OT Dimming of Interior Rear View Mirror

Hendrik

Member
In most cars of 1980 and newer, the Interior Rear View Mirror has a small lever with which the driver can "dim" the mirror to avoid being blinded by the bright headlights of a car following him. (The mirror is angled through say 10 degrees by operating this lever.)
How is this functionality called?

(I need to purchase a mirror with this functionality form a US supplier.)

Thanks, Hendrik from The Netherlands
See third pic from top
 
As Tx Jim indicates. The front mirror is a 30% reflectivity (or so), the mirror behind it is 100%. the lever controls the angle of the second mirror mechanically, tilting the mirror downward so the 100% glare from headlights is not in your eyes, just the reduced light from the front (surface) mirror. Some may be called anti Glare mirror.
I would obtain it from a used parts dealer. Jim
 
The mirror with the little lever on the bottom is caller a prismatic rear view mirror. Most just use the common name of night vision mirror.

The glass of the mirror is cut at a angle and the backing on the glass is straight. In day vision you are using the highly reflective glass backing. When you flip it you are only seeing the reflection off the glass front.

Auto adjust mirrors that do this automatically use electro chromatic glass that basically tints allowing less light to reach the driver.
 
Hendrik,

When searching use the keyword "Gentex". They are the biggest suppliers of rear view mirrors for the US automotive market.

If you give me 10 minutes I think I have 4-5 in my barn, from old school lever, to auto dimming. I am going to look right now.

Rick
 
Hendrik,

I have a mirror. If you want to pay shipping its yours. It is just like the link I posted.

I bet it would be cheaper though for you to search google or amazon and have it shipped sourced from your own country. Not sure what international shipping is from the US.

Take a look at the link I posted, that should be the style you are looking for. They mount on a small metal tab that is glued to the windshield.

Also you can search "Donnelly" mirrors. I think Gentex bought them out a few years ago.

Rick
amazon mirror
 
Rick, thank you for looking in your cache and for other suppliers.
I need a mirror for a 1980 Fiat 124 cabriolet.
Thanks, Hendrik
 
John, thanks for educating me on the subject. I have used them for years without knowing how they work. Have one of the "automatic" type in my newer car.
 
I have always wondered why the right hand out side mirror has a different perseption than the left hand on American cars.
 
Somebody here could probably get you a selection from their local salvage yard, ship to you for a couple bucks...

When I was teaching Driver Ed, we needed some second mirrors for instructors to use. DE supply houses wanted a fortune for them. Went to a salvage yard, picked up several for next to nothing, mounted them on a 1/4 inch thick plexiglass triangle, with suction cups on the back. Worked brtter than the ones sold by the supply houses.
 

Right side probably has wide angle view so more traffic on right side can be seen. Possibly can be helpful if you are passing and want to get back in line. Problem is that the car seen in the right side mirror is closer than it appears and you have to be careful of cutting in ti quick.

KEH
 
Cars use a convex mirror or the right side. It bends outward like the a dome. The image will always be right side up and smaller than the actual object but it allows you to see a wider area than a flat mirror.
On the other end are concave mirrors. This is the mirror used at a carnival. The image can be right side up or upside down; larger or smaller than the actual object depending how far you are standing from the mirror.

Eye glasses work on the same principal.
Nearsighted people use concave lenses (thicker at the edges than in the middle)
Farsighted people use convex lenses (thinner at the edges than in the middle)
 
Thank you all for your replies.
This forum is great, proven again!
Now I know far more about "prismatic mirrors", etc. than I ever thought of.

Can anyone lay their hands on an OEM rear view night vision (interior) mirror for a 1980 Fiat 124 Cabriolet?
Advance payment guaranteed.
Thanks, Hendrik
 

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