Running Board Spotlights

[Stretch Cab]

Forty years ago this week my mother gave my dad a 1931 deluxe roadster for his birthday. She bought the car from Rick Carrol a well known collector at that time. Rick also had a 31 2 door phaeton that had twin spotlights mounted on stanchions to the running boards and as I remember to the body itself. My mother could have bought the phaeton but chose the roadster since that was what my dad had wanted for a long time. Have any of you ever seen these type of lights, or better yet, this car? It made a memory in my mind as a 13 year old. Dad turned 80 this week and I am the proud owner of his roadster. Just wish mom would have bought the phaeton instead! :+)

 

[Jim Parker Toronto]

Never heard or seen any lights like those you described.

 

[Bob A.]

Yes I did see those lights once at a car show but it was on one of those high end cars.
Speaking of odd lights I have this one. can anyone ID it.I picked it up at Hershey.

 

[Bruce]

I have one like that that is in excellent condition. Unfortunately, I do not have the bracket. Do you think it mounted to the windshield stantion?

 

[dan]

Bob, is that a mirror on the backs of those or am I crazy? It seems like it would be awkward to have your mirrors affixed to the back of the spotlights--after every time you used them as spots you'd have to readjust them. But maybe there's some advantage to an all-in-one system that I'm not seeing...

 

[Bob A.]

Yes Dan it is a mirror and it is fixed to the back. The mirror does not swivel. I don't think this is a spot light because of the bulb size. Maybe a cowl type light.

 

[dan]

Bob,

Wouldn't cowl lights have a different mount? Can you tell what the mounting brackets on the ends of the arms fit? They look like square clamps... I'm having fun theorizing about where these might mount and how handy the mirrors might have been. If they were cowl lights, that would put the mirrors near where the mirrors that go on top of side-mount spares sit, I'd guess. But it still leaves me wondering about adjusting the mirrors and lights simultaneously.

Anyway, whatever they are they're a pretty nifty find

Dan

 

[FL&WVMIKE]

STRETCH CAB . . . . . . . . . . . .
I think that I have seen those lights on firetrucks. Whoever put them on a FORD, was just "gilding the lilly".
MIKE

 

[HoarseWhisperer]

Have not heard of "running board" Spotlights. I am under the impression that "Ford Authorized" Sportlites were offered by Unity Mfg, one style for 28/29, another style for 30/31. Some tags had Model J, some without a Model designation. Different stanchion mounting brackets for closed car (inside & outside), and just an outside bracket for open cars using the existing stanchion screws.

 

[Bob A.]

Dan,they clamp on a door edge