pre war head lights

[A.N.Other]

i have just started with a new project and I am sure I will be asking lots of questions in the not too distant future.
So here is the first.
I have two large head lights, one is a straight forward head light, the other has a dipping mechanism.
Which goes on the near side and which goes on the off side ?

[Warsash 2]

Hi
I don't really have the definitive answer but I would think that the non dipping one should go on the near side to illuminate the side of the road at all times. The dipping one should go on the offside so that it does not dazzle oncoming traffic. Later of course both the headlights dip to the nearside to avoid the said dazzling.
Regards
Colin

[Petelang]

I think you will find the nearside one is the dipping lamp, the contacts within the solenoid of the dip mechanism is designed to switch OFF the offside lamp when you select dip. This is not very satisfactory for today's use.
Most people convert the non dipping lamp to dip also.
This can be done by fitting a similar dipping reflector to the lamp and change the cut out wiring.
It's a search on eBay for suitable bits.
Peter

[marchesmark]

As Peter says, the nearside would be the dipping one. Lots of pre-war cars were set up with a central pass lamp; when another car approached, pressing the dip switch would switch off the offside lamp, dip the nearside one, and switch on the pass lamp. I think the general view at the time was that lights were fitted so that others could see you, not really for you to see by.

[Salmons]

Yes the nearside light dips and the offside goes out.
In the 1950s I had a 1939 Singer Super Eleven which had this system and you could not see much when dipped. So I bought another head lamp with the dipping reflector and fitted it to the offside so that I had double dipping headlights. No MOT's then but I doubt it wonder if it would be legal now

[Phillmore]

i have just started with a new project . . . . . . .
I have two large head lights . . . .

Now that's what I call an adventurous project! Do you have any particular car in mind to go with your lights?

[A.N.Other]

Thank you folks for your answers, I am about to start some re wiring and that helps me along the way.

By the way it is a little cheeky of me to ask on this forum as it is in fact a 1935 AC 16/66 DHC. I just have not got round to signing up for the A c forum yet.

Thanks again .

[Stan Thomas]

The system whereby the nearside headlight dipped and the offside one became extinguished became illegal in October 1937 - and I believe the law was retrospective.

If you Google "solenoid dip" there is an excelent article by the Austin Seven Club with wiring details which explains an easy method of conversion if you wish to retain originality and have both headlights operate by mechanical dip.

In the alternative, you can change the bulbs and connectotors and use twin filament bulbs as current practice, but remember if you retain the original reflectors you need to adjust the bulbs "in and out" relative to the reflector to set the beam - but at least you can then use 50w halogen bulbs.

Whilst on the subject, if you need the reflectors re-silvering, contact Kieth Ardley provides an excellent service, and charges only £5 per inch/diameter.

[Norfolk Lad]

Lanchester LD10's were fitted with a pass light and production started 1946, and i think was only changed when the Barker body was fitted.
Still have pass light on mine and was told for MOT it was built like that so still allowed, so i think you can keep it as it was built.

[John Hitchins]

Stan, could you give more details on Kieth Ardley and location please as my Headlights need silvering.
Thanks
John