MTFCA Forum

I got this tail light from a box of miscellaneous parts from the major donor to my Model T project. I’m guessing there is a clear lens that goes here. Any input? I’m planning to use this as a brake light (perhaps LED) as I have an oil lamp as my tail light.

it is just a clear plastic lens that fits inside. It is available from the vendors

Or just make your own clear lens for the license plate illumination.

A clear plastic bottle has just the right curve on the sides, a sharp pair of scissors, and quickly you have a slip in lens. The curve plastic trimmed to length to fit the tabs in the cup. Trim length just right and the tension holds your new replacement lens just like factory.

If you are planning on using this one as a brake light, then you should block this window with metal or if you use a lens, paint it black. The side facing window is intended to provide constant light for your license plate from the tail light. If you leave it clear, you will get a bright light shining wherever you point the window every time that you apply the brakes. At best, it will look weird, or worse, confusing or distracting to the driver behind you. The vendors sell a version of this light without the side window that is more appropriate for brake lights.

Keep crankin’
Eric

I recently adapted a couple of similar lights I intend to use for brake/tail lights. I filled the side openings with pieces of can and covered them with body solder. I haven't done enough of that kind of work to be good at it, but I think they turned out OK for a first attempt.

I use a pair of them for brake and tail lights. Your US lights make a matching pair with our RHD lights. Dan's side window treatment is the easy answer to filling the number plate hole. Leaving it clear is of no real consequence. To use them as brake and tail lights, you need to fit a pair of double contact headlight sockets. The white paint in the interior makes them much more visible through the typically dark original lenses.

Allan from down under.

As Allan posted, using the clear plastic fabricated lens for the opening. When you spray paint the inside of the lamp housing white for best illumination, that blanks out and makes the clear opaque, so no wrecking a good rear lamp for the purpose of making a stop lamp!

...no wrecking a good rear lamp for the purpose of making a stop lamp!

No wrecking involved. Solder melts. The patch can be removed easily enough.

I appreciate the replies, thank you.

Interesting approach Steve. Perhaps I’ll try the same.