KLF Posted January 19, 2016 Share Posted January 19, 2016 This is hanging on a friends wall. Maybe a winter front for a mid 30's Dodge??Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken_Lincoln Posted January 19, 2016 Share Posted January 19, 2016 RADIATOR SCREEN FOR COLD WEATHER Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest DodgeKCL Posted January 21, 2016 Share Posted January 21, 2016 Not to put too fine an edge on it but they were called "Winter Fronts". At least here in Canada. I have an original 1933 Plymouth one. It's missing the coiled mounting springs but is otherwise in original condition. Black oil cloth on the front and khaki cloth on the rear with a zipper down the front. I believe you used the zipper as a 'regulator' to let in more air as the ambient temperature went up. The resulting flap could be snapped to the side out of the way. Mine does not have the Plymouth symbol on it like your Dodge but has '1933 PLYMOUTH' and a model number stamped on the rear. Possibly aftermarket while your appears NOS Chryco. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
30DodgePanel Posted January 22, 2016 Share Posted January 22, 2016 (edited) Is this considered a winter front and can anyone tell me the material it was made with ? Chain link, Stainless, Brass, rubber, painted metal ? Edited January 22, 2016 by 30DodgePanel (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KLF Posted January 22, 2016 Author Share Posted January 22, 2016 I think the winter front will be coming to my garage so I'll have some answers for you thenKen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted January 22, 2016 Share Posted January 22, 2016 (edited) Is this considered a winter front and can anyone tell me the material it was made with ? Chain link, Stainless, Brass, rubber, painted metal ?Cannot see enough detail to tell what the one on the truck is made of. Edited January 22, 2016 by keiser31 (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
30DodgePanel Posted January 22, 2016 Share Posted January 22, 2016 Thanks John for the reply.Does anyone have an Idea what the purpose of the winter front piece on the trucks would have been for ? It seems as if they are just a chain of some sort made for a cosmetic enhancement only... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Zetnick Posted January 22, 2016 Share Posted January 22, 2016 It does seem like it may be made of wire.....like a stone guard...maybe being a dump truck, it's actually a stone guard and the person writing the text got the terminology wrong? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted January 22, 2016 Share Posted January 22, 2016 (edited) It does seem like it may be made of wire.....like a stone guard...maybe being a dump truck, it's actually a stone guard and the person writing the text got the terminology wrong?I agree with the stone guard idea. if it is made up of wire or chain, it cannot be a winter front. A winter front closes off some of the cold air and a wire or chain front will not do that. Edited January 22, 2016 by keiser31 (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nearchoclatetown Posted January 22, 2016 Share Posted January 22, 2016 (edited) Many old commercial trucks, even into the '50's, had heavy grille guards. They were made of heavy steel like 3/8 X 3 and rolled and welded into shape, kind of like the grille guards police cars have now. I too, don't think it's a winter front. Edited January 22, 2016 by nearchoclatetown (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Old Dodge Posted January 26, 2016 Share Posted January 26, 2016 Better picture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Old Dodge Posted January 28, 2016 Share Posted January 28, 2016 With those front on shots the guard does not show up well. This one really lets you see what it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nearchoclatetown Posted January 28, 2016 Share Posted January 28, 2016 Old Dodge that's a very good picture. That grille guard would be easy to duplicate. I've made some of the Hurst bumper guards for VW buses. This would be much easier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
30DodgePanel Posted January 28, 2016 Share Posted January 28, 2016 Thanks for the close up photos.... Definitely contemplating this idea for my truck now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nearchoclatetown Posted January 28, 2016 Share Posted January 28, 2016 The DB has a flat appearance, maybe they are cast letters. The rest is riveted together. Would be fairly easy to do if you have someone that can bend the steel. Make a few, I'll bet you could sell them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted January 28, 2016 Share Posted January 28, 2016 (edited) I wonder if the end of the side, support brackets are anchored to the hood sill or to the hood side of the fender. Edited January 28, 2016 by keiser31 (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nearchoclatetown Posted January 28, 2016 Share Posted January 28, 2016 John, I was thinking it's anchored to the headlight bracket at the base. That would give support and a place to bolt it without drilling more holes. Can you blow it up to see better? