Copper headlight ID

Got these two in a parts deal some time ago.

Copper headlight buckets, painted black with a mount on top for a round turnsignal.

The mount on the bottom looks a lot like the guide lights I've got.

The lens ring is chrome and the pull together type (nut and bolt)

The buckets are in perfect condition, but I don't have the turnsignals.. Anyone have any idea what make/model these are? or even better where I could find a pair of clear or amber lights to mount on the top?

Thanks,

 

Have you tried a magnet on them? They may be copper plated steel.

 

Yes, they are solid copper, they have spinning marks on the inside, so they were made on a lathe or something.. but looks factory not home build.

 

Ok, sounds like a custom made or low production vehicle, maybe a fire truck.

 

They are very small for a fire truck, and it looks like they've always been painted black.

ps. I totally agree with your signature.

 

Ok, if they are small they could be motorcycle. Some British bikes had a gauge in the top, maybe an ampmeter. Is any of the hardware odd ball not US standard?

 

They look a lot like painted brass in the pictures. If they are brass, they could be from one of many different makers. I have no way of knowing the original manufacturer though.

 

Looks like a light, not a amp-meter. Also they are configured more like car lights, not like any of the English bike lights I've ever seen.

Could be brass, not sure until I take the paint off, didn't think about that. That would be great though, the engine I'm using has a lot of cast brass pieces that I want to keep unpainted.

 

If they were real copper headlights, maybe the holes on top are where the sirens were mounted.

 

If they are like the many I have replated over the years, the shell is made of sheet brass, and the thicker base riveted on is stamped steel. The only solid copper antique parts I have ever had in the shop were for fire engines. If the yellow color on the shells is the base metal showing through, then they are positively 100% brass.

 

Blasted them today, they are brass just like you say.

The construction is just like what you describe. Would you know a source for light/lenses for the top?

I just got rid of most of my fire engine parts and almost all of the lights were brass, cast and/or turned except the red siren lights, they were steel but may have been a later addition. Still have the rear spotlights for that one, heavy and nice nickel plated brass.

 

I've got a pair. I'll have to dig them out and get a pic of the lens.

Sorry I don't know what make they are.
Clark

 

Sorry, I don't know where to get lenses. I just do the polish/repair/replating, so I hardly ever even see the lenses.

FYI, the shells and bases were originally plated/painted separately then riveted together, but I have had very little issues with replating them together. No one seems to know where to get new rivets like the old ones, so they almost never want to disassemble them for restoration.

 

lol.. the reason I'm not taking them apart is that I don't want to deal with putting the rivets back in, I'm pretty sure I have some that are almost if not exactly the same.