Rear license plate light electrical contact - How many folks need them?

I'm thinking of making these and need two for myself but would like to know if others are in the same position - Do you need one?

These are mounted on the inside trunk lip and carry electricity to the trunk post which provides it to the license plate ligght mounted on the trunk lid. While they are usually mounted to a bracket adjacent to the trunk latch, I have also seen these attached to the plastic batchboard (cosmetic interior trunk finish piece).

Thanks,

Scott
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

I have found a fully intact unit to use for the master mold and a professional fabricator will be starting this week. Materials will be modern and superior to the 35 year old bakelite. Our goal is to be a concours quality replacement.

 

The unit arrived still attached to a broken piece of batchboard so I did not see the top surface around the recesses plunger bevel when I gave it to the fabricator. He removed the batchboard and teh recessed area around the plunger has been milled by someone previous, so we no longer have a fully intact unit. This will require additional Engineering setup to create a master involving a complete additional pressure casting cycle to make the final mold. Unfortunately this will add significant setup costs to it.

If anyone has a fully intact one that they could donate for a few weeks, it would benefit the project and you will receive one of the finished product for free. Your original will not be harmed and you will receive it back exactly as you lent it.
Thanks
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

The molds have been made after several small iterations and renditions typical of normal development improvements. The fabricator wants to put a test piece together to resolve which material hardness to use. This takes a lot of his time to deal with the constant changes but it is the right way to get a good final result.

 

bump

 

A while back I presented the original, broken part to the master fabricator, John H, and he had scoped the project as a full fab of the complete part (plastic housing, metal plunger, spring and the stop/attach nut fasteners). John has created the pressure mold to make the plastic housing piece, refined it during the first prototypes (see photo), and is ready to go. While each new plastic piece looks very good and are definitely far stronger than the original, John was thinking to delay releasing the part until after machining of the metal plunger, sourcing springs fasteners etc.

Recently a Dino owner conveyed his immediate need for just the plastic housing and it occurred to me that this may probably be what most owners will want.

Do you need just the plastic housing as in the photos or the complete part?
John is also trying to get a feel for the number to be produced which will affect pricing as he amortizes total cost over quantity made

If you could please drop a line directly to John H (Click to email: [email protected]) and let him know:
1) Do you need just the plastic housing or the complete unit (housing, plunger, fasteners)
2) How many you need



While small, the piece does have its challenges. The photo shows my original unit in front. John had to create a workable template part from that, then add the missing ears to create a full mother and in turn, produce the mold. My limited understanding from talking to John is that the mold is airtight and to make the plastic piece requires he present a vacuum to mold and under heat allows the liquid material to flow into the mold. The unit must stand for hours under pressure to retain the density while it cures and must still outgases over the next day. In addition, John owns a Medical fabrication company and he does this as a hobby, still there are a lot of hours into this. Hope this helps in understanding some of the delays.

Scott
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

These have been manufactured with superior materials and the production run is continuing as John finds time. He is being rather picky on the final product so your patience is most appreciated.

 

Has anyone received theirs that would like to comment on them?