Headlight bulb question

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2014: Headlight bulb question
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tyrone Thomas - Topeka KS on Friday, October 03, 2014 - 06:50 pm:

I am working on an A but according to Mac's the T and the A use the same double contact head light bulb. My question is, is there a modern light bulb replacement that can be bought at any automotive supplier? If so, can you supply the bulb number please.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tim Wrenn on Friday, October 03, 2014 - 07:15 pm:

I have bought double contact 6V bulbs from O'Reilly's for the tail light on my '20 Runabout that I converted to a stop/tail lamp. Don't know the exact number, but it'll be the only one on the rack, if your store stocks them. Hope this helps.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Strange on Friday, October 03, 2014 - 07:41 pm:

Here is the headlight bulb I use on my 1924 touring / pickup:

https://www.modeltford.com/item/6572BX.aspx


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tyrone Thomas - Topeka KS on Friday, October 03, 2014 - 07:51 pm:

I recently bought 1933-38 tail/stop lights which came with 12 volt bulbs to put on my A speedster. It came with 1157 bulbs (12v). I put in 1154 bulbs (6v) and they work just fine.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Gregush Portland Oregon on Friday, October 03, 2014 - 09:48 pm:

He is asking about the head light not tail light bulbs. I don't have current bulb handy to look at number stamped on them. By the way, most modern head light bulbs will not put out a proper beam of light when installed in a Model T head light. The filaments go the wrong way. Tell them you need 32/32 or 32/50 non staggered pin double contact bulb 6 or 12 volt and maybe they can look it up.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jeff Hood on Friday, October 03, 2014 - 10:33 pm:

Short answer, No! If you are lucky enough to have a parts store that has a bulb spec book and someone who understands what you are asking for, then they could order you a box of 10, but most places now can only help you get whatever is in their computer, and a Model T isn't in there.

A round double filament tail light bulb will not give focused light. You need a headlight bulb with two filaments equal distance from the base. Originally the high beam was not any brighter than the low beam. The difference was the position of the filament and how the light beam was reflected through the lens. The High beam shown farther down the road.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tyrone Thomas - Topeka KS on Friday, October 03, 2014 - 11:02 pm:

Thank you all.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By George_Cherry Hill NJ on Saturday, October 04, 2014 - 10:18 am:

Tyrone,

The current lamp number system was actually in use long before the end of the T era. The original lamps for double filament headlamp use were number 1110.

The problem with them was that both filaments were rated 21CP and the average life was rated at 50 hours use.

They also had the 1158 lamp which was 21/3 CP but a life of 200 hours on the 21 and 1000 hours on the 3.

Today vendors have source for even more/higher candle power options...but vendors will not disclose what lamp number they actually are and lamps are simply printed in voltage and CP. The good news is that as long as you are buying something else and don't count shipping for your lamps, the vendors price is not too bad and they also will sell them in 10-paks (complete with original box).

I believe the 32/32 CP lamp sold by the vendors is really a number 1188, but have never actually checked what they sell.

But to answer your original question...if you walk into an auto store and if you can find a 6volt dual filament lamp, will it fit? The answer is yes if the base diameter is 15 mm (as opposed to 9mm).


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ken Todd on Sunday, October 05, 2014 - 11:28 am:

From google, here's a bit more info on bulb #1188

http://www.donsbulbs.com/cgi-bin/r/b.pl/1188~candlepower-incorporated.html


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Terry Woods, Richmond, Texas on Sunday, October 05, 2014 - 12:24 pm:

6 and 12 volt halogen headlight bulbs are available from Bill and Eric Hirsch, (800)828-2061 or HirschAuto@aol.comThey claim to put out twice the light of stock bulbs and fit the original sockets perfectly.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John F. Regan on Sunday, October 05, 2014 - 08:31 pm:

Beware the claims of Halogen bulbs. Those that are twice as bright have twice the candle power and likely twice the operate current which your T cannot handle with its generator. For a long time Halogens were touted as being energy efficient but since they used the exact same filament as the bulb they replaced I never could see how that was possible and later discovered it wasn't. Haolgen fixtures don't carry the "energy star" label. Halogen bulbs are excellent technology but it is wasted on an antique car since the main claim of halogens is that they maintain "uniform" briteness till end of life while regular bulbs typically lose 10% of their briteness before end-of-life. Since rarely do antique cars get driven enough at night to even notice this 10% dimming, the hype was simply that - hype. Since regular bulbs are so cheap compared to halogen, why not just replace the bulbs every 5 or 10 years and pocket the halogen money. Just remember that your T generator is a 100 watt device and super bright halogens will pull your battery down most likely since it often is an apples and oranges comparison when comparing halogen briteness to regular bulb briteness. If you want brighter headlights, consider having the reflectors resilvered. That makes a very large difference and no additional battery load. Chrome is not the same as resilvering and in fact is illegal in some states.

Just my .02 and your mileage may vary.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Terry Woods, Richmond, Texas on Sunday, October 05, 2014 - 09:06 pm:

Good points, John, but for those of us who have converted to 12 volt starters and alternators, I don't anticipate any problem with halogens. If I do, I have a set of headlights that are converted to sealed beams.


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