Which Headlight Ring?

[ivaldes1]

I need to make a pair out of these 3. I think 2 are Ford but one looks like the mounts are bent down. The other one is it Ford?

[R.V.Anderson]

The rim with the small clips is designed to be used with the clear, round glass lenses used in 1915-21. The rims with the larger clips are designed for the Ford H lens, which has four flat sides.

[Allan]

In my experience, the Ford rims are the same. It is the clips that are different, as R V indicated. If you are running clear lenses, either will work. If you use fluted lenses, you will have to devise a way of holding the flutes vertical if you use the rim with the small round clips.

Allan from down under.

[Wayne Sheldon]

So the brass rim with the larger clips MAY be an older modern reproduction (some of those were made using the larger lens clips). Or it is very likely a 1926/'27 originally nickel plated brass rim with the nickel somehow removed. That is what I am using on my 1915. For my car, I got badly cracked originals, and welded the cracks! Quite tricky to do, but it can be done if one makes a 'backing form' to support the thin brass and is very careful with heat control. Afterwards, the rim must in its entirety be re-annealed.
Dented and other damage also needs to be annealed often during the straightening process.
I would recommend fixing them all, putting the two that come out the best on the car, keeping the third as a spare.

[John Warren]

Wayne, What is the best process to anneal brass ? I know copper and aluminum you can heat and water quench. I also use the acetylene smoke method on aluminum. Thanks.jw

[R.V.Anderson]

Side note, FWIW: A friend had the small creek bordering his property turn into a raging torrent after yet another horrendous thunderstorm this summer. After the flood subsided he went to check the damage, and found that the flood had washed up gobs and chunks of mud onto his lawn. Sticking out of one such chunk was a perfect Ford H lens, which he gave to me.

[DanTreace]

Wayne, What is the best process to anneal brass ? I know copper and aluminum you can heat and water quench. I also use the acetylene smoke method on aluminum. Thanks.jw

Depends on type of brass, cast sometimes more difficult without care. But use heat to dull red to anneal. No need to quench.

Just did the anneal to bend back in shape an early brass quadrant. Don't have 'before' pics, but the spark side was bent in bad, and twisted the curve of the quadrant a substantial whack!

So used the acetylene torch and drew the brass to a 'dull red' color. Don't heat bright red or pieces will fall away. Let cool so the dull red is gone, then bend a little at a time. After a bend, re-heat again to dull red, air cool only until the red is gone, then commence to bend some more. A little at a time is best.

I stopped when the quadrant curve was level again so the teeth could grab on the spark rod, that left the curve a bit shy of nice, but.....saved this badly damaged quadrant so it can function again.

[Scott_Conger]

RV

similar thing happened in Jonesborough, TN years ago when a small trickle-of-a-creek turned into a river for a day...an old Model T fender washed up behind my parents commercial building. Have to admit, though, a complete usable glass lens beats a rusty fender anyday!

[Mark Gregush]

The brass one, with wider clips, could be 1926/27. When nickel plated, they used brass rims. Could be someone stripped the nickel off. I have a pair on my 1925 that has been done too.

[DanTreace]

Mark

Yep, those later nickel rims are fun to use by brush stripping the rim to the brass they are made from.

Use a pair with some dents but nice to replace fractures and pieces missing large brass rims on a pair of gas Ford Victor headlamps. The old rims still had decent hinges, so pecked those off, and riveted the hinges to a pair of '26-'27 rims. Just happened to fit the o.d. of the gas headlamp buckets just fine

BYW, the electric reflectors fit into these gas lamps too, so used them for the missing original mirrors. These lamps are going on my 1913-14 truck project.

The a pair of clear glass lens, with cuts on 4 corners of the circle and they fit the clips on those late rims.

[Mark Gregush]

Ya, except for a little nickel around the rivets, mine were stripped when I got them. Nice to have gotten a pair at the same time!

[ivaldes1]

My H lenses are a bit white hazy from wear. Is there a way to polish the white haze away?

[ivaldes1]

The haze is from minute scratches. I am thinking 1200 grit wet sanding followed by toothpaste?