What side lamp is this?

[oblivioncth]

Sorry to be an absolute leech, but it seemed like there was no better place to ask.

This lamp was picked up from Goodwill years ago and was catalogued as an oil Model T side lamp, but despite tons of searching I can't find any that quite look like it.

Most I see have the latch on the top center and presumably open by folding down, whereas this one opens sideways. There are also a few other minor differences.

Perhaps this isn't a Model T lamp at all and instead something else from Corcoran Lamp Co?

[Wayne Sheldon]

First, one needs to realize that in the early automobile era there were literally dozens of companies manufacturing thousands of lamps for hundreds of different automobile manufacturing companies and countless models of cars across a couple decades of production. While most of the lamps officially used by Ford are fairly well known and somewhat cataloged, only a small percentage of all the other thousands of lamps have been seriously researched.


An "absolute leech"? No way! We like and usually encourage people interested in the model Ts and parts its history to come and ask questions.

Your lamp is very nice looking, and interesting. But it is not a Ford lamp as far as I know. It may be one of the thousands of after-market lamps sold as replacements or upgrades? Or it may have been a factory offering for any of hundreds of lower production automobiles.
The style was a common one used by numerous lamp companies for many years. It could have been made and sold almost anytime from about 1905 to possibly as late as 1920. However most likely appropriated for a small car from about 1908 to 1912.

Hopefully someone can see your inquiry and recognize it for certain.

[DanTreace]

Your lamp is a Corcoran brand lamp, while Ford did use this mfg., your lamp isn't Ford style. Corcoran made all kinds of lamps, so this kerosene side lamp, with the spade type fitting could have been used on an early Ford as the side/tail mount brackets were spade type.

But clearly aftermarket, so perhaps a Ford owner wanted to spruce up his Ford with the round type lamp from the square bodied side/tail lamps that Ford supplied.

[oblivioncth]

Thanks for the warm welcome and perspective Wayne.

I did wonder how many alternate lamps might be out there, but was unsure given that most you see in photos are very similar as noted earlier; however, it makes total sense that they just haven't been documented well given the sheer variety low production volume of many designs.

Your lamp is a Corcoran brand lamp, while Ford did use this mfg., your lamp isn't Ford style.

Awesome information, especially the catalogue image. Really appreciate the time and confirmation that this is indeed aftermarket.

Just to clarify though, you mention that this isn't a Ford style lamp, yet the linked catalogue (that does indeed show side/tail lamps much closer in style to the one I have), lists them as "Ford Gas Lamps". Of course, this is just some other third-party shop owner that is reselling these lamps as noted in the listing.

I guess they listed them as "Ford" lamps to note that they are Ford *compatible*, that they can be used on a Model T or other Ford vehicle? This would make perfect sense, I just want to make sure I fully understand.

[Wayne Sheldon]

"I guess they listed them as "Ford" lamps to note that they are Ford *compatible*, that they can be used on a Model T or other Ford vehicle? This would make perfect sense, I just want to make sure I fully understand."


Basically right on!
In the ad that Dan Treace posted, the "gas" "Ford" headlamps for $4.75 appear to be actual Ford closeout headlamps. After Ford finally switched to electric headlamps in 1915, a lot more people that already had earlier model Ts were updating their Fords to after-market electric lamps. Ford genuine replacement gas lamps quickly became a hard sell.
The electric headlamps advertised for Ford farther down in the ad are not genuine Ford replacements. They are "after-market upgrades" made to fit earlier Fords and many other cars with forked headlamp brackets. The ad is of course targeting the large Ford owner market with their advertising.

[DanTreace]

Just to clarify though, you mention that this isn't a Ford style lamp, yet the linked catalogue (that does indeed show side/tail lamps much closer in style to the one I have), lists them as "Ford Gas Lamps". Of course, this is just some other third-party shop owner that is reselling these lamps as noted in the listing.
I guess they listed them as "Ford" lamps to note that they are Ford *compatible*, that they can be used on a Model T or other Ford vehicle? This would make perfect sense, I just want to make sure I fully understand.

Likely list them as side/tail lamp by Corcoran for a pre -'16 vehicle. (Corcoran was merged in 1916 to the Victor Lamp Co., so lamps with just Corcoran are before 1916.)

And the Corcoran-Victor were indeed a supplier to Ford, here is a Ford script tail lamp made by them. Note the rear bolt, that is how the Ford round side or tail lamps were mounted to the car, using Ford concave brackets that have a hole to receive the back of the lamp.

A factory supplied Ford lamp will state "Ford" on the lamp body somewhere. Manufactures had to have a contract/order from Ford to supply lamps, and these always were spec'd by Ford to have the Ford name. Of course the mfg was free to sell to the marketplace, just not put the Ford name on their product in the aftermarket space.

Your's would "perhaps" fit a Model T Ford, that sprouts the blade type mounts. But all side lamps for blade mounts on a Ford are '14 and earlier, are "square shape" lamps, and have Ford markings. Only by 1915 did Ford go to the more 'modern' round lamps, and away from the square horse carriage lamps!


Below is an earlier Ford lamp, all brass, square carriage like, with an aftermarket brass cast license plate and tail lamp mount, this mount has a blade receiver for these pre-1915 lamps.

IMG_6906 (500x375).jpg (122.69 KiB) Viewed 390 times