Old Sol Lights

[hairynob24]

G,day ,can someone give me info on Old Sol lights ,have a club member who has some of these old lights ,and want to know what year and make were they used on and for how long did the company exist ,please ,Rob.

[c.o.]

Rob,

"Old Sol" lights were an accessory item and would have had a wide range of use. Here's an ad from a late 1911 issue of "Motorcycling" and a website with the info you're looking for... http://www.coachbuilt.com/bui/d/dunh...ham_thomas.htm

[hairynob24]

Thanks Cory ,there was alot of companys offering every think and anythink for the auto industry cheers Rob.

[sirhrmechanic]

They made a ton of bicycle lights... self-contained with acetylene generators attached. Rear lights, some run off tubes from the front generator, some just reflectors. Up to big lights. Started with bicycles, but also did stuff for early motorcycles and cars. Lovely bits of kit. You can still find some of the bicycle lights on eBay new in their packages, often surprisingly cheap. The used ones almost always have cracked brass, which embrittles over time. Stress cracks are very common in these super thin spinnings. Cheers, Sirhr

[duffeycycles]

Can anyone tell me about this light that opens on the bottom?i know they quit making them early because when lighting people got burned because their hand was above and many broke because they dropped the lense
Headlamp.jpg

[exeric]

In one of the late '70s vintage 'The Antique Motorcycle', there was a letter from a man who was recalling his experience with gas lights on a mid-20s J Harley. He was getting ready to go somewhere when his mother called him into the house. He had turned on the acetylene gas bottle before he went inside, and when he came back to the bike, he figured it would be okay to light it at the vent on top. He said after the explosion, there was nothing but fragments of the light scattered all over the yard and yet he didn't get hit by any of the shrapnel.

[LouieMCman]

I was told for years about how dangerous the lights were but once I learned the proper use they are really cool and safe. I have lit mine and let them burn for hours at meets and even at indoor shows. Sure if you turn on the gas or water on the generators and walk away for a while and come back to light it and it explodes, well your an idiot and maybe take up model making or something. I always load mine up before meets so if you see me I would be glad to demonstrate how fun they can be.

[sirhrmechanic]

I was told for years about how dangerous the lights were but once I learned the proper use they are really cool and safe. I have lit mine and let them burn for hours at meets and even at indoor shows. Sure if you turn on the gas or water on the generators and walk away for a while and come back to light it and it explodes, well your an idiot and maybe take up model making or something. I always load mine up before meets so if you see me I would be glad to demonstrate how fun they can be.

About 5 years ago we hosted a national Brass and Gas tour -- about 200 pre-16 cars. Amazing event. One of the highlights of those meets is a gaslight parade where all the cars with working acetylene systems do a twilight drive. Gas lamps have a glow and a color to them unlike anything else. It's so cool to see 100 or so cars, all lit by acetylene, come by.

Right on Louie. They are both safe and gorgeous when handled right. FYI, Restoration Supply Co. in Escondido sells most of the goodies needed to restore those lamps to working. Also the correct natural rubber tubing to plumb in the generators (acetylene generators, not electricity generators) to the lamps.

Cheers,

Sirhr