Going thru some of my junk at the storage building, I ran across a couple of the accessory Hall stop/tail lights.
Considering I have 2 already for my project, and a couple spares, what's a good price to ask for them?
They do have the Ford script and are complete(lenses, stop stencil, bulb sockets, reflector, lens retainer frame). No mounting bracketry tho.
I can post photos tomorrow.
I have one that mounts in the spare tire for wire wheels, I had a guy offer me 600. for it, but some old friend gave it to me so some things are just not for sale.
Luke
You can put it on eBay and get the most.
This one sold for $157.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MODEL-T-STOP-TAIL-BRAKE-LIGHT-FORD-SCRIPT-HOUSING-VINTAG E-ANTIQUE-GLASS-LENS-/150844350962?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item231f0621f2
Seems like $150-$200 is the going rate, esp if the rim is nice, and no cracks in the red glass, and none in the glass license lens.
Dan, I bought one like that on ebay with the Ford script on the top, the license tag and left fender mount for a buy it now price of $75.00, but that was a good deal I don't expect to find very often. Jim Patrick
Are there two Ebays? A cheap one and an expensive on? All the nice complete Ford lights that I have seen on Ebay sold for at least $100.00 and one sold for as much as $250.00! I once paid $50 just for a nice Ford shell; no guts or lenses; and once I saw a NOS Nickeled rim, in the box sell for $75 or more, if I remember correctly. The DB Type 2 lights are the ones that I have seen go for under $100.00.
Guess I've been treating ownership of this light rather lightly. Didn't realize it was so rare. Was not in the best of shape but cleaned it up and now looks OK.
I looked in the 1928 Model T parts catalog parts for it, I did not see replacement or parts listed. A print of a Ford dealership showroom here in Portland OR that was taken in about 1927, it shows that style light in the display case along with the oval shaped one that looks like Chevrolet or Buick style. My guess is that there weren't that many even back then.
The accessory combination stop/tail lamp shown above is essentially the same light used by Dodge Brothers in the late 20's just before and during the switch over from single unit (single starter/generator 12 v.) to dual unit (separate starter and generator, 6 v.) electrical systems. This use of this type of lamp by Dodge Brothers began around, I believe, sometime in late 1923.
I say essentially because the only difference I can find between the two is the logo stamped on the upper part of the drum. The lenses, door (rim), and S-T-O-P insert behind the stop lens are exactly the same. I'm confident that they were made by the same supplier. I found a lamp like these at the San Diego Swap Meet one year with no logo at all.
The "oval shaped one that looks like Chevrolet or Buick style." that Mr. Gregush writes about above is most likely an accessory combo stop/tail lamp made by the Victor Lamp Company. I have one of these on my '26 Touring.
The Victor lamp was very easy to mount. One would simply remove the stock glass "teacup", red lens, and stock stamped steel lens retainer. You would then insert the stock lens and teacup into the lower portion of the Victor lamp which was constructed just like the stock Ford retainer but with an integral stop lamp above the lower portion of the lamp body. The Victor lamp had a nickle plated door on the face of the entire lamp. This door also retained the "kidney-shaped" red stop lamp lens in the upper portion of the lamp. That lens had the word "S-T-O-P" embossed into the back side of the lens. One would then place the Victor lamp back on the original Ford mounting bracket and replace the original wire hoop retaining ring. It was that easy. The lamp's design closely resembled the tail lamp being used by Chevrolet in '26-'30.
When it came to mounting the stop lamp switch, all you needed to do was to remove the top left and bottom left transmission inspection plate mounting screws, align the holes in the switch bracket arms over the holes in the transmission cover, and replace the screws. The top switch arm held the "push" type switch in line with the outer end of the foot brake shaft. The only other task was to install the wiring.
I'm very partial to this switch mainly because it does not require drilling any holes.
Mark, While not as plentiful as original equipment 26-27 taillights, They were a Ford accessory, just like Ford snubbers, windwings, and vacuum wipers, to name a few. I have seen a lot more cars with them and a lot more of the stoplights for sale on Ebay, than I have seen cars with Ford vacuum wipers or snubbers, so while rare, I think Ford sold enough of them to be more plentiful than some of the other accessories they offered. The suggested retail price in 1926, of the following Ford authorized accessories were: vacuum wiper motor including arm and blade - $3.50; Gipsy curtains - $ 3.00 / pair ; Windwings - $6.50 / Pair ; top boot cover - $5.00 ; bumpers (front OR rear) with mounting brackets - $15.00 ; wire wheels (until they became standard) $35.00 / set of five ; inside rear view mirror $.75 ; manual windshield wiper $.50 ; dash light $.60 ; stoplight with bendix cover mounted switch $2.50. These prices all quoted from the 1926 Fordex sales book. The dashlight, manual wiper, and inside rear view mirror were standard equipment on enclosed cars but were offered through dealer parts departments because many owners installed them on pre-26 models.
I did not say they were not a Ford accessory, I stated they were not carried over in the 1928 Model T parts catalog.
I agree that the oval shaped one was more then likely Victor.
I stand corrected, I found it listed under Ford specialties.
Mark, I did not mean to infer that you said the stoplights were not Ford accessories. I realize that you said that they weren't carried over in the 1928 Model T parts catalog, which wouldn't surprise me if that were so. I guess I should have stated my first sentence differently so it wouldn't have appeared that I differed with your statement.
That is Ok because it made me look at the parts book again. It is good to learn something new and just as good to fess up (me) when we miss something. Thank you
According to Bruce McCalley's black book, the light came out rather late for a lot of them to have been required or produced.
MARCH 3, 1926 Letter to dealers from Fargo branch
"We have added a new accessory to our line which is the Combination Stop and Tail Lamp Assembly, and believe us, "IT’S A DANDY." A sample lamp is being forwarded for your inspection.
"Careful consideration has been given to the appearance and durability of this Lamp and the Bracket included in this assembly is constructed of a heavier material than the standard bracket in order to carry the increased weight.
"We want to draw your attention particularly to the type of switch used in conjunction with this Ford stop lamp. It is very simple in construction and very easily attached by clamping to the bendix cover and tightening one screw. A rod inserted in the switch is actuated by the lateral cam action of the brake pedal, this obviating the necessity of using clamps, pull wires, etc., which are a constant source of annoyance and trouble when used.
"The price of the assembly is $2.50, subject to the usual 40% discount."
The light also had Hupmobile and a few other names available.
The early 1928 Stop/Tail light is about a half inch smaller and the bezel covers the while side area. It is not the same, but it is a lot cheaper and reproduced.
After I got off the computer last night I got to thinking about whether it was continued with a Model T parts number of Model A parts number (there are a few). The 28 parts book does list it with a T parts number for the lamp and switch at $2.00.
How many barn finds today even have a brake light, let alone a 26-27 large lamp? I will still contend that they are scarce, ok a little more common then hens teeth, and is why a true and proper brake/tail light gets such a high price.
A friend has a 26 coupe, this is one of the back burner items I am looking for.
Those '26-'27 Ford stop lamps were sold in pretty good quantity, they come up for sale often. Swap meets are good places.
The demand on eBay is high, so prices there are tops, easy to search eBay with 'automated notices' when you request one by simple key stroke. Sure beats covering the nation at every garage sale or swap meet