Pre War Reproduction Lenses

About 1988, Irv Blonder asked me to look into making repro HL lenses, and another SO CAL chap to do the tail lenses, for Pierce Arrow. I started to gather data---learning that most of the front lenses were unique to Pierce. I started to gather part numbers. I learned that there were 46 different patterns for the front lenses, 1929 thru 1938. I ran ads asking about interest--demand: I got little feed back. I decided that glass was prohibitive--$5000-$10,000 per mold--plus production. I learned from IRV--that quality in ASIA--was poor--and long lead times. So I started to investigate polymers. I spent 2 years--trying 52 polymers--to meet all the criteria: clarity, correct size and optics, color stability, mold cost, production cost and proper EMQ. I spent 1900 hrs--in research. I had to create a correct part number list. I had to buy or borrow ORIGINAL patterns for molds. I had to learn mold making. Then I had to learn lense making. After over 2 years--of enthusiastic effort--I perfected a methamethacrylate. It has great optics, is UV stable, no shrink--reasonable cost--and low EMQ. So I made front lenses. There was some demand for 1933-34 M-B lenses (I have made about 30 pair)---very little demand for some (1929 McKee). I ended up making all front lenses--for all Pierce cars, from 1924 thru 1938.After about 15 years--the demand has stopped--so I ended the project. Some people were tire kickers--who might need them in the future--I decided this is not my lifes work--and I do not have the space to inventory molds and lenses. The project is over--most molds gone, a few lensesare left. During this process--the other chap decide not to make the tail lenses--so I stepped in to do that--.A completely different set of problems. Only 14 patterns, but 3 colors. There were no UV problems--but there were color matching---and finish concerns. Again I bought or borrowed ALL the rear lense patterns, and started to make molds. Then I started to work with the polymers, and dyes--to create a superior lense. The demand has waned, and now this project has ended. No more tail lenses to be made. A few remain. I also made lenses for other MARQUES--by request (CADILLAC LaSalle, PACKARD, CORD, Rolls Royce, DUESENBERG, BENTLEY). Thanks goes to alot of folks--for lending me priceless lenses--and trusting me--and to early collectors; who worked with me when I had clarity problems on early HL lenses. To those tire kickers--who would get back to me---or wanted to shop--I wish good fortune in finding rare items. If the lenses had been available--I would not have spent 8000 hours--over 25 years--doing this project. I only made items--that are UNAVAILABLE elsewhere.

PIERCE-ARROW TAIL LIGHT SPECIFICATIONS

1924-29 “A-Type” Mounted over License Plate
1 Backing plate for 3 buckets; each bucket has 4 rivets
3 Buckets: 2 concentric outer ribs, (outer rib holds the reflector retaining clip). Center bucket, has no reflector, has cutout on bottom for license lens; and “Pierce Arrow TYPE A” etched on top. The 2 outer buckets have reflectors, secured by spiral springs and thin wire clips. Small ferels between buckets protect wiring.
3 Bezels Flat outer sides, inner ring contains lense, held by heavy snap ring.
3 Lenses Each 2 ½” OD, outer lense is clear back-up; center is plain red night running light; inside lense has “S” License lense is a glass circle.

1931-33 ARROLITE
1 Backing plate: 3 holes for rivets.
3 Buckets with one rib; outer lip of bucket curves in. Reflectors have lip that covers the curved in bucket lip, and held by the bezel. Center bucket is engraved “ARROLITE” on top, and has no reflector. (1931 and 32 have license plate under the light; for 1933, the license plate is over the light, and “ARROLITE” is on same side as license light). THE license light shines upward.
3 Bezels have rolled outer lip.
3 lenses: The outer is clear bullet, with external ribs,backup; center is flat “COARSE” with a dot: the inner is red bullet, with external ribs. There is a mall “stepped” license lense
1933 had an optional right “SALON” tail arm. One red, round plain lense, retained by a chrome inner bezel. (standard on “12”).

1934-38 Integrated
Same configuration on both sides of car. Amber bullet, with external ribs, outside (same shape as 1931-33 bullets, however a different color); one red flat “FINE” pattern on inside, closest to trunk. License lense is 5” long scallop, clipped to inside of tail housing, Triangle chrome piece covers the unit.
1934 836A had unique 1 lense arm on each side.

