MTFCA Forum

Here are a couple of attic finds in an old garage on the farm. I tried to research online and found out some things but the wealth of knowledge on the forum is broader. One Edmund & Jones which I believe to be a taillight with a clear lense to light the license plate and a red light for a taillight. It has Ford logo on the side opposite the clear lense with an O or G after it. Also hard to read is the Pat dates stamped on the bottom of the bowl ?-26-14 and ?-28-14. Nice brand new wick to go with it.
Second is a Jno W Brown model 540 written on top of the chimney. A single red lense and 5 Patent dates stamped on the bottom of the bowl probably two from -14, two from- 15 and possibly one -16. Jno W Brown chimney has an upper and lower row of holes whereas the Edmund &Jones has only one row near the top of the chimney. Jno W Brown bowl has a deeper concave indentation on the bottom of the bowl where the patent dates are stamped than the Edmund & Jones bowl.
The Jno W Brown has a partial bracket attached and looks like it might have been part of a larger piece, and not looking very Ford-like.
Questions are 1. Would either or both been on a 1926 TT? 2. If one is a sidelight, should there be a matching sidelight to go on the opposite side? 3. Where would they have been placed? 4. If not on a 1926 TT what might have been the machine where these would be found? Thank-you for your attention and expertise.

The sidelamp with the single clear lens and the "ball" shaped inside appears to be a late '15/'16 though maybe as late as '18 or even maybe '19 (still debated?). Notice the row of small holes (punched) around the base of the chimney. Those holes were eliminated probably in 1917, the "ball" inside MAY have been used a bit longer (that is still debated). It is attached to what was a firewall bracket. Anybody's guess as to why.
The tail-lamp ("square" inside) appears to be a "Ford O" which was used only on "non-electric" (no starter, no generator or battery) Ts 1925 through '27. There is some interesting history behind the use of "Ford O" tail-lamps. Although MOST model Ts did NOT use an oil tail-lamp in those years, the lamps are fairly common, and other than the curiosity factor, not very desirable. Even I have one sitting on a shelf nearly new-old-stock.

Wayne, my guess for the firewall bracket on the tail light is it was used to mount the light under the tray of a wooden pickup box.
It would be interesting to know if that divers helmet round reflector is brass. Many were, and were nickel plated over the mill finish of the brass.

Allan from down under.

Allan, I agree on both points. Most likely a convenient piece to mount the lamp with.
I have several (6 to 8?) of those "diver helmet" side and/or tail lamps. Only two have the brass inner piece.

Agree with Allan. The ‘Ford O’ (lamp on the right 1st and 2nd picture) was non electric commercial and fit on a somewhat rare “butcher knife” bracket. The mounting bolt on the lamp side won’t fit any T bracket except the butcher knife bracket. So the little red lens will act as a tail light and the large clear lens illumines the license plate....Non electric T cars had the mounting bolt on the rear of the lamp with large red lens a tail light and small clear lens illuminating license plate ....