Can anybody identify this headlamp and brackets?

[Chris Haynes]

I don't have a clue what it fits.

[Robert Luland]

Chris, it appears to be an HD headlight with a set of these aftermarket mounting bars. These mounting bars show up in my 1921 Gotham Sporting Goods Co. catalog but not in my 1922 copy. Bob L

[23JDCA 808]

Looks like a Harley body 4904; there were -21, -23 and -26. I believe the early bezel (headlight door) had a hinge on either side and was secured by drop-in pins (looked like headless nails.) The parts book shows bezel 4914-21 and bezel clamp ring 4916-21.

[23JDCA 808]

http://www.97330.com/Bills_1923_Harl...ork_needs.html

[Chris Haynes]

http://www.97330.com/Bills_1923_Harl...ork_needs.html

Bill,
Notice the location for the wiring is on mine that it is on yours.

[Chris Haynes]

Thanks for the input guys. Those brackets had me stumped.

[Tommo]

Looks like 4 cylinder Ace to me

[gsottl]

also some Hendersons and early 20ies Indians used these types of shells with the excentric and horizontal connectors/switches. I have not seen a Harley from the early 20ies that had this type of conncetor block. The bakelite part on the early 20ies Harleys is bigger and has a small "handle" for the switch.

Attached pictures of a Harley headlight from app 1923 (without the handle) and one similar to yours with Indian brackets.

Cheers,
gsottl

[Chris Haynes]

So it is definitely not H-D. Possibly Indian, Ace, or,,,,,

[Tommo]

Over the years I've tried to sort this issue out.
Attached is a photo that sums up the situation as I see it but please it is by no means definitive and I'm more than willing to learn.
Left to Right in the attachment
HD up to 1919 Spanish helmet style headlight
HD 1920 to 1925 with headlight switch in the wiring attachment
HD 1926 to 1928
Ace Four headlamp
Henderson Four Headlamp (please note the Glass retaining ring is on 180 degrees out)

All headlamps are arranged with the bottom of the light towards the bottom of the photo.
The thing to note is the differing locations of the fittings and focusing screws.

Hope this helps.

[gsottl]

Hi Tommo,

Thanks for your imput.

There definately were different versions of the lamp that you call "HD 1920 to 1925 with headlight switch in the wiring attachment"

- at least one early version with the hinges on both sides as mentioned earlier in this post - I think it was used from 1918 on (see factory picture of an electric model from 1918 in "Inside Harley Davidson" by J Hatfield page 35)
- and a later version with the clamped bezel - as far as I could find out on original pictures that version was used from 1922-1925

I have compared earlier in parts books and found that 1925 had a one year only arm on the switch - I think it was shorter than the earlier ones....do not know if there were other changes on the lamp too...

What suppliers made these lamps? I guess at last "non Harley" lamps changed often as the companies did not use the same suppier all the time or they got diffent lamps from their suppliers?

Most 1928 Clevelands 4-61 flattankers used a headlight that looks to be the same model as on Harleys, but some had the bullet type headlight like Indian and Henderson had. (seen in original sales literature)

Was this Cleveland Lamp the same as Harley?

Cheers,
gsottl

[Chris Haynes]

The latest input says it is a Henderson Deluxe.

[Chris Haynes]

Somebody asked me to make a tracing of the mounting bracket on this headlight. I have made the tracing but can't find your name and address.

[exeric]

I would tend to agree with Henderson, or Ace. The location of the connector allows the wire to clear the spring barrel, and perch. A typical H-D, or Indian light of that era would not be a good fit on a Hen. The brackets look generic to me, I've got H-D, and Henderson brackets and they are very similar to each other.