Factory dropped headlight bar?

[Juggler]

While borrowing a few bits from my Dad's stores to finish the 29 CCPU I came across this headlight bar.

I thought it was a stock bar heated and dropped, but the more I look at it, the more factory made it appears. The cross bar is solid not tubular. To heat it, bend it, stretch it and still maintain the orientation of the mounts would be some feat for a shade tree mechanic.

So factory made, home made or aftermarket?

Many thanks

Juggs

 

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

My vote is for Aftermarket.

 

[1931 flamingo]

Ditto or early hot rodder with patience.
Paul in CT

 

[Rock Hornbuckle]

I think it's aftermarket hotrod from the '50's.

 

[Juggler]

Thank you gentlemen for your thoughts

And thank you unknown hotrodder/speed shop from way back when

Mocked up for now, but I think it looks pretty cool

 

[jim1932]

Looks like a European Model Fourteen bar. See page 6-20 of the 1932 Ford book.

 

[Roadster62]

The oval bolt holes make me think it is a 1932 item also. I believe the BB bars were plain, unlike the stainless covered centers on the cars. The '32 bolts have the head on an angle, so fitting that bar on an A with A bolts may be a problem. I have one '32 bolt I'll photograph and post later. Bob

 

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

They're not too hard to do. In the '50's we did them on the car, by taking out the center tube & the headlights and with a long pointed aligining bar in the headlight hole, with a rosebud, heat it for the first bend at the fender & pry it down with the bar. Then heat for the second bend & pry up with the bar. Lastly, adjust the length (CUT) the center tube & weld it in. Bill W.

 

[DavidG]

North American '32 head lamp bars had tubular center sections; they were not solid. If the subject bar is of North American origin and its center section is solid, then it was substituted for the original. As noted above, the other alternative would have had European origins. While I do not know if the European Model 14 (1933-34) head lamp bar center section is solid, note how well the subject bar's curves conform to that in the photo below.

 

[jim1932]

So with the Phoenix/Bath UK location, could this have come from Europe?

 

[DavidG]

Good catch, Jim, I missed that. Going back to the starting point, the Model A in the photos is RHD. I'd say that the odds of the bar coming from a Model 14 have increased considerably.

 

[Juggler]

So with the Phoenix/Bath UK location, could this have come from Europe?

Yes sir - perhaps I should have made that clear at the outset

Apologies

 

[Mike/Nebraska]

I have a droppeed headlight bar on my roadster that has Ford stamped on it in two places. Someone id a great job of dropping it.

 

[d.j. moordigian]

Thank you gentlemen for your thoughts

And thank you unknown hotrodder/speed shop from way back when

Mocked up for now, but I think it looks pretty cool

It's just enough too look great...not at all like the "new ones"!
I think I need one now...

 

[1931 flamingo]

That "trick" probably goes back to at least the 40's. JMO
Paul in CT

 

[Juggler]

I think DavidG has it. Good spot Mr G.

I've now bolted the fenders and the bar up as a final fix and it all pulls up nicely.

Another Barner tells me that he has two sets of the Acorn headlights in David's photo above. Would be interesting to try some on for size.

While searching the net for clues I found that SoCal does a very similar looking dropped '32 bar in stainless. Can't say whether the fit would be as good.

Thanks again to everyone who posted for your comments and suggestions

Cheers

Juggs

 

[Roadster62]

Another 1932 bar feature would be the underside fender contact area. A model A is smooth, the '32 holes have a raised area around the oval bolt holes. a 1933-34 Pick up headlight bat has a bend in the center to clear the grille, and the headlight mount holes are much larger than A & '32. Bob