Terraplane fuel tank

33ET8conv

What finish was used on the '33 Terraplane fuel tank?

bob ward

I have a good tank from a 34T and there is no sign that it was ever painted. Fuel tanks used to be made from either copper plated steel (terrine or some such was the trade name) or tin plated steel. The plating aided the soldering process, slowed corrosion inside the tank and possibly removed the need for the tank to be painted.