Go Back   The Ford Barn > General Discussion > Model A (1928-31)

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 05-21-2016, 09:46 PM   #1
Quigley1930
Senior Member
 
Quigley1930's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Middleburg, Virginia
Posts: 421
Default headlight bulb

Switching back to stock headlights with 50/32 bulbs. Is the center filament low beam and the top one high and I assume it wants to be up. Hope this is correct.

Sewall
Quigley1930 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-21-2016, 10:30 PM   #2
Tom Wesenberg
Senior Member
 
Tom Wesenberg's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Mpls, MN
Posts: 27,582
Default Re: headlight bulb

The top filament is low beam. The higher the filament, the lower the beam will be reflected to the ground.
Tom Wesenberg is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 05-21-2016, 10:33 PM   #3
Mike V. Florida
Senior Member
 
Mike V. Florida's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: South Florida
Posts: 14,054
Send a message via AIM to Mike V. Florida
Default Re: headlight bulb

Picture;
Attached Images
File Type: jpg bulb alignment.jpg (8.4 KB, 38 views)
__________________
What's right about America is that although we have a mess of problems, we have great capacity - intellect and resources - to do some thing about them. - Henry Ford II
Mike V. Florida is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-21-2016, 10:37 PM   #4
dennis lumbert
Senior Member
 
dennis lumbert's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: central Arkansas
Posts: 150
Default Re: headlight bulb

The lower filament is the high beam and the upper filament is the low beam.
dennis lumbert is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-22-2016, 10:44 AM   #5
Bob Johnson
Senior Member
 
Bob Johnson's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: California
Posts: 978
Default Re: headlight bulb

Look in the March/April 2016 issue of The Restorer (Vol 60 Issue 1). There is an article that I wrote explaining the different bulb reflector combinations. If you do not have that issue let me know.

Bob
Bob Johnson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-22-2016, 10:50 AM   #6
700rpm
Senior Member
 
700rpm's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Portland, Oregon
Posts: 5,903
Default Re: headlight bulb

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Johnson View Post
Look in the March/April 2016 issue of The Restorer (Vol 60 Issue 1). There is an article that I wrote explaining the different bulb reflector combinations. If you do not have that issue let me know.

Bob
That was a very good article, Bob!
__________________
Ray Horton, Portland, OR


As you go through life, keep your eye on the donut, not the hole.
700rpm is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-22-2016, 03:36 PM   #7
Quigley1930
Senior Member
 
Quigley1930's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Middleburg, Virginia
Posts: 421
Default Re: headlight bulb

Thanks everybody.

Sewall
Quigley1930 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-22-2016, 10:17 PM   #8
Dick Steinkamp
Senior Member
 
Dick Steinkamp's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Bellingham, WA
Posts: 1,163
Default Re: headlight bulb

I don't have that issue of the Restorer and it is probably covered there, but which filament is the 50 and which is the 32? Since the bulb and socket are not "clocked" the 50 would need to end up on the bottom. Which is the 50...the straight filament or the curved one?

__________________
All steel from pedal to wheel
Dick Steinkamp is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-23-2016, 03:40 AM   #9
Tom Wesenberg
Senior Member
 
Tom Wesenberg's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Mpls, MN
Posts: 27,582
Default Re: headlight bulb

The shorter heavier filament will be the 50, and I'd guess the curved one is 50. They are very close looking in size, so to be sure I'd use an accurate ammeter and 6 volt battery to light each filament separately and see which one draws the most amps.
Tom Wesenberg is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-23-2016, 12:17 PM   #10
Bob C
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: So Cal
Posts: 8,747
Default Re: headlight bulb

I thought I read that both filaments should be V shaped for proper focusing.
See the picture of this old school 32-50 bulb, also note it is marked TOP.

Bob
Attached Images
File Type: jpg bulb.jpg (36.6 KB, 38 views)
Bob C is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-23-2016, 12:24 PM   #11
Brianfrench65
Senior Member
 
Brianfrench65's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Freetown, Massachusetts
Posts: 511
Default Re: headlight bulb

If my bulb is not marked, can I use a digital meter to determine where to mark "top" on mine?

If I can, what would be the settings I would use? What should I expect for values?

Thank You;
__________________
Brian French; 1930 Briggs Town Sedan
Brianfrench65 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:09 AM.