Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

Ronniej · Last edited by Ronniej on Fri Oct 23, 2015 4:40 pm; edited 1 time in total

I am helping a friend restore a 1928 Triumph Super 7.
His project is nearing completion and we are about to fit the lights.
We have the original headlamp shells which are of Lucas manufacture but of a type neither of us have seen before.
Unfortunately the lenses are missing and we hope to use the ones pictured which were among a box of spares I had in my garage.
It should be possible to fit them although we may have to grind a little off the circumference to achieve this.
You will see from the picture that they are lightly frosted with a clear diamond in the centre. They are 6.75" in diameter and have no maker's name.

I have two questions:

1. Can anyone identify what car these would have been fitted to or who the maker is?
2. The diamond is longer than it is wide; can anyone advise how they should be fitted? (i.e. should the long side be vertical or horizontal?)

Ronnie

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mikeC · Posted: Fri Oct 23, 2015 3:35 pm Post subject:

I don't recognise them, but the diamond proportions look about right for the Riley logo; early Nines usually had Rotax headlamps, but did they have special 'Riley' lenses?

Penman · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4850 Location: Swindon, Wilts.

Hi
The Renault used the diamond as well.

It is only late C20th when they cut the points off.

In Rick's 1930s picture album one of the Rileys has a Diamond in the centre of the h/ls BUT I can't make out if it is on the glass or on the 3 legged metal spider behind the glass.
_________________
Bristols should always come in pairs.

Any 2 from:-
Straight 6
V8 V10

Ronniej · Posted: Fri Oct 23, 2015 4:39 pm Post subject:

Thanks for that.

It had occurred to me that the diamond was similar to the shape of the Riley badge.
I had not thought about Renault but that is also similar.
The issue we would like to resolve is how the diamond is positioned within the lights.
Should the long edge be horizontal or vertical?

Ronnie

Bitumen Boy · Posted: Fri Oct 23, 2015 5:38 pm Post subject:

Would love to see some pics of the finished car, can't be many around now.

Ronniej · Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2015 10:50 am Post subject:

Peter_L · Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2015 1:52 pm Post subject:

I am not sure that these lenses were ever fitted to car headlamps. The frosting gives no direction and would diffuse the light over 360 deg with slightly more light in the centre.

Perhaps they were from Marine or Theatre fitting ?

goneps · Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2015 12:05 am Post subject:

In the past there has been some discussion on the topic of 'frosted' lenses in Morris Register circles. Series 2 Eights (and a great many other cars and
motorcycles of the period) were equipped with what appear at a casual glance to be frosted glass lenses, when in fact they're patented
Lucas Difusa lenses.

Whereas an ordinary frosted glass would indeed simply spread the light, the Difusa has in intricate pattern that, remarkably, does an excellent job of
directing the beam, presumably giving a broader spread than the earlier vertically fluted lenses that give a very concentrated beam when used with
the original type of bulb with V-shaped filaments.

Richard

47Jag · Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2015 12:22 pm Post subject:

The Lucas P100 headlamps as fitted to the 1946-48 Jaguars and Austin Sheerline had frosted glass with a clear 'bullseye' centre.

Art