I have an Edmunds & Jones Light with patent date 1915. I cannot get the base off. It is probably rusted on. I don't know if comes straight off or turns or what. Any help greatly appreciated.
Larry H.
If it is rusted use some penetrating type oil around the seam between the two parts. I assume you are working on a side or tail light. Or even if it is a headlight you could use a small light hammer and even cushion the area you are striking with light blows that won't leave a mark or distort the metal. Just kind of jar the parts and they will loosen up. Come to think about it I would tap on it first to let the dry rust fall out of the seam if it will.
I think the pot on the bottom comes of with a counter clockwise rotation if it is in your right hand.
Herb
Are you speaking of a side light ??? they twist and then down, use Aerokroil it's the best
Bob
Yes, it is a sidelight. I have been soaking it in Marvel Mystery oil for a week. I have used Liquid Wrench and also PB Blaster but to no avail. Good to know it is counter clockwise rotation. The hammer idea is a good thought.
Thanks
Larry
By the way Larry welcome to the hobby,and enjoy.
Bob
Thanks!!
Larry
Larry
I just went out and checked and with the light sitting upright The fonts will twist clock wise to come off. This is if it is the all black style not the brass type.
Bob
I think it is the all black style. The only brass is the rim around the front light. I tried tapping it yesterday but no luck. I will let it soak, and soak, and soak. . . .
Thanks
Larry
Larry
Appears your lamp is really rusted at the junction of the font (bowl) and the lower rim of the lamp.
This junction is a 'bayonet' type, you twist it and then pull down as you twist to get the ends of those locking rivets to move down and out of the rim.
The use of a quality penetrating oil is needed, lots of it, Kroil is my favorite, some use a 50-50 mix of acetone/transmission fluid soaking mixture. One time I just used a water and oil mix. Open the door of the lamp and fill the penetrating mix into the font, covering up and over the inner rim of the lamp bottom to get at that interface.
In removal the surfaces have to be rust lock freed up, and then some pressure in twisting the font counter-clock wise and pulling down at the same time.
Thanks much, I will keep working on it. Greatly appreciate the pictures. Looks like it turns clockwise (when looking at the bottom up) to get it off.
Larry
Larry,
Notice that it also has to be pushed "UP" or towards the lamp body to clear the notched end as visible in Dan's last two pics.
One wild idea; take the sandpaper off a palm sander and use it (the palm sander, not the paper!!) to vibrate the heck out of the font! They can be really stubborn at times!
T'
David D.
Larry, don't use heat, those parts are soldered together. Dave
Try a small rubber hammer, lots PB Blaster or Kroil, cussing etc, it will come
John, I have tried all three (rubber hammer, PB Blaster and cussing) but obviously not enough of at least one of them...maybe it is the cussin"
Larry
Try putting it in a vise laying down(Put something soft around it) then tap it and use an oil filter strap type wrench around the fonts(cover it also) and just keep working it gently back and forth ,tapping as you do it. It may take a while, just keep working it. You will win in time. Your bigger than it is.
Bob
It does wiggle a bit now, so I think I am making progress. There is a philosophy of tool use whereby one keeps hitting something with progressively bigger hammers until one breaks something. Then one backs off one size of hammer. I am trying to avoid that! I am letting it soak some more. Thanks for all the help.
P.S. Bob, I notice you said I am bigger than it is. You did not say anything about me being smarter than it is!!! That issue is probably still in doubt.
Larry
Larry
Your smarter than it also ,just taking your time to do it correctly with no damage to it or your self. Now that's the smart way.(but sometimes very frustrating).
Bob
Larry, if you have gotten it moving, you're almost there! As said, take your time, just keep working it back and forth, in and out and keep flushing it with penetrating oil. All of that rust will eventually give way. By the way, don't ask me how I found out that they are soldered together. I stopped just in time before disaster. Dave
I finally got the base off. In the meantime I got two additional Edmund & Jones lights. Even when not rusted badly, the bases do not come off easily. Interesting, all three lights are different from each other. Two have side lights; one does not have; For one the big light is red (I assume tail light); for other two the big light is clear. One with the big clear lens does not have a side lens. One has a brass around around the big clear light. Two have holes in the bolt that holds the light on...and one still has a brass cotter key. For these two the nuts are brass. The nut for the one without the hole for the cotter key is steel.
Thanks for all the help
Larry H.
Larry
The ones that have side lens are tail lights of different years, the one without the side lens is a side light
Bob