1931 headlight glass style

A

aviator37

Junior Member
Howdy, My 1931 model a has two different glass styles in it's headlights. Can someone post a picture of what is correct for 1931? Thanks
 
Photos of the original headlight lenses on my 1931, 160B.
 

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160B said:
Photos of the original headlight lenses on my 1931, 160B.
Click to expand...

It must be a trick of the camera, but the driver's side lens looks like it has the "FORD" script on the inside of the lens.:confused:

Actually it also looks like the smooth side of the lens if on the inside.:confused:
 
"Beginning in February 1929 to the end of production, the
head lamps had "TWOLITE" lenses. Check to see that
the "TWOLITE" design head lamp lenses match. There
were two types, one with an oval around the Ford script ~
as a series of dots, the other as a solid line."
 
1930-Pickup said:
Are the same lenses reproduced now, and can you tell the difference between the originals and the repops?
Click to expand...

I can speak to the style of lenses on my vehicle, 30 and 31.

The originals lenses had script "FORD", not "FURD", in a oval near the bottom of the lenses. The oval was a series of dots or a solid line.

The original lenses had "TOP" in the center flute of the top row of flutes.

The original lenses had a pattern mark, a number, in the center flute of the 2nd row.

The reproductions the O in FORD is open at the top a "U" and they do not have the pattern number.

hope this helps.
 
160B said:
I can speak to the style of lenses on my vehicle, 30 and 31.

The originals lenses had script "FORD", not "FURD", in a oval near the bottom of the lenses. The oval was a series of dots or a solid line.
This is an INCORRECT assumption that dates back to the early MARC/MAFCA judging falsely disqualifying most lenses made by Smith glass co. for Ford during A production. Both closed "O" and open "O" (seen as "U") are found in the oval logos of original lenses produced by both McKee and Smith. The great majority of original McKee 'A' lenses show "O" in both fluted and 'Twolite' forms, but over half of the McKee production for the electrified Model T's show "U" in the oval. Many original Smith lenses in 'T' size show a closed "O", but almost all show "U" in 'A' forms, both fluted "H" and Twolite. Since the vast majority of Smith's 'Twolite' back molds did not bear die numbers, originally thought to be necessary indicators of original for judging, the false conclusion followed that an open "O" indicated a reproduction lens.

The original lenses had "TOP" in the center flute of the top row of flutes.
Correct

 The original lenses had a pattern mark, a number, in the center flute of the 2nd row.
Not an definitive indicator, read the above. Additionally, the practice of placing lenses with matching back mold numbers on a car is really counterproductive to restoring a vehicle to 'showroom' status. The lenses were produced by six or more hand operated flat glass presses simultaneously adjacent to each of many glass furnaces and then fed randomly to annealing ovens, cooled, and racked for transport to Ford assembly. The probability of a vehicle showing on the floor with ANY back mold numbers was only 70%, based on Smith/McKee production, and less than 5% based on the number of back-molds that were routinely rotated from maintenance/repair to floor production at a glass plant.

The reproductions the O in FORD is open at the top a "U" and they do not have the pattern number.
There were several reproduction sources over the years. I have reproduction 'Twolite' lenses made in South America, Japan, and the US. Many had a closed "O", but again, "O" or "U" does not define or identify original lenses from repops.... And again, Back mold numbers did not appear on all original lenses, so not an originality indicator.

hope this helps.
Click to expand...

Please do not buy into the FORD/FURD thing or lack of back mold numbers as originality indicators.

MikeK
 
Howdy MikeK.

One of my lenses appears to be an original...or a very good reproduction. Mine says "twolite headlamp" across the bottom under the Ford logo. My logo seems solid and the "o" is an "o". Should I order a reproduction or is new/old stock still available? Perhaps you have one laying around you might like to sell. I have a place in San Dimas CA called Early Ford Store. I used to live over there. I will call them to try to find an old one. they are at http://earlyfordstore.com/
 
MikeK

Thank you for sharing.

When will the 80 page book covering Ford lens history be available?
 
aviator37 said:
Howdy MikeK.
One of my lenses appears to be an original...or a very good reproduction. Mine says "twolite headlamp" across the bottom under the Ford logo. My logo seems solid and the "o" is an "o". Should I order a reproduction or is new/old stock still available? Perhaps you have one laying around you might like to sell. I have a place in San Dimas CA called Early Ford Store. I used to live over there. I will call them to try to find an old one. they are at http://earlyfordstore.com/
Click to expand...
Aviator 37, There are still plenty of original Twolite lenses in good used condition. You see them at swaps and online, like the "Swap Meet" section of this forum and eBay. The easiest indicator of original is either L.E.S. or McK lettering on the glass edge somewhere between 3 & 6 O'clock. The joint MARC/MAFCA judging standards will show you the oval as being smooth or textured and what is correct for the exact date of your vehicle. Expect to pay $10 to $25 for an original Twolite lens depending on condition.
160B said:
MikeK
Thank you for sharing.
When will the 80 page book covering Ford lens history be available?
Click to expand...
Hopefully late this year. The first printer backed out and left me hanging. Now looking at reducing format size and length to keep costs within reason.
 
Hello MikeK

It says McK right where you said it would be. Now I will look for another one. Thanks for your help!

Regards
 
MikeK said:
Aviator 37, There are still plenty of original Twolite lenses in good used condition..............Expect to pay $10 to $25 for an original Twolite lens depending on condition.

Bought six sets of lenses at an estate sale two years ago, paid $5 for the whole box. 12 lenses 50 cents apiece. Nobody wanted them. This was at a sale with three hayracks full of Model A and Model T parts. One set were '28's , the fluted lenses.

They are out there and not for a lot of money..........with 5 million Model A's produced that means well over 10 million lenses were made.
Click to expand...
 
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