Laminated verses Toughened Windscreen

[jonesdl]

Possibly looking to change my original toughened windscreen with a clear laminated one any thoughts regarding a new screen appreciated.
Both the front & rear glass now removed ready for re-spray they are original in very good condition still having the pull cord embedded in the rubber when fitted from new. The rear one is the heated type wires all all good also.
I have my concerns about refitting the toughened windscreen as I understand they can become brittle with age and with the state of the UK roads if the screen goes apart from the mess depending where it goes you still need to get home. With a laminated one you can get home ok if it goes.
Are the replacement laminated ones a good fit ? only some re-produced parts are questionable regarding quality etc has anybody experience of supply from either Barratt's or Manners in the U.K. and did you collect or have it delivered.
Many thanks.
Dave J.

[Glyn Ruck]

Dave, I fitted a new clear Triplex laminated screen from Pilkingtons UK. Perfect fit & consistency. No distortions. Mine was needless to say delivered a very long way from home & came with a complete, thick protective rubber around the edges.

I too have the heated rear screen. Remember they are thicker than standard & require a different rubber to accommodate that & the wiring when you get around to ordering rubbers.

IMG_20180815_164026 - Copy.jpg (3.5 MiB) Viewed 1821 times

[jonesdl]

Thanks for the info Glyn, did you order direct from Pilkinsons or from one of their suppliers ?. I would assume that they would be the only manufacturers of a laminated windscreen for classic Jaguars in the U.K. now.
Appreciate the tip regarding the rear screen being thicker being a heated one, I didn't realised that, need to make sure the right rubber is ordered.
Cheers
Dave J.

[Orlando St.R]

Really good thinking ahead there, Dave.

Sadly I didn't and the toughened windscreen went back in (and is still there).

I'm not sure if later cars had a Zebrazone toughened screen, which, when shattered, leaves a clear area in front of the driver.

[Glyn Ruck]

Thanks for the info Glyn, did you order direct from Pilkinsons or from one of their suppliers ?. I would assume that they would be the only manufacturers of a laminated windscreen for classic Jaguars in the U.K. now.
Appreciate the tip regarding the rear screen being thicker being a heated one, I didn't realised that, need to make sure the right rubber is ordered.
Cheers
Dave J.

Dave ~ I got mine via my local supplier ~ Jagman (Gerald Williams) ~ in Somerset West near Cape Town. He orders direct from Pilkingtons UK & keeps stock. Pilkingtons SA will order for you but take forever & don't hold stock.

I don't know if there is an alternative to Pilkingtons for UK manufacture & supply any longer.

Shout when it comes to fitting the screen. There are tips to fitting to prevent the rubber pulling away from the body at the bottom corners & make sure you buy a properly shaped rubber or you will have puckering problems on the lower corners. All rubbers are not equal.

[Glyn Ruck]

Out of interest I also had all my side windows diamond media polished by a local firm. They had slight scratching from years of use & were returned to me as new. The process ensures absolutely flat polishing & zero distortion.

New side glass was unobtainable when I needed other than having it cut.

I'm sure there must be a similar service in the UK.

[JCS]

Guys

Something not discussed here but which may be of relevance to some. During the early 60’s I had completed my automotive apprenticeship and had been promoted to fleet engineer. This was with the main dyer and finisher of seat belts amongst other items, like undersea cable protection. Although I was mainly responsible for the vehicle fleet and some plant I was also engaged in discussions regarding vehicle safety issues particularly involving safety belting, which we treated, dyed and rot proofed.

On one of these discussion occasions we were treated to a Home Office (Police) film of a notorious junction/ cross road somewhere in the south of England. The cameras had been set up to capture what you could only describe as “people flying through windscreens”.

At this road junction it showed quite clearly that if you had a laminated windscreen and drove without wearing a seat belt, then your chances of surviving a windscreen protrusion were just about zero. These windscreens were not nick named “chippers” for no reason. On the other hand most survived a toughen screen, (most of which were Zebra Zoned) although they may come through with heavy facial injury. Dogs never survived a laminated screen break through.

Laminated screens have a few advantages, but really require any rider to be wearing a seat belt and we are lucky with the S type as they have belt hard point attachments.

As an aside it is surprising how many passengers are seriously injured, even fatally by being struck by a dog on its way out through the windscreen. If you fit a laminated windscreen then fit safety belts at least for your passengers, even if you choose to drive without.

[Glyn Ruck]

I should point out that with modern laminated screens the chance of breaking through the laminate are slim. Laminated screens have advanced dramatically helped by NCAP & other safety requirements around the world.

[jonesdl]

Appreciate your comments JCS, another history lesson I was not aware of, but hopefully as Glyn indicated, laminated windscreens have moved on over the last 50 years. However, one of my first additions after buying the S type was to look for the rear seat belts to match the fronts already fitted so when carrying passengers everybody would wear a seat belt. It took a while but I bought a pair out of a Mk 10 being broken up.
Interesting about the dogs though, I will have to look into securing them also if in the S type, as I used two dog crates at present in the modern cars used when transporting them.
Going back to my original question has any S type owner bought a laminated windscreen from Barratts or Manners in the U.K. and was everything ok with the purchase ?.
Cheers
Dave J.

[David Reilly]

Glyn,
Can you say a few words about "diamong media polishing"?
How it works? who does it? etc.
P1B79909DN has its original windscreen (Sundym) and, over the years, having been driven throug dust, hail, and sand storms, the glass is slightly pitted/scratched. I don't want to replace it, but if it could be made clerer again, that would be wonderful.
Thanks
David