Coil Bracket Finish

[Gerry]

Does anyone know what the original finish was on the coil bracket on a 1969 280 SL. I think it was clear cadimum giving it a dull silver finish. Anyone know for sure ?  Thanks, Gerry

[mdsalemi]

Gerry,

The original one I have, (complete with tiny Bosch logo embossed on it) appears to be yellow Cadmium.  That would have been a typical original finish.  Cadmium was traditional to use for most steel parts (such as FI lines, nuts and bolts) but isn't used much any more.  I would not be surprised if over the course of production, the Cadmium finish was both yellow and silver.

A replacement bracket I have is probably zinc plated, and silver in color.

You can, if you are refinishing things, get both zinc and cadmium plating, both in silver and yellow.  The underlying plate in both is silver in color and the yellow color comes from a phosphate wash afer the plating which provides additional protection.

[49er]

Here is a picture of mine.   

John

[mdsalemi]

Here is a picture of mine.   

...and that would be "silver"; "gold"; or gold kind of faded toward silver which is sort of what yellow cadmium does over time?

[Gerry]

Michael & John; Thank you both for your input. I was told by the M-B Classic Ctr. that it the coil bracket was originally silver or clear cadmium and both of you seem to concur so that is the direction I will go. My car is a Concours car so I want to get it right

Again, thank you both for your help, Gerry

[thelews]

FWIW, on my '67 250 SL it's silver.