Just picked up this light this weekend at an auction. It has a bubble level on the top. I was wondering what the light went to and what the purpose of the level would be. Seems like the level would not be too useful unless the car it was attached to was perfectly level. Have never seen anything like it before. Thanks
With the way it attaches it is a running light made to clamp to a bumper iron. Usually found on Buick's, Packard's & Cadillac's. They are called level toppers and in pristine condition are very expensive. HRP
These are known as passing lights, just one gets mounted to the car on the driver's side as far outboard as possible, typically on late 1930's era cars where the headlights are close together because they're bolted to either side of the grille. The idea being at night if you want to pass someone you can turn it on and dip out into the other lane to be able to see around the car in front of you without having to leave your lane too far. A very popular accessory in the lowrider bomb crowd as well as some high end restorations of Packards and whatnot, it's a period accessory. The level is just that, a level to help aim it. My newer Chrysler van has built-in bubble levels in it too for aiming the headlights. A bit gimmicky in the 30's but it looked impressive that way.
Back in the day when TRIPPE lights were popular, they were easy targets to get stolen, so TRIPPE developed an anti theft, special bracket that used a collared stud with small splines, that required a GULMITE wrench to tighten and loosen the bracket. Pretty cool for back in the day.
The level is actually more useful if the car ISN'T level as you don't want your headlights level to the car, you want them level to the ground. So regardless of rake this headlight would be leveled to whatever surface your car is sitting on. Just don't want your pavement under the car to be off level when you adjust these lights to level.
Would be a bugger living in hill country, you’d be stopping every few minutes to adjust your level! Seriously, what’s the point?
Not necessarily Don, the high end cars used two or more . HRP 1934 Packard. 1934 Buick. 1936 Packard.
I had a set on my 1932 Hupmobile F222. I used them as driving lights to help light up the road in addition to the stock 32 cp headlights. They did help, but only on the hi way. If you used them in the city the generator couldn't keep up with the draw in stop and go traffic. So only on the open road.
As I understand it, used as a “passing” light, if so, I think the intent would be turn it on for a minute or so until the “pass” was done, then turn it off? Now the pics shown of cars equipped with them (inside the headlight vs on the outer side of the front bumper) kinda make ya wonder how many used them as additional lighting and taxed the electrical out.
LOL Don. Mounting ONE on the outer edge of the bumper for a "passing light" makes sense...BUT mounting ONE towards the center of the car, just means you must be missing the other one.
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