Hi all, thanks for having me here on your site and forums. I hope this is the correct place for a quick question: Could someone point me the way to identify this headlight lens? I've owned it since '97 and was going to use it on an art project but here we are lol, and now it's going to a new home, The Lyle Hotel in Lyle Wa.! The new owners are friends and really want to honor the deep history of the how the rail's built that area and are gathering items to decorate the walls. Dim's are:10 3/4" across by 2" high w/ a metal band around it.Weight 10 pounds.Thanks for any help with this! Sincerely, Chipp Ross. ( p.s. my favorite trains are at The Washington Park Zoo in Port. Or. and all of the one's at Oak's Park, also in PDX.) 4629521037.html
Looks more like the compound lens out of a searchlight signal than a headlight, to me.
Is it my eyesight, or does it have a greenish cast? I would expect a headlight lens to be clear.
Johnny
I'll defer to the superior knowledge of any locomotive or mechanical expert here (Randy Stahl ?), but in the meantime:
I very much doubt if it came from a locomotive - the green color is too much and counter-productive, and there's no purpose served by the rounded shape - flat would be better. The purpose is to project a narrow cone of light, not diffuse it all over the countryside.
Instead, I'm thinking it came from either a ceiling light of some kind, or perhaps a porthole or skylight in the roof of a passenger car - there, the rounded shape would serve to gather in more light.
I could well be wrong, though (haven't stayed at a Holiday Inn Express in years . . . ).
Compare with this steam loco headlight: http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/8217292
Or this - note "19 inch" stated (No idea what dimension or direction that applies to, though): http://www.prices4antiques.com/Railroad-Locomotive-Headlamp-Golden-Glow-No-32-19-inch-D9750224.html
Or this: http://www.readingrr.com/rrana/2116hl.jpg
At this webpage: http://www.readingrr.com/railroadiana.htm
Or this - ". . . app. 13 inches across": http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/2289435
- Paul North.
Hi and thanks XTRACK42. Still doing research and all info helps!
Hi Deggesty, it totally has that Coke bottle green hue lol.
Hello Paul_D_North_Jr, and a HUGE thank you for the link's!!!! The old steam locomotive number "13" sure look's similar to mine. I bought mine from a vintage home restoration supply store and was told that it was a locomotive headlight len's. Look's like he was right. Thanks again for the link's. I searched lot's of site's before posting here but didn't find any of those. Sincerely, Chipp Ross in PDX.
In my opinion that's not a headlight lens at all, it's a planoconvex lens from some kind of focusing system. The green color is the same 'iron content in the glass' that makes glass coffee tables and the like look green from the side.
First thing that would come to my mind is periscopes; anyone here have experience with them or know someone who would? Second thing would be some sort of overhead projector setup. Third would be internal focusing in some sort of theatre lighting.
The ring around the edge of that lens indicates to me that it was intended to possibly be removable for whatever purpose. I certainly would not consider it to be a locomotive headlight lens. The convex shape tends to indicate use as a skylight or light-gathering lens.
cacoleThe ring around the edge of that lens indicates to me that it was intended to possibly be removable for whatever purpose.
Add to that a means of ensuring positive mounting, and protecting the thin edge of the glass (somewhat unsuccessfully as it turns out, I note) against spalling that might cause it to loosen or become misaligned.
Get out the Pyle National catalogs and start looking - or talk to them.
Just a shot in the dark here, but I wonder if that's a picture tube magnifier from one of the earliest TV sets, say from the immediate post-war era?
I've got one that's similar, but not that big. It came out of an overhead projector.
Some theater spotlight have similar lenses, as well.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
I don't know what it is.. I don't think its from a locomotive though. They are larger than 10 inches ( I think the top lens on an F-7 is 13" or more) and the green color isn't normal.
If this were a Pyle National there SHOULD be a part number on it someplace as they were frequently broken.
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