What came first?

[Lippy]

5051-15 Comparison.jpg
Here are a couple of drawings that I made of a 1915 to 1934 Harley-Davidson tail light. They, as well as 50 pages of new drawings, will be in a VL Parts Catalog that I'm working on. What I hope is that someone will know which style came first and when did the change begin. They are identical in construction except for the riveted on horizontal piece that the license plate attaches to. Thanks, Lippy

[exeric]

I believe this is the tail-light used by H-D from 1915 into circa '22.

tlb.jpg

[duffeycycles]

I think, 3 styles used 1915-1922 as Eric posted, 1923-1933 as you pictured on left only the bottom of the center should look like your right one, your right one is 1934-1938 tall box servicars & '34 singles...'34-'36 VL used a one piece bracket like '36-'38 BT

[Lippy]

I agree, that’s the same tail light on my brothers 22. But I mis-spoke in my previous text. Harley reused the 5051-15 number up to 1934. I just grabbed my 22 to 27 Spare parts catalog and it shows the above left tailing, with the number 5051-15. Used from 15 to 27. It’s hard to document the pre war motorcycles without have an unmodified original as you reference.

[Rubone]

Lippy,
If you need any parts book info I can look it up. I have most of the earlier ones too.
DCP_4752 (2).JPG

[Lippy]

Thanks for the generous offer. I have all of what you pictured. In fact I’ve scanned them all into my computer for easy access. As you know the quality of the pictures in Harley parts catalogs greatly diminished after the teen years. Those in that era were great!

[Steve Slocombe]

The 5051-15 was a back dated part number as later styles of tail light fitted earlier models as replacements. Check my JD book for references. It was used until 1933, as 1934 took the new pattern tail light for the faired-in Art Deco rear mudguard until 1938. The 1935 domed red tail light glass was also later given a back dated part number as it was intended to replace the earlier flat style.

[BigLakeBob]

I think, 3 styles used 1915-1922 as Eric posted, 1923-1933 as you pictured on left only the bottom of the center should look like your right one, your right one is 1934-1938 tall box servicars & '34 singles...'34-'36 VL used a one piece bracket like '36-'38 BT

Why only '34-'38 tall box servi cars, not small box? Did '38 servi cars not use the one piece bracket like BT? I have a '38 left fender and it has the 3 mounting holes not 2. Piecing together a '38 and trying to figure things out. Thanks.

[duffeycycles]

GD is tall box, GDT is tall box & towbar. My '38 GDT tail lights, both are '23-'33 style with a different license mount, one with optional brake light, one without. Shown as replacement for '15-'33. Yes '34-'38 small box did use the same tail light as other models '34-'38

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