[CR]Headlamp

(Example: Production Builders:Peugeot:PY-10)

From: "Doug Smith" <doug@kingsweir.plus.com>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Date: Sun, 20 Feb 2005 20:56:01 -0000
Subject: [CR]Headlamp

Dan Colman asks any knowledge on this:-

http://ebay.com/<blah>

These acetylene "gas" lamps were very popular in the UK and manufactured by Lucas " King of the Road" and Miller and others not so well known names. These were still being used by the dometic cyclists well into the late 1950's my late Father being one of them. Their working capacity was somewhat temperamental and could not be relied on in certain weather conditions being a naked gas like flame a strong wind could cause a ride home in the dark. Also the needle supply tap from the water tank to the carbonate powder compartment was difficult to adjust enable the butane like gas to ignite. Their alloy reflectors did little to give a really good light as did the 75% blacked out lamp glass during the war years.Perhaps the best feature of these lamps was the ornate design and the wonderful nickal plated finish. I still have a couple in my workshop which I like to look or show off now and again!

They ceased to be made available after 1939 as all manufacturing was made over to the war effort then a few more appeared later in 1946 which were finished in black enamel , it was then the battery lamps became the choice as they became more readily available.

Doug.Smith
North Dorset
UK