MTFCA Forum

When I got Lizzie as an older restoration almost eight years ago, the headlamps were mounted with the catches inboard, which allowed the lamp doors to swing outward and touch the fenders. I never gave it much thought, other than the rims and lenses could hit the fenders, so I’ve been careful not to ding rims or break lenses.
Today, mounting the lamps again following an engine overhaul through the winter, it occurred to me it would be better to switch their positions and have the doors swing inward. I wonder which way would be “factory original” ?? Thoughts ?

Look at some original photos of cars with Brown headlamps .
My original E&J 666 are both hinged on the left and open to the right.

: ^ )

Perhaps E&J didn’t make lamps in “pairs” ?
Mine are Jno. Brown. Friend sent me a pic of his ‘13 with E&J lamps, both hinged on the same side.

I think most acetylene headlamps in that era opened to one side or the other. Even many of the very expensive cars, all either to the right, or the left. I don't know which side was most common. Those particular model T headlamps are noteworthy as among the few to have one opening each way. Many years ago, I stood and listened to a brass lamps dealer talk at length on the subject at a swap meet I attended. He was explaining the situation to someone else, but I found his explanations very interesting.

If I can find some time to relax and enjoy the search? I may have to see if I can find which way is the more correct way? Unless someone else already knows?

Rich,

I have John Brown 16's, a left and right, and have them the way you have yours.
Works great and don't have any problem with the rim touching the radiator fins.

John Brown made their 16's in left and rights and I believe Corcoran and Victor did as well.
It seems E&J made all their Black & Brass headlamps hinged left and are as the '13 you show.
E&J owned Clasco and they also seem to be all hinged left.

Here is a period photo showing a brass era T with the headlamp hinges inboard so the rims don’t make contact with the fenders. I would say this is how they were meant to be installed. Jim Patrick

Have seen lamps in old photos mounted every which way, likely didn't matter as long as two headlamps were installed!

On the assembly line, the headlamps probably came down an angled trough to the assembly point with the hinges pointing in random direction. With time at a premium, the workers probably installed them however they ended up in their hand, especially if the hinges were all pointing in the same direction and the worker did not have time for one to arrive with the hinge pointed in the preferred direction on the constantly moving assembly line.

I now believe E and J headlamps all hinged on the same side. When I built my 1912 van I could never find a pair with hinges on alternate sides like Jno.Brown lamps, so when the fellow who restored the poorer of the two, I had him rotate the flare on the front of one lamp so the hinges were opposed. It revealed a pressing on the back of the flare, up to which the bonnet on the lamp had fitted. Now that pressing can be felt at the bottom of the lamp front on my now matched, but unmatched "pair."

Allan from down under.

It appears that Ford shipped 1913 cars and chassis with the headlamps packed separately to be installed
at the off-load/dealer location. Probably in a box of two lamps Ford received from the manufacturer.

Notice in these two different locations that the side lamps are mounted but not the acetylene
headlamps. That may explain why you will occasionally see headlamps from one manufacturer
and side lamps from another on the same car. That seemed to happen with the acetylene generators
which were also shipped with the car, but to be mounted on the car/chassis by the dealer.

A couple of photos of the off-loading railway cars with newly assembled 1913 cars and chassis.

The solution would be to move the hinge to the top and the catch to the bottom as they did on my YPC Bus lamps. It's nice to see the progress on the '13 Rich.