Just wondering if you have or have had problems finding a glass shop, or nightmares installing glass in your car?
Yes, I go into local glass shop, want a door window for my '40 coupe. The guy gets the, "This old coot has an old car, this means he's loaded." Price for clear glass, $98. I didn't thank him when I walked out. This seems to be a common problem with a lot of businesses if you mention old cars.
Glass shops, upholstery shops, body shops, they all seem to drive me nuts! Recently did the glass on 2 40 Tudors. Glass shop (local rodder starting a shop)qoutes $400 per car to cut all the glass. Needs half down and will have it in a week. Give him $200, let's do one at a time. 3 weeks later still no glass, finally admits he used the money I put down to pay bills instead of buying a sheet of glass. Finally a week later he call, glass is done. I go to pick it up and no windshields. He informs me he couldn't get all the glass out of one sheet of glass so now he needs another $250 to finish the job! Paid him for what he did and took the glass he had, looked at it when I got to the shop, not a good job. Lot's of chips in the edges not polished out. I'm done doing buisness there. Called a regular auto glass company (new cars, they don't specialize in old cars) I was referred to. Came over, picked up the patterns, 2 days later they delivered my glass, charged $380. Glass was nice. Go figure. Putting it in was pretty straight foward but if your 37 is like my 40 they 1/4 windows are a bit of a challange to put in. Have a helper with you to install them, really helps to have 3 hands!
I thought there would be a "Glass Guy" here on the HAMB, but I guess there isn't. Nobody in the Fairfield County, Connecticut or Westchester, N. Y. area, must be too much money in shower doors to bother with FLAT Vintage car stuff.
yes, i have had problems.....that is why i drive by the my local glass shop to a shop in another town 20 miles away to get glass cut. that shop is run by a car guy and gives excellent service at fair prices and has cut much glass for me and my friends. 4 pieces of glass for my `36 was $163 shameless plug: Waseca Glass , 1200 State Street South , Waseca Mn 507-835-2590
Bobs classic auto glass. He is a H.A.M.B member. He's in oregon but can cut anything you need if you send a template. Also has most stock glass patterns on hand. He will walk you through whatever you need to do. He helped me when I needed my windshield cut down, even before I bought the glass from him. Great guy
i got a good glass guy if you need one. i have been using him for over 20 years. he's reliable, neat, clean, and reasonable, and does everything with old cars as far finding glass, installation, and cutting flat glass. he's a good guy too, not an asshole. pm me if you want his info.
glass and paint are my nemesis.. I priced glass everywhere in the greater Philadelphia area for this.. as it turned out.. it was cheaper to use a company in California, and have it SHIPPED to me.. I did go with tempered sides and rear gates (glad I did) and based on how it was shipped... lets just say its amazing that the glass made it to me in one piece..
sorry to hear about your experience,being in glass (30yrs) and taking pride in my work,I cut flat glass for friends cars .it takes time to cut and polish before i let it leave my garage.If I 'm not satisfied with it you won't get it till I am.the glass can only fit as good as the patterns.I don' try and tell people how to cut glass as experience is the best teacher. I fuck something up its on me,so i try to get it right the first time .that does'nt allways happen.
The shipping was reasonable, done very well. I was concerned about shipping glass but it was better than dealing with the local glass crooks. Search Bob's Classic Auto Glass on here, a lot of original Hambers recommend Bob.
The Glass House in San Dimas, CA is owned by a long time hot rodder. He has most patterns in stock and does beautiful work. I ordered a set of side windows for a 1933 Ford 3 window coupe. When I tried to install it it would not fit. So I call Mike and he immediately asks "Is that a Canadian built 1933 3W?". Turns out that the Canadian built 1933 coupes have glass that is about 1/4" shorter and 1/4" taller than the US built coupes. How many glass guys would know that? Anyway he just charged me $20 to cut new glass and have it tempered. I only buy tempered glass for side and rear windows - less prone to chipping. www.theglasshouse1.com
Bobs has been around for a while. http://bobsclassicautoglass.com/ I've even thought about seeing If I could take the truck down to their shop. A 250 mile run but it would probably be worth it. We have some local shops that are good but they seem to want to stick custom work off in the back corner for when they can "get to it" rather than getting in and finishing the job in due time. I need the door glasses to be cut an tempered so that is going to be a special issue in it's self.
I can help with Glass, been cutting and installing Vintage Glass for over 20 years and shipping it all over the country. I own Vintage Glass USA in Tolland,CT. I have all flat glass patterns from the teens to the 1960's also have new curved windshields and bent tempered side glass for most American cars and trucks. give me a call or pm and I would be happy to help with all your Glass needs. I do this full time not just part time or fill in work. Thanks, Todd Vintage Glass USA Tolland,CT 06084 860-872-0018 / 800-889-3826
X2, have Bob's glass in my chopped 32 5W and my 56 Big Window. All fit fine. Called him about the chopped cars I have, he told me how to make the patterns and I sent them to him and he cut it, fits fine. Next to him is patterns for my chopped 34 4 door and chopped 50 Merc tudor.
Charlie at Classic glass in Torrington CT. cut my wraparound windshield 3'', alot of cutting and grinding, but it fits nice.
Bob's Glass is the place to go. Got the glass for my 35 from him. He's both reasonable and a GREAT guy to work with.
I have dealt with Todd at Vintage Glass a few times and he is first class all the way. Good prices, great service and very helpful. He has a cool shop and loves to talk old cars, give him a shot.
X2 on The Glass House. Bought mine for my 40 coupe from him. Excellent results. Early flat glass is easily installed by yourself.
i feel kinda bad being the glassguy and all!! i foolishley sold all my glass cutting equipment a few years ago when i got a brainstorm for a horribly failed "new money making bizness" anyway i do understand why lots of guys dont wanna be bothered doing it anymore.. i did lots of it ,and seemed everyone thought it was a 10 minute job.. one of the last ones i did was cut all the glass on a 47 ford 2dr sedan . cut and polished all the glass for 200 bucks, and got treated like i was robbing the guy, and he is a hot rodder!! so after buying the glass , spending the day doing it, and making a crummy hundret profit, and having it un appreciated i said fuck it!!! im all done with this.. but i sure wish i still had the shit to cut the new window i need for my olds!!! godammit
RE: Glass House in CA Mike sold the company. Carson bought him out and does good work. You can call the same number.
i should have checked here on the hamb when i needed glass. shop tells me 100$ for a side window. i go for it as i cracked it myself last time. i went to pick it up today and somehow it was 146$ and the rubber seal wasn't even installed right. i took it back in and said i will check back tomorrow. i could of done it better myself. next time i will order from a member here and do just that.
I've had an awesome experience with Glaser Glass in New Bedford, MA every time I've used them. Their quality is great, price is right, and you get the stuff quick, service is awesome, and they all know their shit. I've used them for the glass in the last 3 cars I've built. They have templates for stock windows also. I dropped of my templates for the vent and side windows for my '37 yesterday morning and got a call in the early afternoon that they were ready. They were a perfect match to the templates, and all edges polished where I requested. Installed them last night!
wow these prices are better then around here. Being quoted $500 to remove existing 2 piece w/ center brace windshield and replace/install with v butted. Now they have to cut the new glass to accommodate this however this price does not include price for new v-butted gaskets only labor and glass.
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