Uranium Cat Eye Reflector Taillight

[GTs58]

Found some info on the cat eyes I acquired. The flexible string of grommeted together cat eyes was patented in 1938 by the Western Cataphote Corp. of Toledo, OH. The flexible strip could be used by sign makers to trace the letters on signs and make them reflective.
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I was able to push the cat eye out of one of the mounts and cleaned it up. The back of it was silvered and there was a layer of some kind of cement like stuff between the back and the soft metal backer cap. All the cement and most of the silvering washed off when I cleaned it, which is fine since I’m trying to illuminate it.
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Nice to see more of the glass lit up. The shape is really close to the image I posted above from the road signs website.
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I still don't get why people used uranium glass in some reflectors. What advantage would there be over regular glass? It's not like everyone in the 1930s had UV lights on their cars. ??


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Cataphote Corp print ads for sale on eBy.

Interesting! Did you try lighting it up with just a regular bulb? If they were used for advertising, I wonder if white headlights would make it look like a white reflection.

I had a friend in the early 70s that I heard years later made a fortune when he patented a new reflector that was used at airports. I don’t know where to look up patents but his name is Steve Palmer.

 

[Cosmick]

Outstanding.

 

[wrmcnair]

Hey that’s awesome! Thanks for the info; I love uranium glass (I have a collection of uranium glass nicknacks). I also have some pieces I just use as reflectors.

 

[PlasticNerd]

Very nice work dude! I love it when someone take the time doing something custom like this instead of just using a part that’s readily available!! The time you spent is crazy but the result is awesome I wouldn’t worry about the uranium as much as I would the possibility it had lead on it! ride on man, beautiful work! I’ll take 2 LOL LOL

 

[Miq]

@wrmcnair those reflectors are killer. Nice bright green glass even in daylight. So cool.

Thank you @PlasticNerd. As a fellow resin and plastics creator, you know the effort better than most. I was pretty bugged out about the lead backing and the 1930s yellow paint. Gloves, apron, mask while removing that stuff outside.

 

[billyjones]

coooooooooool!

 

[razinhellcustomz]

@wrmcnair those reflectors are killer. Nice bright green glass even in daylight. So cool.

Thank you @PlasticNerd. As a fellow resin and plastics creator, you know the effort better than most. I was pretty bugged out about the lead backing and the 1930s yellow paint. Gloves, apron, mask while removing that stuff outside.

PPE every time. Nice job on these COOLIO reflector lights. RideOn. Mark.

 

[Miq]

Thanks @razinhellcustomz Mark! I made another one for my CWC Klunkmaster. The 5/8” seat post makes a perfect place to mount it. This one has a more modern design with a simple silver look that goes with my bike. There is a neo magnet in the recessed part that fits with the seat post to help keep it attached.

The 3-D printed pieces get sanded a little and a couple coats of silver metallic flakes. Then a few coats of clear. The plastic they are made of will deteriorate faster if you leave it exposed to sunlight and the paint looks a little better.

Outer ring is Al pipe that I slightly polished. The drill driven pad is too slow to really mirror it out, but the low polish blends in with the 40s Troxel chrome seat hardware.

I was able to remove the uranium glass from the OG metal bezel and made my own bezel that allows much more of the cat eye to be seen.

Tiny UV LED and DC Jack soldering.

I try to seal all the open spaces with hot melt glue. It protects all the solder joints from vibration and the elements.

Took a ride last night. Looks great!

 

[razinhellcustomz]

Thanks @razinhellcustomz Mark! I made another one for my CWC Klunkmaster. The 5/8” seat post makes a perfect place to mount it. This one has a more modern design with a simple silver look that goes with my bike. There is a neo magnet in the recessed part that fits with the seat post to help keep it attached.
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The 3-D printed pieces get sanded a little and a couple coats of silver metallic flakes. Then a few coats of clear. The plastic they are made of will deteriorate faster if you leave it exposed to sunlight and the paint looks a little better.
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Outer ring is Al pipe that I slightly polished. The drill driven pad is too slow to really mirror it out, but the low polish blends in with the 40s Troxel chrome seat hardware.
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I was able to remove the uranium glass from the OG metal bezel and made my own bezel that allows much more of the cat eye to be seen.
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Tiny UV LED and DC Jack soldering.
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I try to seal all the open spaces with hot melt glue. It protects all the solder joints from vibration and the elements.
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Took a ride last night. Looks great!
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Wow Miq, these are so COOOL. If you ever decide to make these available for sale, PLEASE put me at the top of your list. I will pay your price for a couple of these lites. Thanks and Happy New Year. Mark.

 

[Porkchop & Applesauce]

I think ya outta do a fender bomb next! It would make frank proud! Out standing way to make something that’s all ready cool….EPIC!