Questions About Dummy Lights....

haha you were gonna toss a pair of dummies out?? of course I want them!! how much were you looking to get for them though?

 

I got a set of dummy spot lights on my shoebox. I use them when I pull in to my work to spot dummies, I usually spot my boss every morning.

 

My old boss, and custom builder in the 50's, told me that they switched to dummy spots in our area, because the cops would hassle you for having real ones...only emergency vehicles, cop cars, and mail delivery were allowed to have real ones.

 

Even after curved windshields were the norm they were still selling real spotlight as accessories. I have several of these for my 55 ford.





I believe that they were mounted on the cowl instead of through the A pillar but I haven't seen it in person.

 

Farrah I'll pm you.

 

Appletons........That's all I have to say

 

I have Appleton 552's on my Merc and recently picked up some dummy spots from JC Whitney for $6.98 for a future project?.I should of bought more.

 

I happen to agree...................There is only one kind to use....

 

they used real spotlight,s at frist but as chop olds said the real ones were outlaw in jersery and most guy,s stop useing the real appletons you had to drill a big hole and they didn,t always sit where you wanted them so i think barris came out with the dummy appletons frist and guy,s love them cause they could set the lights where they look the best(cool factor way more imported then working) then you started to see cal customs dummy spots they were smaller then appletons and kind of look like lorrriane spots over the years i,ve found afew sets of appletons that people cut the handlers off so they could set them where they want but it,s nice to have a real set i have 2 sets now hanging on the wall and the dummy,s on my cars

 

The first dummies were not dummies at all. For what ever reason they took real appletons and cut the handles off. Back in the day the dummies that we see today were for people(like me) that could not afford the real thing.

 

In the process of mounting Appletons with handles on mine.Gotta tell ya,it takes a VERY large set to drill a 1/2 inch hole!

 

besides the drilling, how hard are they to mount? I'd love to see before n after pictures if you happen to have any?

 

How come you prefer Appletons? I'm just curious, trying to figure out what would be the best to throw on my customline.....

 

the reason dummies were used in the good old state of missouri is they outlawed the real ones in the early 60s. I had a trooper stop me and said if I didnt take them off that day he would give me a ticket. they awere dummies but he said that didnt make and difference. we went to court and the judge saw it my way. needless to say I made an enemy for life. {at the time I was a mechanic for the highway patrol} I have dummies on my shoebox today.

 

Because they look the best. Appleton 552 That was the spot to use for the 40s-early 50s customizer, clean and stylish.

 

.......and I like a spot you can use...I had a set on an old cop car that I had in high school we used to drive by parties shine the spot in the window and then when all the kids ran we could go in and have most of the keg to ourselves. also very handy for when you're night racing in the middle of nowhere and you or a buddy break something.

 

Ahhh... I see. Excellent point. There's been quite a few times we've needed to work on something on the side of the road or in a parking lot and couldn't see what we were doing. The spotlights look good and can be super functional in times of crisis. Maybe I will go with real lights....you may have converted me lol

 

I don't get why a state would outlaw dummies? It's not like they can do much harm sitting there... I'm glad you fought it! I'm even more glad the judge agreed with you. Having a new enemy definately isn't fun but I do believe that is a dumb rule....

 

Also, if real spots are outlawed in some places still, for those of you who run real ones, do the cops mess with you 'cause of them at all? Or do they tend to let you slide?

 

also, there are modern made dummies that look [almost] identical to appletons. i think moon sells them.

 

The Appleton brand spotlight was, perhaps toward the end of it's time,
a cool looking teardrop shape. The predacessor of the dummy spots.





Here's a link to a web page showing a bunch of older spotlights.

http://www.classicaccessories.org/list003101.html



The Unity brand lights are still made today, and they were very
popular in the late 40s and the 50s. They came in 5" and 6" diameters.
You could get that little top hump with the brand of your car on it.




There's even a web page by our own Rik Hoving that has pics of old
spotlights. http://public.fotki.com/Rikster/11_...cars/great_custom_idears/appleton_-_lorainne/

 

I've got the dummy teardrops on mine.
They're slightly out of character, but I always liked them, so.......

Most times, they're mounted pointing down - but I've seen them done
all sorts of ways.

 

I think they look great on your ride!

You're right! I looked it up right now and Mooneyes sells the dummies for 299.00. http://www.mooneyesusa.com/appleton-dummy-spot-lights-p-153.html which actually isn't too bad from other prices I've seen listed. I looked on ebay and although I found only a few listings the one pair that seemed decent was running about 270-300. Surprising since Mooneyes usually charges a little more than other places.....

 

I REALLY like the lorraine's Rik Hoving had pictures of. But I'm kind of confused...some places I'm seeing Lorraine's referred to in the same name as Appletons. Like on the classic accessory site you listed for me. But in Rik's pictures, they are simply listed as Lorraines. Were Lorraines another brand like Unity? Or were they a type of Appletons?

 

I think on a truck you could probably get away with the look maby into the 70's, a lot of people had them on working trucks, very useful out on a farm at night, to the OP if you install the dummies, you could probably use that idea of the licience plate light in them. all you need is a small bulb and reflector

 

Lorraines are Appletons. Appleton is the make, Lorraine is the model. Like Chevy (make) Camaro (model). Simple

 

These are the dummy spots I use.



And just for a nice dose of SPAM to go with your meal, I happen to have the best deal on them in the whole world!! Check this link for all the details....

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=483355&highlight=dummy+spots

Paul.

 

You "Got-A" love "Em"!!!!!!! LOL Tom ( Tired Old Man)

 

ooohhhh!!! i get it!! thanks!!!

i like 'em

 

lol thats actually a great deal!!!!! so you're out of anaheim? the hubby and i just moved from fullerton a few months ago. he was going to school in anaheim