions of these.

rw

hugh hemphill wrote:

> On the 57/58 and maybe 59 Imperials, the are two little emblem pieces that
> go at the base of the windshield at each corner, right beside the A pillar.
> They are three and a half inches wide and about half an inch tall, with
> rounded corners at the bottom.  For the longest time I did not know what the
> little brass brackets were for.  I knew there were unsightly, with a black
> powdery backing, but they seemed to serve n0 function.
>
> Then someone on this list who was parting out a '57 put one up for sale on
> e-bay and I learned what the brackets were for.  They hold the emblems.
> They have a nice golden eagle on them in the style of the one on the hood,
> complete with white rectangle in the center.  I thoroughly searched Mrs.
> Blueberry and found one of her fallen emblems under the carpet.  Only one
> and in very poor shape.  When I tried to clean it what remained of the gold
> leaf style colouring on the eagle's wings came off.  The remainder of the
> plastic is clear, and the black powdery substance was the glue which once
> held it in place and made the contrast with the gold eagle.
>
> I cannot think how to restore this piece or if it is worthwhile if I only
> have one.  I don't think gold paint will be acceptable.  I don't think it
> will have the high shine of the gold leaf.  The little white box and a few
> scraps of the gold leaf is all that remains.  If I had two, I thought the
> effort of finding someone to fix it up right might be worth it.
>
> I went out to Dr. Mopar's to scope both of his 58's.  One is so far gone,
> there is really nothing left of worth but the glass and the body panels.
> The other was brought in after its engine was removed for a Barracuda in
> Florida and most of its good stuff is gone.  I have its drive shaft.  It
> used to be an Auto Pilot car, too.  I was able to see how much it had been
> abused.  Both of its external mirrors were incorrect, holes had been cut in
> the doors for speakers - not well, either - and an additional rear view
> mirror had been roughly screwed into the upper window molding.  More to the
> point, it lacked either of its small emblems.  I knew I was on the wrong
> side of lunacy when I realized I was scraping through the dirty accumulation
> of detritus littering the floor pan looking for an obscure emblem I had not
> even been aware that I lacked until very recently.  Sigh
>
> Hugh
>