date code

[Sal R.]

Good morning everone
I just received a date coded rear view mirror fron Long Island Corvette It is dated right but the print is not black like others I have seen. Can't really tell what color but very lite.

[Michael H.]

Re: date code

Good morning everone
I just received a date coded rear view mirror fron Long Island Corvette It is dated right but the print is not black like others I have seen. Can't really tell what color but very lite.

Sal, if you're talking about the outside mirror, the date and DMI isn't supposed to be black. It's actually supposed to be an area of the chrome finish that has been sand blasted off for each character, using a special mask that has the characters punched out. If you look closely at the characters, you should be able to see "through" the glass, or through each character.
When installed, it may appear black though.

[Sal R.]

Re: date code

Thank you for your responce
actually it is the mirror only that I have

[Michael H.]

Re: date code

Thank you for your responce
actually it is the mirror only that I have

Yes, I understand. The reflective surface on the glass itself. One side of the glass has this coating that looks like chrome. The mask and sand blast operation removes the coating and dulls the surface only in the area of each character of the date and DMI.
While looking at the area of the characters, you should be able to change the amount of light that's passing through the characters just by sliding your finger over the back side of a character.

By the way, all original 63-67 outside mirror glass is dated on the front side, the side that you can touch after the glass is installed. That's the side that should have the reflective coating. This is called "first surface reflectant". (even if there is no such word)
When installed properly, you should be able to hold an object against the glass and see that the object and it's reflection actually appear to touch, or contact each other.
If there's a slight gap between the object and the reflection of the object, the glass is in backwards.

I don't know if reproduction mirror glass is done correctly though. Bet a lot of judges will be looking at this at the next big judging event.

[Sal R.]

Re: date code

Thank you so much for taking time to help me
I did what you said and I can see my finger passing over the letters
Sal R