MTFCA Forum

If I remember right was it about 1919 when Ford made the head light with 2 bulbs, getting old anu ideas, Bob
has clear lens like 1915 ??

From a previous thread https://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/5 ... 1425869026
By Rich Chillingworth on Sunday, March 08, 2015 - 09:14 pm:
The two bulb headlamps were used in the 1919 and 1920 starter equipped Ts. They were battery powered. Dual filament light bulbs weren't available, or at least not used by Ford until 1921. Thus two single filament bulbs were placed in the headlight buckets a low candlepower one for DIM and a high candlepower one for ON. With the non-starter cars, beginning in 1918 a dimmer coil was introduced which had two settings for dim and bright. The column mounted twist style light switch (1918-22) had two wires which connected to the dimmer coil in two different places on the dimmer unit, thus providing different amounts of dimming. From there one wire went to the headlights, wired in series. These were single bulb headlights and were magneto powered.
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I have a pair but missing one of the Model T reflectors. The same setup was used in the Model A (wiring appears to be the same), I have a a pair of the Model A reflectors which seem to fit. If you have an extra two bulb Model T reflector email me.

These always intrigued me. 60 years ago my first T had a 1920 engine number and headlamp buckets like these, as well as the unique column switch. I was told they were "wrong".

Those headlamps have been driving people in the hobby crazy since World War Two! For a time around thirty years ago, a lot of people believed the two bulb lamps with the socket low on the back of the bucket was what was used on early 1915 cars. I was told this by several people a long time ago, and saw several 1915s with the two bulb lamps and brass rims. I did then what I do now. Looked at a bunch of era photographs of 1915s. Finding photos that showed the right angle shot showing the back of the headlamp wasn't easy. However, several were found either facing forward from the middle of the car or low from the side showing the profile of the headlamp through the side of the fender. When every one of the several such photos I looked at showed the elbow plug up back and center on the bucket? I figured the two bulb lamps likely were not used on 1915s.

Sometime later, some people got the idea that these lamps were only used on center-door sedans for a couple years. That didn't really make sense, but maybe? I tried again looking at era photos, but the 1917 and later front fenders are more forward than the 1915/'16 front fenders, and rarely show the profile of the back of the headlamp. The few photos facing forward from the middle of the car were inconclusive. I did see one 1918ish center-door sedan that clearly had the low socket, but one out of how many?
The 1917s all body styles had the single bulb simple switch and small horn button. 1918s all had no starter option with the bulky combination horn/light switch. Then 1919 phasing in with enclosed cars getting the starter early on and open cars later getting it as an option.
Figuring the two bulb lamp use for basically all 1918, and maybe half of 1919? I looked at serial numbers for the timeframe. Car number 2.3 million was produced around October 1917, with car number 3 million at almost May of 1919. That year and a half produced about 700,000 cars and trucks. That out of slightly under fifteen million model Ts with electric headlamps. Considering how few of the two bulb lamps I see compared with the much more common single bulb versions? I still question whether that entire 700,000 cars had them? Of course, perhaps there were other mitigating circumstances. If the dimmer system was prone to problems? Perhaps people switched them out and replaced them with the later system as it became available as used parts?

I think maybe we finally have a realistic answer to these longtime mystery lamps. My thanks to the dedicated researchers that sorted through piles of misinformation and archives to eventually find a proper answer.

From https://www.cimorelli.com/mtdl/default.htm
then 1919 https://www.cimorelli.com/mtdl/1919/default.htm
Apparently the reference to 1915 have been a bit of mis-information. Ford documents confirm it was in 1919 that the lamps were two 2-bulb headlights --
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Note that the wiring diagram has 2 wires going to the bulb socket, one for Dim and the other for Bright, plus stating the lamp was ground --
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Wiring for 1926 was similar but different color wires -
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aA link to a Ford Brown style https://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/5 ... 1435866673

Those 2 bulb headlamp parts are in the 1919 and or 1920 Price List Of Parts - I'd have to go look in my books.

RajoRacer wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 15, 2023 9:39 pm

Those 2 bulb headlamp parts are in the 1919 and or 1920 Price List Of Parts - I'd have to go look in my books.

I included references to them from A Ford Manual in the response just above yours. Would be good to know if there are part number changes for the buckets, rims and reflectors
1919 owners manual Bruce

My non-starter late 1915 Brass Touring has two bulb buckets. I know that previous owners (I am at least the 3rd) installed some "accessories"- wood trim for example. Could it be that a previous owner also went through the trouble to install dual bulb buckets? The car came to me with Magneto bulbs, as well as a plaque stating that the car climbed Mt. Washington. I don't doubt that it climbed the Mountain, but I'll bet it was somewhat thrilling during the descent - the car also came to me with only stock transmission brakes.
American 3 door non-starter 1915 Brass touring with dual bulb buckets? Stock?
Dave

Also, I have a letter from a Ford Executive (on Ford stationary) strating that those blue wheels were standard issue - upon buyer's request.
Dave

I have a couple if someone needs them. The shine yo e is for a T, I think the full one may be for an A.

I have been informed that my headlight buckets are NOT Ford...
From a knowledgeable Model T source:
"Your buckets are from Gray and Davis not original Ford/i]

Dave

Don ellis wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 16, 2023 9:44 am

I have a couple if someone needs them. The shine yo e is for a T, I think the full one may be for an A.

I emailed you - I need the Model T one on the right. Will buy or trade for original shinny single bulb Model T reflector