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Post by Franklin1 on Feb 1, 2012 10:05:24 GMT 10
G'day DonR/cobber, This is a bit off-topic, but back in about 1980 I fitted a Hella flasher unit thingy to my Holden Kingswood. I can't remember exactly whether the unit controlled the actual flashing sequence or not. What I do remember is that it could be wired up to a light you fitted to the dashboard so that as the trailer indicators flashed, so too did the light on the dashboard. If the wiring connector between car and trailer was faulty, or one of the light globes in the trailer indicators had blown, then there would be no flashing and consequently nothing showing on the dashboard light. I don't know whether you can still get these sorts of things anymore, but I do know that nowadays I have no way of knowing whether the indicators on my van or trailer are actually working while I'm sitting inside the car. Now...back to our regular programme...  cheers, Al. |
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Post by cobber on Feb 1, 2012 14:25:18 GMT 10
G'day Al, You would think in this high technology age it wouldn't be hard to come up with a way of letting us know one of the blinker lights wasn't working aye? Another interesting think to watch out for......with the “Swampvan” attached to our Magna one day I noticed the blinker indicator light on the dashboard wasn't working...... no blinkers on car or van  Turns out, if you operate the hazard lights, or unlock the car with the remote, all six indicator lights flash. The current draw was sufficient to blow the 10A fuse to the flasher unit, replaced it with a 15A fuse which solved the problem. Here's another style of front clearance light, die-cast body which is often pitted, hard to find this original type in real good condition...... me thinks   Cobber. |
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Post by Don Ricardo on Feb 1, 2012 21:00:46 GMT 10
G'day Franklin1, ...but I do know that nowadays I have no way of knowing whether the indicators on my van or trailer are actually working while I'm sitting inside the car. Allow me to let you in on a secret - there's a high tech solution available for this problem... You get your beloved to stand behind the trailing accommodation (not while you're moving though) and you carry out a thorough check of all illumination devices by operating the appropriate switching devices. Each time an illumination device gets a positive outcome, your beloved calls out "YES", and if the result is negative she or he stays quiet. In the latter case you then carefully and sensitively interrogate the beloved to find out if (a) the illumination device did in fact not illuminate, or (b) you just couldn't hear him or her call out "YES" because of the distance between your cockpit and the back of the trailing accommodation, or (c) the said beloved wasn't paying attention at the time. Statistical tests have shown that the probability of each of the causes of an inconclusive test are 1 in 3 or 33.3%. See, easy! ;D ;D ;D Don Ricardo |
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Post by Franklin1 on Feb 1, 2012 22:00:19 GMT 10
DonR, I've given up asking for assistance to check if the lights work. The first time I asked if the right hand indicator was working, all I got back was "Yes...No...Yes...No...Yes...No..." Gees, is that the time?? Best I go get the doghouse ready.  |
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Post by seeshell on Feb 2, 2012 20:27:05 GMT 10
Hi All
Thank you Franklin1 for pointing out the Hella lights on the back of the Blue Flyer - "if the light offend thee, pluck it out..."
I have been scouring around for the type of lights that would have been on the van. Pork pies and a few of the other STOP glass lights are quite attractive but look a bit early (late 30's, 40's?).
The lights the Cobber identified as Cambells are actually on the front and rear of the van, but in shocking shape and will need replacing (both were running lights only).
I have no idea what would have been in place of the Hellas.
Many of the Lucas lights look about right (dome glass with chrome rings). What vintage are those lights? I don't want to do something later than 1951.
Advice cheerfully taken.
