Taillights Unlimited, page 2

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Gerald Gardebled found this interesting fixture from a PLA truck.

This Chinese-owned CJ in Beijing uses a set of them.

Another Chinese-owned bike with a similar type. (It also has a reflector below it.)

Frans de Wit won this Unimog light on eBay. It's like the one on the truck. (Unimog = Universal Motor Geraet, the mother of all SUVs, from Daimler Benz.) Frans may use it on his Dong Hai 750.

A military blackout taillight from the last century.

Holger Behncke thinks we'd appreciate seeing this rarity. It's for a 1952 CONDOR A580... like the one he owns. It's somewhat similar in appearance to the Chinese truck taillights.

Hella, a familiar brand to those interested in German vehicles. This is a Mercedes lamp, or more specifically, Unimog

Searching on the WWW turns up all kinds of possible candidates for use on a CJ. This one has a blue lens—probably not legal in most places.

This probably came from a truck. (LRM)

A pre-war aftermarket automotive taillight with an interesting lens for the running light. Click the thumbnail to see what I mean.

A pair of reproduction DUOLAMP Model A assemblies. The one on the left has illumination for the license plate as well. You can get a set like this for around $50.

A typical 1920s automotive taillight and license plate bracket assembly. The lamp has a clear lens in the bottom of the housing for illuminating the license plate—required by law in most places.

Another example. This is a DUOLAMP assembly from a Model A Ford.

Another vintage two-piece assembly. This is an aftermarket fixture from the 1920s. It also has a clear lens in the bottom of the housing.

This is a reproduction DUOLAMP with a two-color lens. These assemblies are available for $20-25 if you shop around. People don't always realize how readily available they are and end up paying 2-3 times too much. I have two of these on my grey bike and will be using something very similar on the black bike.

An original DUOLAMP Model A taillight with license plate bracket.

The housing for this Model A fixture is embossed with FORD.

And here's an after-market Model A assembly.

One with a black housing and bezel.

Here's yet another style of light. It has a license plate bracket as well There's a clear lens in the bottom of the housing for illuminating the license plate.

We've seen the DUOLAMP taillights for Model A Fords. Here we have a DUOLIGHT taillight. What really sets it apart is the metal STOP cutout between the lense and the bulbs. It looks like something one could make himself.

Another DUOLIGHT.

These two-color Model A lenses and metal STOP inserts are being reproduced.

That's right. It says ERSKINE. This is a rare and valuable lens.

Similar... but different. This guy also has a clear center part.

It's from a Studebaker... STOP!

Similar to the first NASH example except the lens says STOP instead.

This fella has a protruding running light lens like some of the others on this page.

Similar... but different.

Different... but similar.

Look how far that running light lens sticks out.

Similar... but different. This housing is embossed with a Dodge Brothers monogram.

And this example has a blue STOP lens.

From a 1928 Pontiac.

These metal STOP inserts are excellent.

Here's another one with an insert.

This one also says STOP but it's from an old Chrysler.

The bezel doesn't divide the lens on this baby.

This STOP lens may not be the original one for this housing.

Check this out. It's early-thirties aftermarket.

This little fella is really cool but unfortunately the picture is crap.

Art deco at its automotive best. I'm guessing Chrysler or DeSoto Airflow.

This may be stretching things a bit but it's worth a look. These are pre-war Chevy lamps. It's easy to envision one on a bike.

This Chevy assembly is complete with license plate bracket. Even with the CHEVROLET marking it would be very nice on a bike.

The variety of vintage taillight fixtures seems endless. The ones shown on this page are primarily American automotive lights which represent but a fraction of the possibilities.

By the way—there's even something for those who want a military flavor. This is a WWII-era semi-blackout light from an army truck.

This is another military item, a Harley-Davidson WWII blackout taillight.

Cats Eye brand accessory STOP light, probably from the thirtes.

From an old truck, this excellent STOP light fixture.