Rolls Royce and Bentley Tools 1946 - 1965

S/W S/D MarkVI R-Type Tool Placement


Under the BONNET:
Next to radiator is brass tecalmit grease gun--placed vertically
next to that is small oiler--vertical

Crank is placed horizontally on top of the wheel well

OIL syringe--large, is on top of wheel well
IN R-Type and S/D the engine crank and syringe are often in the boot

Torch--with chrome bezel is on the firewall, right side

IN THE BOOT:bottle Jack and handle

spare tyre

3 Dunlop tyre irons

Hubcap tool--placed in clips on left side
sometimes on floor; or on side panel. If clip is gone, look for 2 screw holes.

Kinsman Tyre pump, with instructions attached by tan rubber band

Wheelbrace (lugwrench); connected with metric allen screw

TOOL TRAY 7 VariationsEither 17 or 18 tools (early kits did not have Schrader tyre valve tool and have bakelite driver)
3 different screwdrivers: early models had black bakelite handle Britool; later kits had wood handle: short or long.
Basic contents:
“L” shaped sump tool
Plain Schrader script tyre valve tool; 3 way.
2 nested SOE
Inlet tappet with square hole
2 nested DOE
3 ½” double box spanner
Small 3BA/5BA DOE
Small SOE
Delco DOE ignition spanner
Snubnose Lucas pliers
Lucas “91” Girder
Screwdriver
Exhaust valve tool, with 2 opposing openings
Moore and Wright Feeler gauge with 2 clips
Kismet Pressure Gauge—hex, with thump indentation, and tyre valve tool
SOMETIMES a CARB tool
Pink lodge sparkplug CLMP
3 bulbs
Black rubber insert, in a metal tray;
Installed in a locked drawer, or under the seat
These tools are pictured in the left hand column in the picture.

There are 4 distinct toolkits for the 1956 - 1965 Silver Cloud and "S" Series motorcars. This definition will be provided in a separate post. These are pictured in the 3 right hand columns of the picture.

Rolls Royce and Bentley Tool Tray 1956 - 1965

Silver Cloud “S” Tools

(With kit oriented with the driver on the bottom)

(The bottom row in this photo are tool trays for 1946 - 1955 cars)

Britool or Garrington Sump tool-- (hex shape)
Delco (with logo--5 variants) ignition doe with feeler gauge (absent in V8 motorcars)
Moore and Wright 4 blade feeler gauge (absent in V8 motorcars)
The multi-tool—(2 openings on one end, one opening on the other)
Kismet hex pressure gauge with thumb indention and tyre valve tool
Britool or Garrington small af combo—(SOE/SCE) STRAIGHT closed end, to fit insert
The longer combo--same brands as small one
Wilkinsons Pliers—thin snubnose, not bevel nose; to fit the kit
Exhaust valve tool between pliers handles (absent in V8 cars)
Garrington Jackdaw ADJ spanner. (King Dick 8” ONLY is correct in double headlight cars)
Screwdriver boxwood flat bulb handle
Sparkplug spanner should be plain steel, or dull silver cad (spanner was not chrome until S/C III.) ALL 6 cylinder cars have the same insert.
The right hand drive v8, single HL cars have a thinner insert, with a BUMP for the bulbs, and the driver lies flat.
In the LHD 4 headlight cars, there is a rubber plug that replaces the HL pre-focus bulb, since these motorcars have sealbeam.

Rolls Royce and Bentley Lenses 1956 - 1965

All 6 cyl cars had ONE piece tail lenses (S/C and S1)
Amber for HOME cars (RHD)
Red for EXPORT cars (LHD)

ALL double headlight cars (S/C III and S3) had TWO piece lenses
ALL had red bottoms (night running lights)
Home cars had AMBER tops for brake and turn signal
Export cars had red tops

S/C II and S2 came with EITHER configuration

IF you have a RHD HOME car with amber lenses, they MAY not be LEGAL in some states (like Calif and N.Y.)

SOO I need to know
Which car you have
Does it have one or 2 piece tail lenses
What COLOR you want

If you have a RHD and want amber--you might want to check your state laws.

Rolls Royce and Bentley Tail Lense History

1956-65 Rolls Royce Bentley Lense story-a long story---------
Lucas stopped making these in the 80's
they were a cheap poly-------
same polymer as MG--Tr etc

they craze, crack etc--------

LUCAS is NOT in the aftermarket biz---

think about the TOTAL RR/B made 1956-65
one YEAR of MG production!
so dealers had a supply--for awhile

In the early 90's dealers ran out.
A friend, Bill Sundin told me about this, and knew I had made PIERCE-ARROW lenses.
I spent 2 weeks calling RR dealers. Bill was correct.