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Old Dodge Posted January 28, 2016 Share Posted January 28, 2016 Old Dodge that's a very good picture. That grille guard would be easy to duplicate. I've made some of the Hurst bumper guards for VW buses. This would be much easier.Let me know when you get them done and I'll give you my address to send the free sample to.I'll look later for any more pics showing the grill guard. It looks like the DB is mounted on a square shape and the braces are riveted to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nearchoclatetown Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 FREE? Machinists don't work cheap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Old Dodge Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 Yeah, it was a joke. I figured that anybody who makes that is going to want $300 or more.I looked and didn't find anymore pictures with the grill guard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunsmoke Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 I'm not a "truck guy" (working on a '31 Chrysler CD8 Roadster presently), but I'm puzzled by this "grill guard" idea. Obviously not intended to protect rad core from flying rocks etc, so just what does it protect against. The headlights and fenders etc are exposed to potential damage from front end collision, and the hefty bumper protects lower 20" of vehicle. Unless the angled braces are bolted solidly to frame, the over sized guard would collapse toward rad shell if any significant force was applied. My guess is that it was a very cheap item to manufacture at the time and so owners would add one to prevent damage to rad should they run into someone else's tailgate, or an overhanging loading ramp etc. Maybe for early "off roading"? As I said, I'm not a truck guy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
30DodgePanel Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 (edited) Understandable Gunsmoke... I love trucks but I am definitely not an expert in the early stuff. I still have no idea what the "true" purpose was and have not found any literature to validate any kind of descriptive purpose in literature.... I do think the gents that have input already have labeled it correctly but I'm still unsure if it was meant mainly for cosmetic reasons. As you have stated, it seems very unlikely it would protect much if anything (unless there was some sort of screen mesh incorporated). Very curious and would like to know more about these as well... Edited January 30, 2016 by 30DodgePanel (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nearchoclatetown Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 (edited) i think they were a decorative item, but did protect the grille. I've seen them in junk yards on trucks even from the'50's. Made from, as I said, 3/8 X 3 or so steel they would do a fairly good job of protecting the radiator. This one seems to be bolted to the frame and then triangulated to the base of the lights. Look at the round tube grille guards on police cars and off road trucks, same thing. Let's see if the attachment works. if so this is a Hurst bumper for a VW bus like I've made. This is not mine. The same Hurst Co. from Pa. that made the shifters for muscle carsimgres.htm Edited January 30, 2016 by nearchoclatetown (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
30DodgePanel Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 Not able to load the attachment ... Thanks for the input though Doug. After doing a quick search I've found several vintage ones that went on Fords, Chevy, Internationals etc... I love this idea more and more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nearchoclatetown Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 Sorry, I might need John to intervene here with the attachment. If you google "Hurst bumper VW bus" you will see lots of pictures of them. Seriously it would not be hard to make a bumper like is in the DB pics. If you have a good sheet metal shop with a heavy brake they can bend the pieces and roll the top piece. There's maybe $30 worth of steel there. Someone would have to do the math where the bends are. My guy would spit the math out on his Cad-Cam. I think this would be a cool addition to a truck. The DB could be cut with a water jet or laser. If I had a big truck I would make some. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 Sorry, I might need John to intervene here with the attachment. If you google "Hurst bumper VW bus" you will see lots of pictures of them. Seriously it would not be hard to make a bumper like is in the DB pics. If you have a good sheet metal shop with a heavy brake they can bend the pieces and roll the top piece. There's maybe $30 worth of steel there. Someone would have to do the math where the bends are. My guy would spit the math out on his Cad-Cam. I think this would be a cool addition to a truck. The DB could be cut with a water jet or laser. If I had a big truck I would make some.Like this?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nearchoclatetown Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 thanks John, that is it. I think this guy gets about $600 for his repro Hurst. Having the tubing bent is critical, takes someone pretty good. but the flat iron one like on the DB would be easy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Old Dodge Posted February 5, 2016 Share Posted February 5, 2016 I found another pic. Not as good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Old Dodge Posted February 5, 2016 Share Posted February 5, 2016 Different style. This one is all business. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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