Pilkington Glass :)
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Discussion

texaxile

Original Poster:

3,752 posts

179 months

Thursday 9th July 2015
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Hi,
I've recently ordered via a friend a windscreen for my Lancer Turbo, as there are none, nada, zero left in Japan anymore. Pilkington (who originally supplied the replacements in the UK) were exceptionally helpful. They searched out the old part number, sourced the original jig and made two screens for £200 each including the VAT.

I've been told that they tend to hang on to the jigs for older cars, but every so often there is a clear out, and if there have been no orders for a few years, the jig gets scrapped. The guy advised us to maybe put a group buy for Lancer owners up on the Register, and put word around that they are still available for many classic cars, even the more obscure stuff.

So the reason I'm posting is to let you guys know that if you need a spare or are having trouble sourcing a screen, give Pilkington a shout (via the website enquiries), you may well be in luck. I will be getting some more concise contact details for the person he spoke to from him tomorrow hopefully which I'll edit and post up.

They have saved me an enormous headache, as my screen got cracked while removing the trim. As it's a non negotiable...ahem..MOT fail (a crack that big is, anyway) I was really clutching at straws for a replacement.

droopsnoot

14,625 posts

271 months

Friday 10th July 2015
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They seem to have ramped up the classic side - they were at the NEC classic car show last year (or perhaps the year before) with some lists. I bought a new one for my car via URO in Bromsgrove, but when it turned up it was from Pilkington.

Benbay001

5,888 posts

186 months

Friday 10th July 2015
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My excel has a Pilkington screen fitted

aeropilot

40,535 posts

256 months

Friday 10th July 2015
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20 odd years ago, they did a one off for me as well, as the bronze tint screens for the later Series 2 Sunbeam-Lotus had by then become NLA (but the green tint ones for the more numerous S1 cars were still available)


XJ13

410 posts

198 months

Saturday 11th July 2015
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Pilkingtons plant at the Isle of Sheppy in the UK were very helpful when I needed a screen for my prototype project. They continue to be very helpful and I wholeheartedly recommend them - ask for Peter Swann their General Manager.

If their various factories do have "periodic clearouts" they do try to transfer all jigs & formers to the Isle of Sheppey. There is now a comprehensive collection of just about every screen made by them. Check out the photos in the following link:

Pilkingtons Glass

lowdrag

13,183 posts

242 months

Saturday 11th July 2015
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My XKSS - and remember there were only 16 made originally plus 10 by Lynx - has one from them sourced withing a few days in 2012. Top marks!

55palfers

6,360 posts

193 months

Saturday 11th July 2015
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I used to work for Triplex Safety Glass in Kings Norton, Birmingham from 1974 - 1992.

They used to make laminated windscreens for just about every British aircraft that flew and for most of the cars on the road at the time.

They had a huge collection of jigs and fixtures - I doubt they were ever scrapped.

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=triplex+safety+g...


Glassman

24,931 posts

244 months

Saturday 11th July 2015
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XJ13 said:
ask for Peter Swann their General Manager.
He retires soon and is currently handing over to his replacement.

Dogwatch

6,381 posts

251 months

Saturday 11th July 2015
quotequote all
55palfers said:
I used to work for Triplex Safety Glass in Kings Norton, Birmingham from 1974 - 1992.

They used to make laminated windscreens for just about every British aircraft that flew and for most of the cars on the road at the time.

They had a huge collection of jigs and fixtures - I doubt they were ever scrapped.

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=triplex+safety+g...
Used to seem that every piece of glass on a car had the triplex logo on it. There was something about knowing a car was a bit dodgy if the triplex marks were 'wrong for year'.


Edit. Sorry for drifting off a Pilkington thread.

Edited by Dogwatch on Saturday 11th July 19:02

jamies30

5,929 posts

258 months

Saturday 11th July 2015
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They were really helpful with me - they couldn't supply a screen, but gave me the name of an Italian company who can. €1600 though...

AMG Merc

11,955 posts

282 months

Monday 13th July 2015
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Saw this thread and wondered if anyone can help...

I'm looking to get a glass screen laser etched (or manually etched with etching paste if that's the only way) with the maker's logo. Does anyone know of a place able to do this? So far my research has come up with nothing - it seems no one can offer a lead in the UK, Europe or the US. In fact many leading experts have said "let me know if you get lucky"! It surprises me that this is such a challenge. I wonder what people with £30M Ferrari's do when they need the glass to look absolutely stock original?

I'm awaiting a response from Pilkington Glass - fingers crossed. I'll also start a new thread elsewhere on PH.

Glassman

24,931 posts

244 months

Monday 13th July 2015
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AMG Merc said:
Saw this thread and wondered if anyone can help...

I'm looking to get a glass screen laser etched (or manually etched with etching paste if that's the only way) with the maker's logo. Does anyone know of a place able to do this? So far my research has come up with nothing - it seems no one can offer a lead in the UK, Europe or the US. In fact many leading experts have said "let me know if you get lucky"! It surprises me that this is such a challenge. I wonder what people with £30M Ferrari's do when they need the glass to look absolutely stock original?

I'm awaiting a response from Pilkington Glass - fingers crossed. I'll also start a new thread elsewhere on PH.
Is the glass genuine?

AMG Merc

11,955 posts

282 months

Monday 13th July 2015
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Glassman said:
Is the glass genuine?
Well it's from Maranello Cllassic Parts who are in effect Ferrari parts. What were you thinking?

AMG Merc

11,955 posts

282 months

Monday 13th July 2015
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Sorry OP, didnt want to hijack your thread. smile

55palfers

6,360 posts

193 months

Monday 13th July 2015
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It should be very easy.

They used to use a small sandblasting tool with a stencil carrying the logo and other data.

The only cost is the manufacture of the stencil - a few quid.

untakenname

5,347 posts

221 months

Monday 13th July 2015
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Pilkington make the invisible dual filament (much better than ford) heated windscreens for the Mcclaren MP4/12 and also offer the same heated element for a few normal cars which is only a hundred more than the non heated versions they sell which is pretty cool.

With windscreen insurance cover can you choice the manufacturer (or insist on oem) with a new windscreen and then send the invoice to the insurer or do you have to use one of their "approved" fitters which will most likely use some poor fitting pattern part?

TooMany2cvs

29,008 posts

155 months

Monday 13th July 2015
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untakenname said:
With windscreen insurance cover can you choice the manufacturer (or insist on oem) with a new windscreen and then send the invoice to the insurer or do you have to use one of their "approved" fitters which will most likely use some poor fitting pattern part?
In the past, I've bought a window myself, got a local fitter to install it, then had insurance repay me from the invoices, less just the same excess as if they'd had the as-seen-on-tv idiots cock it up for me.