Fun project - parking meter glass replacement

[rfuerst911sc]

Many years ago after I finished my man cave two car garage I bought this vintage dual parking meter . Just thought it would be a cool exterior decoration with one head for each bay . The research via Mr. Google says it was made by M.H. Rhodes Inc somewhere between the 1930's and 1950's . The style is called " Mark Time " . It works with pennies and nickels .

Unfortunately both glass pieces are missing . I haven't been able to find any via internet searches . Does anyone here have knowledge of parking meters ? If I can't find true replacements I think the next option would be cutting/shaping some thin plexiglass . The meter heads have grooves in them where the glass originally slid into . I have no clue how the glass was retained .

Anyone have any suggestions ? I also need to unlock this to get to the post retention bolt and flange . Plus I want to get the money out that's rattling around inside . Get a locksmith to do it ? I am not looking to restore it I think it has great patina as is . But I don't want rain water getting inside .

[dad911]

Gemini AI found this guy that sells keys and parts, probably worth a call.

https://driveinmfg.com/keys.html

[TimT]

Looks like half moons? Why not cut some out of Lexan or Poly?

[GH85Carrera]

A good glass shop should be able to make them out of glass for you. Make a cardboard template for them and they can cut and grind it to fit. All the edged on my desktop glass are ground down to a slight bevel.

My office here at home is covered in a glass top, of unusual shapes.



I brought a glass shop this drawing, and they cut and delivered and put it on the desk. Or even easier, bring them the meter, and have them cut it to fit.

[rfuerst911sc]

Originally Posted by dad911

Gemini AI found this guy that sells keys and parts, probably worth a call.

https://driveinmfg.com/keys.html

I did not find that in my search so thank you for the tip . Looks like he sells the key that opens up both top sections but not for the vault . It's a start

[rfuerst911sc]

Originally Posted by TimT

Looks like half moons? Why not cut some out of Lexan or Poly?

Yes on the half moons and cutting out of Lexan is plan B .

[rfuerst911sc]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

A good glass shop should be able to make them out of glass for you. Make a cardboard template for them and they can cut and grind it to fit. All the edged on my desktop glass are ground down to a slight bevel.

My office here at home is covered in a glass top, of unusual shapes.



I brought a glass shop this drawing, and they cut and delivered and put it on the desk. Or even easier, bring them the meter, and have them cut it to fit.

Not sure we have a good glass shop in our small town but I will ask around . Thanks

[Zeke]

If you have a lid the same size - a good eigth or 3/16ths just trace around it with your cutter. Cut the flat side off the worst side. If you need to dress it a diamond belt for your belt sander is a good investment. You will find many uses including knives.

[rfuerst911sc]

Originally Posted by Zeke

If you have a lid the same size - a good eigth or 3/16ths just trace around it with your cutter. Cut the flat side off the worst side. If you need to dress it a diamond belt for your belt sander is a good investment. You will find many uses including knives.

Milt a lid ? You mean like the top of a plastic container ? To make a template for Lexan or glass ?

[dad911]

Originally Posted by rfuerst911sc

I did not find that in my search so thank you for the tip . Looks like he sells the key that opens up both top sections but not for the vault . It's a start

They also sells some replacement lenses, don't know enough about them to see if it the right ones.

As Zeke said, cutting & grinding glass is doable. If you have a local place that does stained glass, they could easily cut the shapes from clear.

[rfuerst911sc]

Originally Posted by dad911

Gemini AI found this guy that sells keys and parts, probably worth a call.

https://driveinmfg.com/keys.html

I sent them an email today with pics . Hopefully they get back to me and see if they can help me out .

[rfuerst911sc]

Originally Posted by rfuerst911sc

I sent them an email today with pics . Hopefully they get back to me and see if they can help me out .

I was quite surprised to get a reply to my email today , didn't expect that on a Sunday. Turns out he doesn't have lenses but suggested to make a template and make out of lexan . Great minds think alike .

He does have/sells the " service key " for 10 bucks and I ordered one . It won't open up the vault but will open the two doors behind the mechanisms . It's a start . Will ask and call around to see if a local locksmith can open the vault and make a key .

[Bill Douglas]

Cutting glass is easy. I used to make leadlight windows and lamps as a hobby.

I use a oil glass cutter like below and cut (score) along a curve you have drawn on the glass. Then turn the glass over and tap it from the other side to make a crack then snap the glass out. I use a knife/tool sharpening stone to deglaze the edges. A glass place or picture framing place can sell you some 2mm glass and some to practice on. It's easy

[rfuerst911sc]

^^^ in my yute : I worked in a real hardware store and cut a lot of glass . But that was straight cuts only . Now almost 50 years later not sure I have the " touch " to do a round cut . But I am confident I can get there with Lexan . I have a belt/disc sander on a stand , I assume I will just sand to fit . Clean up the edges and install with some clear silicone .

[rfuerst911sc]

Update : the service key arrived in the mail on Saturday so I went to the parking meter to try it . First lock slides right in but won't turn . Second lock slides right in but doesn't turn either . Crap ! But then I thought hey stupid these tumblers could be from the 30 's . So soaked both cylinders with PB Blaster and let soak overnight .

Tried Sunday morning but no luck . Hit with Blaster again and lightly tapped with hammer . Bingo one of them opened . The 2nd one is being stubborn but I am confident it will play nice soon . The one that did open allows easy removal of the meter face and gear mechanism . Which also provides easy access from the back to the lense cavity .

I put the mechanism back in , locked it with the key and put in a nickel . Turned the crank handle and it moved/set parking time . And it works because it counted back to zero . How cool ! The guy in Nebraska said any locksmith worth a poop should be able to pick the coin vault door in minutes . That will be my next step .

[rfuerst911sc]

Success ! The 2nd meter head now opens/closes with the key . Sprayed some dry graphite in both locks they smooth like butta . Nest stop a locksmith .

[Rot 911]

Originally Posted by Bill Douglas

Cutting glass is easy. I used to make leadlight windows and lamps as a hobby.

I agree. Up until a friend of mine closed up his shop, I used to go in and give him a hand when he got overloaded with projects. Here are just a couple that I worked on.

[rfuerst911sc]

^^^ thats some nice looking stained glass . Well done

[dad911]

How about some pics of the guts?

[rfuerst911sc]

Some additional pics . The one clock mechanism has written on the body in sharpie 8 65 . Maybe that's when it was serviced ? Or maybe that's when the meter was taken out of service ? Unfortunately will never know .