I still need to add racks, bags and lights to the 1954 Duravia/Mecadural. The lights in particular are a dilemma. I plan to actually ride the bike, including possibly at night or early morning. So the lights need to actually work dependable. This may conflict with a 50's appearance. Aside from flashlights, most of the 30's through 50's randonneur bike seem to have used dynamo lights. Where flashlights ever used for rear lights as well as front. Would they have had colored lenses in that case?
Are their any battery lights sold today styled like classic randonneur dynamo lights?
One sees Radios and other classic lights on French eBay, but I assume these are most dynamo powered. Will they work with modern dynamos, or must one use old dynamos as well? That rasies the issue of the reliability of both the lights and the dynamos. Is there a source for bulbs for these old lights? Has anyone adopted the old cases with battery power and perhaps a moden LED emitter? I think Mike Kone was discussing such an adaptation project a while back on the RH Bicycle website, but he doesn't have such a light for sale there.
Regards,
Jerry Moos
Big Spring, Texas, USA