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Old 10-14-2020, 09:24 AM   #1
RalphG
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Default 1939 Sealed Beams

My 39 Deluxe has had sealed beam conversion headlights for longer than I have known it. No idea on their origin but it was interesting to find them in a 1952-53 Eatons mail order catalogue. For 37 to 39 Fords you could buy both sealed beam units at $12.25 for the pair.
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Old 10-14-2020, 06:30 PM   #2
Randy in ca
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Default Re: 1939 Sealed Beams

Ralph, curious to know the details, price, etc. for the headlights shown as #3, whose description got cut off on your scan. They appear to be Guide or B-L-C model 904-a which are kind of collectable today and curious what they sold for then.

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Old 10-14-2020, 07:54 PM   #3
RalphG
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Default Re: 1939 Sealed Beams

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Originally Posted by Randy in ca View Post
Ralph, curious to know the details, price, etc. for the headlights shown as #3, whose description got cut off on your scan. They appear to be Guide or B-L-C model 904-a which are kind of collectable today and curious what they sold for then.
Looks like $12.95. I downsized the page a little to see if it will post here and still be readable.
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Old 10-14-2020, 08:19 PM   #4
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Default Re: 1939 Sealed Beams

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Looks like $12.95. I downsized the page a little to see if it will post here and still be readable.



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Old 10-14-2020, 09:13 PM   #5
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Default Re: 1939 Sealed Beams

Thanks
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Old 10-19-2020, 01:11 AM   #6
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Default Re: 1939 Sealed Beams

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Arrow and electroline where 2 companies that made the 40 style bezel kits.
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Old 10-19-2020, 08:38 AM   #7
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Default Re: 1939 Sealed Beams

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Arrow and electroline where 2 companies that made the 40 style bezel kits.
And they must have sold millions of them! A large number of 37-38-39 Fords have them! They are ugly by my standards, but at the time I'm sure everyone thought they were a modern looking upgrade.
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Old 10-19-2020, 11:09 AM   #8
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Default Re: 1939 Sealed Beams

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And they must have sold millions of them! A large number of 37-38-39 Fords have them! They are ugly by my standards, but at the time I'm sure everyone thought they were a modern looking upgrade.
I always liked the appearance of the sealed beam conversions better than the original Ford lights. I think I have enough parts to convert my 39 back to original style but not likely to do it.
Old pic from 2014 when the 39 was still mobile and the Merc was still waiting. 39 needs a new coil now.
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Old 10-19-2020, 11:28 AM   #9
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Default Re: 1939 Sealed Beams

Ralph, I agree there are not as bad on the 39 to me, as they give it a 40 std look. It is really the 37 and 38s that I don't like them on.
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Old 10-19-2020, 12:05 PM   #10
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Default Re: 1939 Sealed Beams

Ralph, here's pic of my sister ship with 6 volt sealed beams, and using the original lens and trim ring.



Jerry, we wrote about this in an earlier post. I did this in 1996 and for the life of me, I can't remember where I got the conversion kit. We also discussed whether of not the original lens would distort the beam and my experience was it didn't.


IMG_0057 (2017_08_05 19_29_50 UTC).jpg
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Old 10-19-2020, 01:41 PM   #11
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Default Re: 1939 Sealed Beams

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I always liked the appearance of the sealed beam conversions better than the original Ford lights. I think I have enough parts to convert my 39 back to original style but not likely to do it.
Old pic from 2014 when the 39 was still mobile and the Merc was still waiting. 39 needs a new coil now.
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Old 10-19-2020, 01:41 PM   #12
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Default Re: 1939 Sealed Beams

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Ralph, here's pic of my sister ship with 6 volt sealed beams, and using the original lens and trim ring.Attachment 445100
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Old 10-19-2020, 01:53 PM   #13
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Default Re: 1939 Sealed Beams

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Ralph, here's pic of my sister ship with 6 volt sealed beams, and using the original lens and trim ring.
I like that original look too. I'm guessing mine was upgraded in the 1940s probably with the intention of seeing better at night. I don't know but just assume the sealed beams give brighter light than the original bulbs.
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Old 10-19-2020, 02:03 PM   #14
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Default Re: 1939 Sealed Beams

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I like that original look too. I'm guessing mine was upgraded in the 1940s probably with the intention of seeing better at night. I don't know but just assume the sealed beams give brighter light than the original bulbs.
That and the "look", it made an older car look newer in the eyes of the beholders. Don't think many people were interested in keeping them original.
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Old 10-19-2020, 09:04 PM   #15
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Default Re: 1939 Sealed Beams

mopar went to sealed beams late 39 cars, early had bulbs..yikes ..ford about the same time ?
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Old 10-19-2020, 09:23 PM   #16
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Default Re: 1939 Sealed Beams

Our 37 had a set of the Electroline sealed beam conversions on it when my brother bought it in 1964. They seemed to be aimed too high and could not be adjusted down enough. Maybe they were trying to tell us to lower the front end to get the headlights down? I am with Jseery on this topic, I prefer the look of the original lenses on the cars.
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Old 10-20-2020, 04:52 PM   #17
TonyM
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Default Re: 1939 Sealed Beams

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Originally Posted by JSeery View Post
And they must have sold millions of them! A large number of 37-38-39 Fords have them! They are ugly by my standards, but at the time I'm sure everyone thought they were a modern looking upgrade.

Yes, ugly as all hell.

Literally the first non original/non stock parts that I removed from my 1937 Ford when I got it home were those ugly sealed beams.

I am restoring the original buckets (altered during the conversion) this winter and re installing them.
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Old 10-20-2020, 05:26 PM   #18
petehoovie
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Default Re: 1939 Sealed Beams

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Yes, ugly as all hell.

Literally the first non original/non stock parts that I removed from my 1937 Ford when I got it home were those ugly sealed beams.

I am restoring the original buckets (altered during the conversion) this winter and re installing them.
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"Silver rings, your butt! Them's washers!"
"We shot our way out of that town for a dollar's worth of steel holes!" - from 'The Wild Bunch' - 1969

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NReUd2_0u0
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