Lionel Prewar 225E Headlight Question

[raleypc]

I just purchased a nice 1939 Lionel 225E freight set which runs great...what a smooth engine!  However, it appears to missing all the hardware to mount a headlight bulb (socket, wire lead, bracket if any).  Searching the web did not provide a picture/part numbers of the parts I may need other than the possible use of a 78-73 brass screw type socket.  It is not obvious how this socket would attach.  Any suggestions or better yet a picture would be most appreciated!

[Penny Trains]

This is the only diagram I found of the 225E: http://pictures.olsenstoy.com/searchcd31.htm?itm=759.  I would guess the lamp housing would attach to the inside of the boiler front, but that's just a guess based on other prewar steamers.  Good luck!

[Firelock76]

Raleypc, I was kind of intrigued by your problem, did some research, and at the risk of making a fool of myself since I'm no expert on pre-war let me pass on what I found.

I looked up the 225, and saw it's very similar to the 224 post-war I've got.  On my 224 the lamp is mounted on the pilot truck assembly, there's an upright on the pilot truck with a clamp mounted on it and the lamp unit snaps into it.

Parts numbers (for the 224 anyway) are Lamp Socket, 78-73; Wire and Washer (for the lamp socket) KL-8; Lamp Bracket 289E-20.  The lamp part number is 27-3, but any screw-base bulb in the 12 to 18 volt range should work.

Check that pilot truck assembly, the half-moon shaped part the pilot wheels pivot on, and see if there's an upright on it.  If there is, there's your answer, the lamp assembly's disappeared over the years.

Hope this helps. 

[LL675]

the 225E has the light socket mounted directly to the boiler behind the boiler front, completly different form the 224E.

 

[Firelock76]

Ahhh, I stand corrected, as I thought I might be.  That's fine.  Hope the original poster sees this. 

Your pictures are a lot better than my SWAG.