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MV Lenses

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  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Chamberlain, ME
  • 5,084 posts
Posted by G Paine on Sunday, April 28, 2019 10:47 AM

AntonioFP45
So hopefully that's a sign that MV will be producing lenses again.

Over the years, production has been spotty. I once had a set of lenses on backorder, they came about 2 years later. I had forgotten that I had even ordered them.

George In Midcoast Maine, 'bout halfway up the Rockland branch 

  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: Good ol' USA
  • 9,642 posts
Posted by AntonioFP45 on Saturday, April 27, 2019 8:42 AM

Ed,

Thank you!

The lenses are for several Busch GMC fishbowls buses that I'm upgrading. To me, the stock, "painted-on" tailights are a turnoff.  The MV lenses, imho, really improve the appearance of the back.

I'm waiting on Rapido to produce/release the Fishbowl buses with the twin-leaf rear exit doors. Looking forward to those, especially in the NYCTA and NY-MTA schemes.

But in the meantime, I'll work with what I have. Big Smile

 

 

"I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!"

 


  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
  • 16,367 posts
Posted by gmpullman on Friday, April 26, 2019 5:02 PM

AntonioFP45
I'm looking for:  LS-281 and LS-220. Both are red lenses.

I DO have one set of LS-220, Antonio.

Send me a PM with your address and I'd be glad to send them to you.

Cheers, Ed

  • Member since
    January 2004
  • From: Canada, eh?
  • 13,375 posts
Posted by doctorwayne on Friday, April 26, 2019 1:59 PM

Thanks for that link, Mel. 

I'm a big fan of their lenses, and use them in all of my locomotives, although I don't illuminate any of them.
However, I'm building a Bowser kit for a good friend (and adding DCC - I hope) and decided to add an LED to both the headlight and back-up light. 
While they're not yet installed, I have the LED cemented into a small hole in the back of the lense, and the lense in the headlight casting and have tested it with very impressive results.
When I received the LEDs from an on-line seller, I thought that I had been ripped-off, as all that was in the package was a coil of very fine wire, black and red.
However, on closer inspection, the LED on the end of the wires was somewhat apparent: roughly shaped as a cube, they're about .020"x.024"x.024", and put out an unbelieveable amount of light when installed in the MV lense. 

While locomotives in my modelled era weren't required to use headlights during the day, I'm almost tempted to add them to my DC-powered locos.

Wayne

  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: Good ol' USA
  • 9,642 posts
Posted by AntonioFP45 on Friday, April 26, 2019 1:50 PM

YesCoolEd,

Thanks for responding.

I'm looking for:  LS-281 and LS-220. Both are red lenses.

Mel, thanks for that info! I looked at the web page and the bottom of it is dated "2019".  YesCool

So hopefully that's a sign that MV will be producing lenses again.  I'm just "guessing" that the owner may be utilizing the "Irv Athearn" approach.  The products are produced in a good-sized or bulk batch, sold to the distributors, and then allow several years to roll by before producing another batch. Again, that's what I'm thinking.

Wink 

"I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!"

 


  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Bakersfield, CA 93308
  • 6,526 posts
Posted by RR_Mel on Friday, April 26, 2019 10:26 AM

He is updating his web site.
 
 
 
 
 
Mel
 
 
My Model Railroad   
 
Bakersfield, California
 
I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
 
  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
  • 16,367 posts
Posted by gmpullman on Friday, April 26, 2019 5:24 AM

AntonioFP45
I'm hoping that MV did not go out of business! 

Me, too!

I've been searching for some LS 301 red lenses that I use in PRR marker lamps. I found some clear ones of the same diameter and used a red Sharpie to color them. 

Any of the MV stock that I've found over the years looks like it has been around a while (aged). This seems to be the trend in the hobby with some of the vintage suppliers, sadly.

If there is a particular one you're looking for I can see if I have it on-hand. I don't have a huge inventory but I might have the one you need?

Good Luck, Ed

  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: Good ol' USA
  • 9,642 posts
Posted by AntonioFP45 on Friday, April 26, 2019 5:02 AM

 

Hi crew,

 

Instead of creating a new thread, I'll hop on this one for the question:

 

Does anyone know what is going on with the owner/producer of MV lenses? There are several MV Lense products that I would like to buy but Walthers' website shows mostly "Out of Stock".

 

I'm hoping that MV did not go out of business! 

 

 

 

 

 

"I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!"

 


  • Member since
    January 2004
  • From: Canada, eh?
  • 13,375 posts
Posted by doctorwayne on Saturday, April 2, 2016 12:18 AM

A simple google search turned up this info and this, too.

However, as you can see, most lenses are shown by size, so your search might be easier if you can measure, in thousandths-of-an-inch, either the lense which comes with the loco or the opening into which it needs to fit.

Wayne

 

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Huntsville, AR
  • 1,251 posts
MV Lenses
Posted by oldline1 on Friday, April 1, 2016 10:28 PM

Does anyone know which MV lense is for the Stewart F-7A with a single headlight?

Thanks,

Roger Huber

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