Repro Headlight Sockets

[joeypoconos]

Found this vendor on eBay selling 1928-29 and 1930-31 3-bulb headlight socket sets. Has anyone on the forum purchased/installed them? If so, how do they compare to Snyder's, MAC's, Brattons, etc.

Here's the link:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ford-Model-A...r#ht_781wt_683

I have absolutely no affiliation with this vendor, just trying to determine if the sockets are any good or not.

[Bob C]

The package says manufactured by Vintique so you can pretty well be assured they are JUNK.

Bob

[d.j. moordigian]

Bob,

That was my first impression....but they do look nice..

[Bob C]

Yes they do look nice but don't think anybody makes ones that work right.

Bob

[Steve Plucker]

Has anyone had any luck at all with the repop light sockets?

Pluck

[dumb person]

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i used some but put that heat shrink stuff over the springy bits so they would be less likely to short out, just leaving the contacts ends exposed.

[Barry B./ Ma.]

Contact pins are too sloppy in the guides allowng the contact ends to rub together, originals are a much closer fit. I ground down the contact ends making them less likely to touch each other. No problem since.

[Aerocraft]

I gave up on the repo sockets twenty years ago. Terry Oberer suggested that I find originals at swap meets and rewire them. Of course it is difficult to now find the original sockets but worth the effort. Stuff is still out there. If you do use the repo sockets, be sure you have the "blunt" ends on the wire harness vs. the "bullet" ends which cause the socket connections to short out.

Here is a picture of the correct headlight wire ends. Gar Williams

HEADLIGHT WIRE BRASS TERMINAL ENDSFor Year(s): 28-31



This is the original blunt terminal ends on the main wire harness that matches with the head light wire socket, which is located in the wire plug (20810). Six terminals per set. To install drip solder into the terminal then push the copper wire into the solder.

Part #20421 HEADLIGHT WIRE BRASS TE... $ 2.15

[ericr]

-plus the metal of the socket itself is too thin, the locking tabs don't stick out far enough and are not springy, etc. I don't think the original system is as poorly designed as some people claim but it required more precision than what we get from repro parts. Also I'd be curious to know if the same design was used after '32.

[Marco Tahtaras]

Originally Posted by Aerocraft

I gave up on the repo sockets twenty years ago. Terry Oberer suggested that I find originals at swap meets and rewire them. Of course it is difficult to now find the original sockets but worth the effort. Stuff is still out there. If you do use the repo sockets, be sure you have the "blunt" ends on the wire harness vs. the "bullet" ends which cause the socket connections to short out.

Here is a picture of the correct headlight wire ends. Gar Williams

HEADLIGHT WIRE BRASS TERMINAL ENDSFor Year(s): 28-31

Those aren't like anything used originally but should work fine with the mid-'30 through '31 type rubber plug as long as these terminals measure 3/8" long. They certainly won't work with original '28-early '29 Ford "H" headlamp plugs.

[d.j. moordigian]

Marco,

You have any photos of the early 28 sockets/ends/plugs/wiring and such you
could post? Just trying to get my Ducks lined up.

Thanks

[larrys40]

I'll 2nd Gar's comments about Terry finding/using originals and rewiring. Thanks to our swap meet efforts have an ample supply. They are still out there, just dig in the boxes. you won't find them on top of the tables!! If you don't find any at hershey I already got them!!! I rewire and hardwire in with some nice bullet connectors with the male on the harnes end and females on the socket end. ensure that the reflector/spring/focus screw is all good. Use resilvered originals as opposed to repro junk on the reflectors if possible.

Larry S

[d.j. moordigian]

Thanks Vince,

I have the 1928 H and see the difference between the 28 and 30-31 bulb socket
end. I cant tell the difference between original and "old repop", the contact pin
sizes are different, one is about .150", the other is about .200". Also one is
marked " had", I think.

Thanks again Vince & Marco..