I had developed a state-of-the-art material

so I made quality lenses-
no shrink
uv stable
will not crack, FADE or craze

Then a couple of dealers realized there was a gap--in supply. So they made lenses. from the same poly that Lucas had used.

I am a carguy---------
check the cars I collect. Top quality. RR, Pierce Cad V12/V16, early Porsche, Clenet, Excalibur, Duesenberg.
This was a hobby.---I am not in the lens business----

If your car is important to you--
If you want quality
If you want your brake lights and night running lights to be seen--get mine.

If you want to save a few bucks--get other ones.
I have lots of RECENT testimonials

SILVER CLOUD and SI; Some S/CII and SII ONE PIECE tail lens (AMBER or RED) L553
$240 a pair all correct numbers and BRIGHT colors
Better than original!!!!

SILVER CLOUD II and III TAIL LIGHT LENSES
(2 piece)---REPRODUCED--by hand---QUALITY FIT
TOP AMBER cd2256 $210 pair
TOP RED cd2257 $200 pair
BOT RED cd2258 $200 pair
REFL (PLAS ONLY) $ 60 pair
THIS IS A ONE-TIME ONLY PROJECT
to replace non-existent factory items--
do not confuse with cheap repros--
I made these by hand--using TOP polymers--with expensive DYES, not tints

ONE PAIR NOS round reflectors LUCAS NEW $140!!!! SOLD

Rolls Royce and Bentley Tool Kit Evolution

The way things were: At least for Rolls Royce and Bentley, at the end of WWII.

WWII ended in 1945.
VERY little was done by English and U.S car makers to plan, or design post-WWII cars.
Except for Ray Loewy at Studebaker, who had very little military work.
A lot of plants in England were destroyed.
SOOO--early post WWII cars were warmed over pre-WWII.
RR and Bentley were made in the same factory.
Virtually the same, except for badging, and carbs. (grille and hood shape).
The tool kits were stacked in a stores area.
When a standard steel car was ready, a kit was grabbed, and placed with build sheet, O/M and paperwork, wrapped in plastic, and sent to a dealer.
For coachbuilt cars, a kit, and O/M was grabbed, wrapped in plastic and fastened to the cowl. Since no body or interior was present. The coachbuilder chose WHERE to install the kit. Same for RR/B. Some coachbuilders built custom toolkits (half circle affairs the fit in the spare wheel. They had a tool-kit DELETE order).
So the kits were the same, and removed from the same stores. The early 1946-1948 kits had straight , black bakelite handles, and some had no Schrader tyre valve tools, since the Kismet tool had the screw-in valve tool. The Schrader tool was added sometime in 1948, to REPAIR the valve. Also, the 2 styles of boxwood drivers replaced the black ones.

Rolls Royce and Bentley Tools

I am amazed how many people are selling incomplete, incorrect and substandard toolkits. For important collector cars, I have learned that it is vital to use the proper repair parts, and keep the proper accessories. Some car owners bemoan the loss of value of their car, after the have cut every possible corner. I invite comments and dialogue, from anybody.

Pre War Car Lighter History

About 1920 auto makers installed lighters in cars. The cars finally started to proceed at a velocity that would extinguish a match. The lighters were open-face clip on units. About 1923 a few makers installed the coiled and spring loaded cord units. This was done because a lot of folks were used to striking a match, and discarding the burned detritus. So occupants, front and rear, had kept the habit, and threw out the lighters. The car makers then installed the cord units.

By 1929 the habit of discarding lighters had waned. Some car makers went back to open face clip-on type. Dashboards became modern, with standard fuel gauges, and some temperature gauges (instead of motometers). Cats eye lighters, with pins to retain the lighter were developed. At the appropriate temperature, the eye would glow. These units were common, mostly in Senior cars until 1936. Casco then invented the pop-out spring loaded lighter. Some of these still had the eye.

GM offered the Casco eye lighters as accessories. After WWII the eye became redundant, and was eliminated. A few English motorcars (Jag 120) kept them. Since the late 1940's cars have had a variety of chrome knob lighters. Quite boring. I think.

The above is true for Pierce-Arrow, Packard, Auburn, Duesenberg, Lincoln, Cadillac, Lasalle, Buick, Marquette, Studebaker, Oldsmobile, Marmon, Franklin, Stutz, Peerless, Hudson, Graham. If you are looking for replacement lighters, email me for pictures at RoyAJudd@aol.com.