Door handle disassembly question

[Roadkingcoupe]

I have many set of these handles where the P15 handle bases (bezel) that is shape to that of the belt line molding and none are stainless...they are chrome plated...I wish they were stainless...

 

The ones I have had are "Flash Plated" stainless. Some other years and models had pot metal but I havent seen a solid outer "escutcheon" on a 46-48 Plymouth. The hollow ones are almost always pressed stainless steel "flash plated". Late 1930's had some plated brass outer escutcheons as well.

[Plymouthy Adams]

I will agree the flash plating, I suspected chrome not stainless as they seems to be a different sheen on them compared to the belt line piece....they do pit and tarnish and if you try to clean them and restore any shine that may be left...it will reveal brass color under surface....I have been trying to locate a nice looking set of bezels for my coupe and all but given up on the idea.

[Roadkingcoupe]

These parts were made by a number of suppliers from different parts of the country.......from different materials.

Plants in Detroit, Evansville Los Angeles and Windsor did not have all of the same suppliers.

For geographical reasons alone there were more then one supplier of many of the outsourced parts.

As long as the item fit & worked it seemed to satisfy WPC Corporation.

I have seen many variations of the same part especially when it comes to body moldings.

Often that includes variations in size including minor measurement tolerances, material and finish.

[Plymouthy Adams]

while not soliciting anyone for parts, those ads ran on the classifieds for months..if you happen upon a set of these in stainless, please keep me in mind and inform me of said source as I am still in the market for a set, a PM would be best..

 

Thanks

 

PS...two of my P15 cars are Evansville products, the third P15 I have is a Detroit model...they seem to be same bezel construction...maybe we can narrow these down to the west coast plants and their suppliers, I have no example from that location to draw conclusions.  Might well be a good time for folks to analyze what they have on their cars.  Maybe I need to source west coast cars.

Edited February 1, 2016 by Plymouthy Adams

[Roadkingcoupe]

I had a 1947 Desoto Coupe.

Went to a car show and there was a gentleman there with a 4 door.

He was ecstatic....and ran back and forth between the two cars.

After a half hour he declared that they were 7 digits apart in the VIN number and were made at the same factory (possibly the same day).

Both cars were very original and there were many differences including the door handles.

Excluding differences between models and trim codes......they were equipped with a multiple of variations.

Probably grabbed what ever was left in the parts bin and of course DeSoto was a far more limited run then Plymouth.

BUT, I am sure there are many variations on 1946-1948 Plymouth outside of trim code.

Different manufacturing plants, different suppliers and different geographical reasons.

Not every part with the same part number is the same part materials.

 

edit due to spelling and grammar....oops!

Edited February 1, 2016 by Roadkingcoupe