Reply To: LED Headlight Bulbs

[Kim Scorah Bourget]

The lenses on these earlier cars were designed for a specified bulb in order to get a proper beam pattern.Modern bulbs while brighter may not be compatible with the lens so there could be useless light or even blinding light.There are in some cases differences in filament design between the bulbs available in the past and what is available today.A good example is the number 1129 21cp which was specified for Pierce Arrow headlamps prior to very late 1929.This bulb had a V shaped filament but later this bulb had a design change to a more flat filament as #1129 was no longer used for headlights or spotlights which required a focus but now was used for stoplights on six volt cars like the pre-1967 Volkswagens where such optics were not a concern.Even some of the new headlight bulbs sold by the antique car parts dealers have a different filament shape from what was available years ago.I have noticed on the edges of lenses a notation of the Mazda bulb number to be used with that lens.If one needs more light a very good solution might be clamp on lights on the bumper bar that could be removed for a show and the same could be done for the rear of the car in an easily removed light bar.