Anyone refurbish a S1 OTS Wingard rearview mirror?

[E703SU]

I’m looking to replace my S2 OTS’s plastic Wingard rearview mirror with a S1 chrome Wingard mirror. I prefer to get an original Wingard mirror rather than a repro (some of which admittedly look very good).

I’m being offered a very cheap Wingard one, in decent condition and including the mounting nut, that might be re-chromed/re-mirrored/repainted at a cost that would not be ridiculously higher than buying the best repro available.

(I assume that finding a mint NOS one, or one suitable for an excellent-condition driver car that does not need refurbishing, is highly improbable.)

Has anyone refurbished a S1 Wingard OTS mirror – if so, any advice? Is it fairly straightforward to dissemble/reassemble this mirror?

Thanks.

[Robbiee]

Hi
I’ve refurbed mine 1962 OTS
Disassembled it
I just cleaned and polished the chrome.
The back of the mirror I stripped and repainted in flat finish gold spray paint from local hardware store
I rechromed the bracket

Looks great and functions with a little bit of patina
I’ll try to find a photo

Robbie

[E703SU]

Thanks, Robbie. I've not yet hand a S1 mirror -- is there much to disassembling and reassembling it?

[Robbiee]

Hi
No …very easy job
You’ll probably get an old one on eBay??
Robbie

[E703SU]

These are helpful photos, Robbie -- thanks. Your refurbished mirror looks great.

From your photos, I'm guessing that to separate the frame from the base involves just manipulating those tabs to release everything. Is that it? Are those tabs fragile and liable to easily break?

Also, once the frame and base are separated, can the glass be easily removed from the base? I might replace the glass -- did you?

[Robbiee]

Yes just ease a blade between the chrome surround and the backing at the bottom edge. The tabs don’t need bending so they won’t snap off.
I didn’t replace the mirror and just polished the chrome surround…slight patina but that’s fine
Robbie

[E703SU]

Thanks Robbie. Hope my refurb comes out as well as yours! Guido

[E703SU]

Another question: I noticed that some of these E-Type Wingard OTS mirrors are stamped "Pat No. 662246" (as in first photo in Robbiee #6 above), whereas other E-Type OTS mirrors that are identically marked "Wingard" do not have this or any other patent stamping. I didn't find any reference to this patent number stamping in the Jaguar Clubs of North America S1 judges guide, either for the 3.8 or 4.2. Any information why these same mirrors were stamped differently?