Seeshell
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Post by Don Ricardo on Feb 2, 2012 21:01:58 GMT 10
DonR, I've given up asking for assistance to check if the lights work. The first time I asked if the right hand indicator was working, all I got back was "Yes...No...Yes...No...Yes...No..." Nice riposte! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D Don Ricardo |
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Post by firefighter on Feb 2, 2012 21:12:53 GMT 10
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Post by cobber on Feb 3, 2012 9:26:53 GMT 10
Just made an interesting observation. Back in reply # 22 I showed the rear lights on Janaway II.(built in 1950) Of the three “beehive” lights used for stop and tail lights only one of them has a makers brand on it CAM – BELL & CO. SYDNEY AUST.  Did CAM – BELL become CAMPBELL ? ...... or was it just a misprint, faulty mould ? ....I think that might be the answer. That “beehive” lens is also available in yellow colour.... maybe not original cam-bell or campbell brand but they fit. Should find plenty of them at the Berwick Swap all you hunters who are going there (keep an eye out for the Lucas 489 side light please ) Cobber. |
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Post by seeshell on Feb 4, 2012 10:32:36 GMT 10
Hi There Cobber I understand that either you or Mark T might have been looking for a Lucas 489 boot. I've been over the Berwick show and not a lot there, but I did run into a vendor who specialises in New Old Stock of Lucas - he wasn't sure if he only had a boot, but he definitely has the assembly. He also had a lot of other interesting lights and trafficator parts etc. Might be one for the Suppliers List? New Old Stock Lucas www.oldlucas.com.auenquiries@oldlucas.com.au Danny and Sandra Lee 17-23 Keppel Drive Hallam VIC 3803 Phone: 0412327197 Cheers Seeshell |
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Post by Franklin1 on Feb 4, 2012 21:51:55 GMT 10
G'day seeshell, I came across an American website for airstream restorations, and one of the links on the site took me to a fella known as "The Taillight King". If you go down the index on the left to Truck and Trailer Lights/Lenses, you can work your way to listings of heaps of bits and pieces he's got for sale. I found it interesting from the point of view of deciding whether a particular light would be suitable for my project or not. Most of the listings are for lenses, but some of them are for complete units. You can easily waste an hour just looking down the list...   cheers, Al. |
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Post by seeshell on Jun 25, 2012 17:21:13 GMT 10
BUMP! Cobber, did you ever find the Lucas 289s you were looking for? Does anyone have any humble stop, turn or tail lights to add to this thread? It's the little things we overlook!  Seeshell |
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Post by webrake4bricabrac on Jun 25, 2012 17:25:17 GMT 10
Narva currently produces a reasonably classic design with chrome surround.
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Post by cobber on Jun 25, 2012 19:49:51 GMT 10
G'day seeshell sunshine Thanks for asking about these lights Yes we did get the Lucas boots and a few other bits from a bloke I met at the local Hawkesbury swap meet.... he was from Victoria.... not the “Old lucas lights” bloke you had recommended but “Classic and Vintage Bulbs”.... also from Victoria who also have a lot of 6 volt bulbs, both incandescent and LED, which is something that turns some of us old “keep it original” types on . Both the above are worth a try if anybody are after vintage light bits and pieces in order to stay original. Both the above suppliers were added to the “Vintage Restoration Parts Suppliers” thread for future reference. Cobber. |
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Post by cobber on Jun 26, 2012 10:10:31 GMT 10
G'day webreak4bricabrac Can you tell us specifically which vintage lights you have found at Narva ?. I recently bought a couple of Narva 4729 tail lights to replace a pair of Hella 2370 (that are exacterly the same) from Camec, who told me it was the last of their stock, they were not being made any more. And I recently came across some round Hella “retro Reflectors” (no chrome surrounds unfortunately) the same as I have on the rear mudguards of the FJ..... but that's about it for new vintage stuff from the shops for me.... swap meets look like the go. Cobber |
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Post by webrake4bricabrac on Jun 26, 2012 12:37:06 GMT 10
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Post by cobber on Jun 26, 2012 13:40:58 GMT 10
G'day webrake4bricabrac, Looks like the same one for sure.. that link you gave or this one could be handy for people looking for older style lights but............... I don't think  it's worth putting in the Restoration Parts suppliers list cause it's mostly new style stuff........................ or is it FEED BACK FROM ANYBODY WELCOME ! Cobber. |
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Post by Franklin1 on Jun 26, 2012 14:54:41 GMT 10
G'day cobber and webrake4bricabrac,
Perhaps a little clarification is in order...
Narva lights Part No. 4729 is the equivalent of Hella lights Part No. 2370 (shown in Reply #9 on Page 1 of this thread)
Hella Part No. 47321 is actually the lens that fits onto 2370. There were two (or more?) different types of lens...the red/orange for tail, and the orange/clear for front. I think cars like the old Morris 1100 had these orange/clear lens at the front? (not sure)
cheers,
Al.
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Post by cobber on Jun 26, 2012 16:32:03 GMT 10
Thanks Al I'd like to think the combination Hella 2370 light was available before 1965 because I think they were the original equipment on Driftwood, and I've always said she is pre 1960 . Being kit built, I think , it's one of those things I can't bet money on. Cobber |
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Post by Franklin1 on Jun 26, 2012 17:33:58 GMT 10
cobber, I guess they might have been available before 1965, but evidence doesn't seem to back that up.