The lens in this fixture has STOP cast in the glass. The housing is chrome plated.

Another variety.

This lamp would be perfect on a CJ although the bracket doesn't appear to be very sturdy.

Cast glass.

This one has a partially frosted lens.

A blue STOP lens. The glass is entirely frosted except for the lettering. The image illustrates the effect you'd get with a lightbulb illuminated behind it. At the time these were manufactured, sizes, quantities, placement and colors for automotive lighting had not yet been standardized. As cool as that blue lens is, it would also be illegal. Bummer.

Another blue-lens STOP light with the fixture.

And yet another blue-lens STOP light.

Same as above. The brand is Mercury.

Blue lens, STOP cast in the glass.

Looks like another Mercury.

The varieties seem endless.

More goodies. On top are two variations of the arced STOP light lens. (I'll try to find a picture of the fixture for you.) Below that is a nice assortment of glass automotive lenses—about half of which are STOP lenses. The smaller unmarked lenses would work in the sidecar fender running light (although inexpensive plastic bullet shaped lenses are still widely available in amber and red.) As I start planning the winter upgrades for the black M1 I'll be looking for some decent antique automotive light fixtures like we have on the grey M1.

This looks very much like an aftermarket accessory from the 1920s—but who knows? I'd paint the bezel to match the bike.

I can't tell you much about this except that I thought you might like to see it anyway.

Some of you guys will like this item from the thirties. It has a running light, brake light (with the word SAFETY on the lens) and it has turn indicators! It's bit much for my taste (which is bad enough as it is.)

Old timers like these are perfect for a CJ750.

A pair of lamps—one for the bike and one for the sidecar.

This light has FORD embossed in the housing. I'd guess it's late-Model T era.

Crappy picture of an unusual automotive fixture. Too bad the lens is broken. It must be a hard one to replace.

Vintage single bulb lamp from DO-RAY.

Repro DUOLAMP with an open bezel. These lights are widely and readily available.

Here's a similar lamp with a black bezel. It also uses a sinlge dual-filament bulb.

Just another cool automotive taillight from the 1930s that would look sweet on a bike.

This has a stainless steel bezel and license plate bracket.

Same here. This is ideal for a CJ.

DUOLAMP fixture with a one-part lens.

Imagine having a Huppmobile taillamp on your CJ. You're looking at some serious money here.

Said to be from a vintage Harley or Indian but it looks automotive to me.

The Electric Auto-Lite Co., Toledo, Ohio. Sweeeet.

This would look pretty interesting on a bike for sure.

From an early Pontiac.

This bezel and lens aren't divided between the running and brake lights although the lamp does use two lightbulbs.

A headlamp and taillamp from some unknown car from twenties.

From an old Plymouth.

I wonder if a lamp like this could be flush-mounted in a CJ fender. It sure would look nice.

There you go. All the Chrysler products are now covered.

The last year for DeSoto in the US was 1961.

Auburn was gone before WWII.

The final year for the Hudson marque was 1957.

This old Dodge fixture is complete with license plate bracket.

Another Dodge lens.

All of these lights have excellent potential for use on your Chang.

More goodies!

Non-divided glass lenses with a bezel.

These are single bulb fixtures.

This is a roof-mounted running light for a truck. They came in various configurations with different color lenses. Picture something like this on your front fender—sort of like they once used on Indian motorcycles.

A couple bullet lamps spotted at an automotive flea market. They have potential for use on a CJ so here they are.

From Frans de Wit: "This is a picture I took on the Vehikel (what we call in Dutch an old, rundown motorised means of transport) car and motorbike fair in Utrecht. It's a whole box of old unidentified lenses! Didn't buy any though because the fixtures weren't there."

What goes with vintage light fixtures better than vintage fabric-covered wiring? Nothing. This is what I used on the grey bike. Details like this can make a huge difference.

Vintage reflectors

Older CJs had reflectors mounted on the rear fender below the license plate,