Technical 1962 Cadillac Electronic Eye

What was this thing used for? Reminds me of the aliens from War of Worlds with Tom Cruise.

 

I got one somewhere

think it dimmed the headlights

 

Yeah, auto-dimmer.
Went looking for confirmation and of course, it's HERE!
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...autronic-eye-guide-matic-lots-of-pics.580437/

 

well, it tried to dim the headlights, but usually didn't work. But it does look neat.

 

Far out!

 

My uncle's '63 Sedan de Ville had it. You could adjust its sensitivity, and my cousin and I would turn it all the way up and laugh as it dimmed the headlights for every streetlight you drove under.

 

Dad had one on a 59 olds, he said it didn’t work right

 

These never did work very well, with one of their main shortcomings being unable to tell the difference between oncoming cars and 'other' light sources. Bill Lear (the inventor of the 8-track tape cartridge and the Lear jet a**** other things) figured out how to correct that. He invented (and patented) a circuit that could distinguish the difference between AC light sources and DC light sources by 'looking' for the 60 cycle 'flicker' in AC sources. When he approached Detroit with his improved design, none of the manufacturers were willing to pay his licensing fees for his patent and it was never installed as OEM. But even this design had flaws; when first designed, nearly all outside lighting was still based on incandescent lamps. But once newer lighting types came on line (mercury vapor, then metal halide, then sodium vapor), these didn't display the 'flicker' anymore and his design worked pretty much the same as the original idea.

 

Thanks for the link. Very tech heavy. Seems lots of interest at the time to restore them. Can’t believe this tech goes back that far. Had no idea. Thought my new to me 2020 Lexus was neat having that same feature. It also gets tripped up on reflections and other things 70 yrs later. lol!

 

Damm, I am OLD. I knew without even thinking!

Ben

 

I believe it is called an autotronic eye.

 

$53.65 option on Cadillac and Oldsmobile according to Automotive News. Fairly expensive in the day.
Dan

 

That would make a pretty cool third brake light. With modifications, of course!
Or a LED reminder for the idiot behind you who insists on keeping HIS headlights on high and filling your rear view mirror. Raised pickups included.
Reminds me of an OT Mini Cooper I saw that had an aircraft landing light in the rear window

 

I helped with a ‘55 Lincoln Premier convertible restoration years ago. It had a similar dimmer, not sure how early these were offered…?

 

I believe the GM autronic eye was first available in 1952 from the Automotive News article, not sure about other Manufacturers.
Dan

 

To make the autronic eye work there is a small control box missing and a special headlight switch.