Somewhere in my history collection I have an advertisement for Hella wanting employees in Sydney in 1964. That was the earliest year I could find Hella mentioned in the Sydney archives, but I don't know which State they were based in, so I can't say for sure when their products first became available in Oz.
All I can say is that I've never seen the Hella 2370 light as a common fitment on caravans until 1965. That's when the big three - Viscount, Millard, and Franklin - started using them. Sure, I see them "retrofitted" to caravans built before 1965, but as a general rule they don't appear to have been a standard fitment prior to '65.
cheers,
Al.
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Post by seeshell on Jun 26, 2012 18:54:03 GMT 10
Hi Al I would never question you about the type of stop, turn and tail lights in use on Millards, Viscounts and Franklins in 1965  , but the timing of the company Hella Australia is a bit different than you have found in Trove/the Archives. They are a German company that has been in business since (I think) 1899, and they set up shop in Australia in 1961 (and NZ either shortly before or after to do marine lighting). This is backed up by a Press Release in 2008 that said they had been in business in Australia for 47 years. The press release from 2008: www.hella.com/produktion/HellaAU/WebSite/Channels/Company/Press/National_Press/Company_News/PR_RecordSales.jspI suppose before that they might have been small enough to find people locally, or they did a big expansion in 1965 and had to advertise? Anyway, based on the timing, I suppose it is POSSIBLE that the specific tail light model existed and was produced before 1965 (particularly if it was already produced for Europe/Germany). So perhaps vans before 1965 may have had this assembly. Cheers Seeshell |
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Post by Franklin1 on Jun 26, 2012 21:41:03 GMT 10
Ahhh, seeshell, so Hella were here from 1961 eh? Well, that's it then cobber! o..r..i..g..i..n..a..l !! ;D ;D Thought I might as well throw up a few piccies of tail lights from my photo collection. I don't claim these are all original fitments. Some examples are seen on more than one van from the same sort of time period. A late 1950s Viscount with the D-light, and a couple of tail/indicators that look like they're a later fitment(?)...  Early '60s Franklin with just the number plate/stop light...  Similar year Franklin with indicators added...  Seen these types on a few Viscounts from around '62/63...  A 1964 Franklin...  ...same lights can also be seen on earlee's 1964 Franklin...  Some other types showing on Viscounts from the first half of the sixties...    Still looking for some ridgy-didge Hellas from the early '60s. cheers, Al. |
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Post by cobber on Jun 27, 2012 20:55:44 GMT 10
Just to add to our collection of vintage light fittings Rear light fittings on the 1930s Windmill caravan..... no claim being made to these being original equipment, but the van was not used after 1970. This first photo shows number plate / tail light (no markings on it I can see without removing it) and the yellow “Campbell” turn indicator ?  This photo shows the front and rear of the “Campbell” lights. They are 2'' in diameter and about ¾'' deep. The words on the white part of the light say “CAMPBELL”....”TRUCK-LITE....”N.Z.125767”....“PAT. PEND. A6295/59”...”MODEL CC58” I think that indicates the patent was pending in 1959.  The next photo shows these fittings are meant to be “throw away” items. The white bit is glued to the yellow lens and even if you can separate them the light bulb is glued in place.  Cobber. |
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Post by griffin on Jun 28, 2012 11:45:20 GMT 10
Hi Cobber I think you could safely say your D style tail light is from the era of the Windmill's original build date, GMH used them on the D series Light Six Vauxhalls from 1935 to 38, but used different style lights on the other models. Mine is also unbranded as are the couple of spares that are tucked away somewhere, but it has a hinged brass clip to hold it shut which is on what is the top in your photo. Yours appears to be the type with a small screw to keep it closed. Anyone with a slightly older van might consider the Fairylite turn signal in the attachment George |
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Post by kaybee on Jun 28, 2012 16:09:23 GMT 10
The next photo shows these fittings are meant to be “throw away” items. The white bit is glued to the yellow lens and even if you can separate them the light bulb is glued in place.  Cobber. ....Ha Ha....I was listening to that yesterday......been working on a '46 Ford Coupe and Big Band music seems appropriate ;D ;D....today was Dorsey and Goodman.....  PS....I can probably chase up some nicer indicators than that if you need 'em.....regards, Col. |
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Post by kaybee on Jun 28, 2012 18:21:25 GMT 10
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it's worth
, but the timing of the company Hella Australia is a bit different than you have found in Trove/the Archives.
