Antique-shop.com

Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: TNJChris on February 28, 2015, 01:01:55 PM

Title: Vintage headlight for motorcycle or car with red lens on the back.
Post by: TNJChris on February 28, 2015, 01:01:55 PM
Hello again everyone! It's been too long for me. :)

I have an old headlight and I can't find another like it. I was hoping someone here may be able to help. It has a smooth clear lens that's about 3.5", a red diamond cut pattern (???) lens about 1" on the back, and it is electric. I started to wonder if it's an old tractor part rather than a car or motorcycle. Any thoughts?

I'm having problems posting photos, I'll try on a reply to this thread.
Title: Re: Vintage headlight for motorcycle or car with red lens on the back.
Post by: TNJChris on February 28, 2015, 01:06:35 PM
No matter what I do to add pictures I get the error,

 Cannot access attachments upload path!

UGH!
Title: Re: Vintage headlight for motorcycle or car with red lens on the back.
Post by: TNJChris on February 28, 2015, 01:13:05 PM
http://s1279.photobucket.com/user/cf5150cc/slideshow/Unidentified%20Headlight
Title: Re: Vintage headlight for motorcycle or car with red lens on the back.
Post by: mart on February 28, 2015, 01:38:23 PM
I can`t get the link to load either !!
Title: Re: Vintage headlight for motorcycle or car with red lens on the back.
Post by: fancypants on February 28, 2015, 04:59:30 PM
My best guess is that your item is an 'aftermarket' item , as in a non-OEM part .

It sure looks like a bicycle headlight (commonly 6 volt d.c.) , esp. due to the remaining mounting hardware , that was connected to a friction-mount (driven by the tire) generator , TJNChris !
Title: Re: Vintage headlight for motorcycle or car with red lens on the back.
Post by: wilhenri on March 01, 2015, 06:20:31 AM
In my youth here in the UK I worked on a farm,  lots of tractors had similar light mounted on the Mud Guards either side of the driver. These are modern ish but same principle.......htt p://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Massey-Ferguson-35-Butler-lamps-x-2-35x-65-TE20-TEA20-TED20-TEF20-135-light-/331403937052?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item4d2936c51c
Title: Re: Vintage headlight for motorcycle or car with red lens on the back.
Post by: cogar on March 01, 2015, 06:58:20 AM
The mounting bracket infers it is for attachment to the handlebar of a bicycle.
Title: Re: Vintage headlight for motorcycle or car with red lens on the back.
Post by: Pelady on March 01, 2015, 08:21:36 AM
My boy friend looked at this and had a few opinions:

Thinks it is military because the mount is so robust. Might attach to a pole or mount on a  vehicle.
Would probably be offset not a center mount.
Not a bicycle because
1. Only one wire and would not make the proper ground needed on a bike.
2. The rear facing red light would be blocked by the body and thus make no sense.

Just an opinion.
Title: Re: Vintage headlight for motorcycle or car with red lens on the back.
Post by: TNJChris on March 01, 2015, 10:00:41 AM
My boy friend looked at this and had a few opinions:

Thinks it is military because the mount is so robust. Might attach to a pole or mount on a  vehicle.
Would probably be offset not a center mount.
Not a bicycle because
1. Only one wire and would not make the proper ground needed on a bike.
2. The rear facing red light would be blocked by the body and thus make no sense.

Just an opinion.

It actually has 2 leads not 1.

Here's what I'm starting to think... http://www.thelovedhomeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/vintage-motorcycle-with-sidecar.jpg

From what I have seen most vintage lights that have a jewel type lens on the sides or rear have been German. I see them a lot on antique kerosene bicycle and motorcycle lamps. :)
Title: Re: Vintage headlight for motorcycle or car with red lens on the back.
Post by: Pelady on March 01, 2015, 10:08:18 AM
Think you nailed THNchris!

Title: Re: Vintage headlight for motorcycle or car with red lens on the back.
Post by: TNJChris on March 01, 2015, 10:22:21 AM
And another hunch... http://www.colonialcarriage.com/item.cfm?id=993
Title: Re: Vintage headlight for motorcycle or car with red lens on the back.
Post by: mart on March 01, 2015, 10:46:56 AM
Don`t think it would be the carriage,,different mounting !! I am with Cogar,,on the bracket !!
Title: Re: Vintage headlight for motorcycle or car with red lens on the back.
Post by: cogar on March 01, 2015, 01:27:37 PM
PeLady, iffen for a bicycle, the generator is also attached to the bicycle frame, ..... thus the frame is the ground.

Many vehicle and/or tractor lights are single wire ...... with the frame being the "ground".

Check your automobile, the negative (-) terminal of the battery is usually bolted directly to the metal frame.  ;D ;D
Title: Re: Vintage headlight for motorcycle or car with red lens on the back.
Post by: dontbe on March 02, 2015, 10:47:13 AM
Checking on that image issue.. :( thanks for the heads up :) )
Title: Re: Vintage headlight for motorcycle or car with red lens on the back.
Post by: KC on March 02, 2015, 06:43:18 PM
Thanks Ed!  Appreciate it!
Title: Re: Vintage headlight for motorcycle or car with red lens on the back.
Post by: TNJChris on March 04, 2015, 09:58:34 AM
PeLady, iffen for a bicycle, the generator is also attached to the bicycle frame, ..... thus the frame is the ground.

Many vehicle and/or tractor lights are single wire ...... with the frame being the "ground".

Check your automobile, the negative (-) terminal of the battery is usually bolted directly to the metal frame.  ;D ;D

It did occur to me, but I wasn't certain about old time stuff. +1 Cogar.