I have noticed that the old original kerosene lantern lens's seem to blister slightly when you run them. Does anyone run them with the reproduction lens? If so, has anyone had any trouble with the outer side of the lens blistering? In particular the red tail light lens. I imagine the old original glass may be stressed from age causing the problem.

G'day Jeff, l have a feeling, cant back it up though, that some of these tail light lenses are made from an early form of plastic, pretty tough stuff, not sure how much heat would cause one the blister though.
Someone will possibly be able to carry this a little further, its back at the top now, so fingers crossed for you.

David.

There's no way a kerosene flame would be hot enough to damage glass if it's colored glass. Blistering must come from a coating that's breaking down or as Dave suggests some early form of plastic.

I am guessing that the red glass is just old. I am going to order a new glass lens.

My 1917 Maxwell has the same problem. I contacted an antique glass restoration expert and he says the glass is breaking down because of age. I planned on running 2 tail lights and wanted them to match so I have to send him my lenses and he will polish off a layer of glass. As it is impossible to buy new ones I'll have to pay the $32.00 to $48.00 per lense to get a matched pair.

Howard Dennis

Thanks for the info. I figured that was what the problem was.