Glass Headlight Reflectors

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Original Smith
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Glass Headlight Reflectors

Post by Original Smith » Sun Feb 08, 2026 3:14 pm

I have two glass spare headlight reflectors. They are both the same diameter, but one is thicker and heavier than the other. Since the headlights are John Brown, I would assume the lighter one would be what was used. I'm not willing to remove the reflectors from either one of my '13s to find out!


Rich P. Bingham
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Location: Blackfoot, Idaho
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Re: Glass Headlight Reflectors

Post by Rich P. Bingham » Sun Feb 08, 2026 4:03 pm

“Just because” - although I will never drive my T at night, it bothers my “brass snob purist” point of view that my Jno. Brown headlamps have metal repro reflectors. I honestly haven’t looked very hard to find a pair of glass ones. I did find a pair, but they are the wrong diameter . . .
Get a horse !


Allan
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Re: Glass Headlight Reflectors

Post by Allan » Sun Feb 08, 2026 5:26 pm

Different thicknesses may mean different curvature of the lens. This makes focusing the lights different. My E and J headlights have this problem. It just means one burner is set further in advance of the other in the adjustment slots in the base. When you look square on at them in day light, the dark circle seen in the reflectors is larger on one than the other. No big deal.

Allan from down under.


Rich P. Bingham
Posts: 1805
Joined: Sun Feb 13, 2022 11:24 am
First Name: Rich
Last Name: Bingham
Location: Blackfoot, Idaho
Board Member Since: 2015

Re: Glass Headlight Reflectors

Post by Rich P. Bingham » Sun Feb 08, 2026 9:21 pm

The big deal is finding some, Allan. :(
Get a horse !


Topic author
Original Smith
Posts: 3940
Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2019 10:43 am
First Name: Larry
Last Name: Smith
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 13 Touring, 13 Roadster, 17 Coupelet, 25 Roadster P/U
Location: Lomita, California
MTFCA Life Member: YES

Re: Glass Headlight Reflectors

Post by Original Smith » Wed Feb 11, 2026 12:39 pm

I'm trying to help a friend who needs one.


Allan
Posts: 7241
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 7:21 pm
First Name: Allan
Last Name: Bennett
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1912 van, 1917 shooting brake, 1929 roadster buckboard, 1924 tourer, 1925 barn find buckboard, 1925 D &F wide body roadster, 1927LHD Tudor sedan.
Location: Gawler, Australia

Re: Glass Headlight Reflectors

Post by Allan » Wed Feb 11, 2026 5:34 pm

I hear you Rich. I gave up trying to get a perfectly matched pair.

Allan from down under.

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