Headlight Reflectors

[Dick Deegan]

Good Morning All;

I have single bulb reflectors on my '30 Coupe. I am not able to focus the driver's side. This may sound like a dumb question, but is there a top and bottom to the reflector for mounting, or can it be mounted either way?

Thanks

Dick

[Jim/GA]

Yes, there is a TOP on original reflectors and Bratton's new and improved reproductions. (You don't say if you have original or reproductions.) I have been told that Walt marks his tops; I'm pretty sure the originals did not. (If they did, the mark was worn off on all the originals I have seen.)

On originals, from my experience, when looking inside the reflector from in front of the car, you want the slot that the bulb holder slides in to be on the right side of the hole. Others can correct me if I have that wrong.

Many repro reflectors will not focus,

HTH.

[jrelliott]

AZ Model A parts have 6V and 12V 32-50 cp bulbs that do focus correctly or I have been lucky and got them to focus. As others have said the high beam filament is the one directly in the center of the bulb and the low beam filament is offset. The low beam filament goes on the top when mounted correctly

[jrelliott]

1930 Coupe, went out to garage and found an original head light bulb and you are correct, both filaments are offset. It is a 32/32 cp bulb. I stand correctd.

[Jim/GA]

Originally Posted by jrelliott

1930 Coupe, went out to garage and found an original head light bulb and you are correct, both filaments are offset. It is a 32/32 cp bulb. I stand correctd.

That, combined with the way the bulb socket center is placed slightly above the center axis of an original reflector, puts one filament exactly at the center of the reflector for High Beam and one filament slightly above the reflector axis for Low Beam (shines the beam down).

And since both filaments are 32 cp, it does not really matter which way you install the bulb. They are both the same, so one will be in the center and one will be above center. Very clever, Mr. Ford!

[Dick Deegan]

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Thanks all for responding to my question. I am not sure if my reflectors are original or repros. I would strongly suspect repros, but I am not sure how to tell the difference. I will follow Jim's advice and see if the driver's side is mounted correctly and check the bulbs wearing a welding helmet. All good advice.

Thanks again

Dick

[Jim/GA]

Originally Posted by Dick Deegan

Thanks all for responding to my question. I am not sure if my reflectors are original or repros. I would strongly suspect repros, but I am not sure how to tell the difference. I will follow Jim's advice and see if the driver's side is mounted correctly and check the bulbs wearing a welding helmet. All good advice.

Thanks again

Dick

If you lay a reflector face down on a table top and measure the height:

The originals are 9-1/16" tall, not counting the part you put the bulb holder into. You could also call this the depth of the bowl.

The reproduction reflectors are slightly shorter than originals. See Marco's page for a picture (side view):
http://www.abarnyard.com/workshop/lamp_focus-2.htm

It looks like about 1/2" shorter to me.

[Dick Deegan]

Thanks Jim - I will check.

Dick