Model "A" Sportlight - How many still around ?

[FL&WVMIKE]

Just how many Model "A" Sportlights are still around ?
They must be pretty scarce. They cost about $10.00 when new, back in the worst part of the depression. You hardly ever see them on Model "A"s.
MIKE

[HoarseWhisperer]

I have two, one with the "Model J" on the tag; the other without any Model designation. Both are the later "Junior" 5 1/2" size. The most difficult part was finding the open car mounting bracket.

[MikeK]

I have one complete and on my roadster, and parts to put together another, including the roadster mounting brackets. Mine are the 5" Sportlite Junior, sold specifically by many A dealers, not the standard Sportlite you have pictured.

You might want to contact Ron Ehrenhofer, he was quite into them. A few years ago I investment cast a dozen bronze brackets for him, and also injection molded about a hundred wax patterns for a specific bracket he wanted.

[FL&WVMIKE]

MIKEK ..................................
The open car bracket pictured, for my '29 roadster, is a reproduction. I bought it sometime in the 60s or early 70s, I believe.
MIKE

[FL&WVMIKE]

MikeK ......................................
I have a small box of old spotlight pieces, to use when I restore mine. The spotlight here, is a Unity "SafetyLight". I believe this is what came out in the 30s.
MIKE

[Dennis L Oberer]

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I could be wrong but I think Unity made them and put the Ford label on them.

I have a CHEVY sportlight and it appears to be identical to the Ford except for the riveted on Name Plate.

Hey all you experts...am I right or am I wrong in this assumption?

Thanks

Dennis L Oberer
Green Bay WI

[HoarseWhisperer]

No expert, but I like to read what the researches have to say.

There's a nice article entitled Sportlites by Ron Erenhofer pg 12, Vol #3 of MARC's Technically Speaking.

Another is from the Dec 2006 issue of the A400 Newsletter.

The Ford tag might have been on the later Unity SafetyLight, but these sources indicate either the Unity Model J tag, or no Model designation at all on the 29-31 Unity Sportlite for Model A.



I will wait also, for the experts to chime in..........

[Karl]

I have two . One on my 1930 Sports Coupe with Brackets from Ron Ehrenhofer . This was originally a 1930 Chev one that I brought off Ebay and restored myself and is identical to the Model A one (once you remove the Chev badge ) . It replaced a 1928 Sportlight that cracked through the body and is now being repaired by a friend for his car. The Second on my 1930 Phaeton is a reproduction by Ron and it is perfect. It wasn't cheap and it took about 9 months to arrive but was worth every penny and second of the wait. Karl

[HoarseWhisperer]

BTW, I believe the Sportlite that Fl&WVMike has pictured is the early 1928 version sold by Ford Dealers, before they changed to the 5 1/2" Junior Sportlite (1929-1934).

[Stretch Cab]

I have two, one on my daughters early 30 rdst. pu and one for my 31 rdst. I really like the looks of the lights.

[FL&WVMIKE]

HoarseWhisperer ....................
The one that I have is the one that you see pictured in the FORD literature, etc. The early literature anyway. I have some, somewhere. If I find it, I will show it.
Thanks,
MIKE

[Chris Haynes]

There is one on eBay now. The guy is REAL PROUD of it.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1932-...Q5fAccessories

[Mustang]

I’ll join “Hoarse” in the non-expert category with
some additional info, and of coarse the results of
one of my other (non expert) pastimes – Patent searching.

Henry R. Gross
Chicago, Illinois
Spotlight
Patent number: 1702772
Filing date: Apr 28, 1927
Issue date: Feb 19, 1929
http://tinyurl.com/2dcwnlh

Henry R. Gross
Chicago, Illinois
Improved Mounting Bracket (Curved and Sloped Windshield Pillar)
Patent number: 1913075
Filing date: Feb 23, 1932
Issue date: Jun 6, 1933
http://tinyurl.com/25o8pz6

Henry R. Gross
Chicago, Illinois
Improved Mounting Bracket (Sloped Windshield Pillar)
Patent number: 1940348
Filing date: Feb 3, 1933
Issue date: Dec 19, 1933
http://tinyurl.com/345bv8q

Other mounting changes were covered in patents
filed by Henry R. Gross in 1947 and 1951.

Even though Henry R. Gross was president of Unity Mfg,
the first time that Unity Manufacturing was mentioned
in any of the patents referencing the 1702772 spotlight patent
was in a Aug 19, 1993 application covering a spotlight mount
and filed by “William” E. Gross. of Chicago

Unity are still alive and well as a major vehicle lighting manufacture.
Here is the link to Unity’s database going back to 1929, that includes
their early ads and flyers etc showing how the spotlight has evolved..
http://unityusa.com/historical_archive.htm

Art

[Model A Man]

The spot light on my coupe is I believe from a model T. I made a bracket that fits using two of the spare tire bolts on the side mount. I get a lot of comments when people see it. I will try to take pictures of it today.

[FL&WVMIKE]

MUSTANG . . . . . . . . . . . .
Thank you so much for providing that information about the Unity Company and their lights ! That was a big help to me.
I learned a lot about my SAFETYLIGHT and also that three others that I have are from 1953. One is FORD script. I also learned some about a pair of roadlights that I have.
You can see some of the patented brackets in my collection of misc.
Thanks again !
MIKE

[HoarseWhisperer]

The patent info was interesting.
As previously mentioned, the two Sportlites I have are identical in every way, except one tag has the Model J, the other no model designation. Then a repro tag I have says Model J-1.
I have conflicting articles that say the second version of Model A Unity Sportlite should have Model J, the other says no.
Patent dates on both are 1914-15-24-29. So the research continues and hopefully someone has additional info.
In any case, I think that early tag posted by FL&WVMIKE is the most attractive in appearance.

[FL&WVMIKE]

Hoarse Whisperer . . . . . . . . . . . .
I found a re-print of the early FORD advertising piece, showing the early style SPORTLIGHT as an accessory. This advertising piece is duplicated in the first issue of "FORD LIFE", the Nov.-Dec. 1970 issue.
This SPORTLIGHT cost $15.00 when new.
MIKE

[Model A Man]

I made a bracket that bolts to the spare wheel using 2 of the 3 lug bolts. I think this is a spot light used on model T's

[FL&WVMIKE]

Model A Man . . . . . . . . . . .
How neat ! I bet you will give a lot of people some ideas !
MIKE

[Brad in Germany]

Is this Sportlite correct for a 1931 Model A? ....or is it perhaps for a later model?





I see that the off-on switch is not at the tip of the inside arm as shown in the accessory brochure, but rather placed under the inside end tip. The data-plate lists it as a Model J-1.

It is offered for sale for about $190 here in Germany. Does that sound like a fair market value price for what appears to be a good condition light?

Thanks for any feedback.

Fordially,
Brad in Germany

[Karl]

Brad I think this is the model after the correct sportslight. Having said that $190 is cheap. I brought one of mine of ebay and reconditioned it myself and the chroming alone cost more than $190. The other refurbished one I brought from Ron Erhrenhofer for about $500-Sounds a lot but it cost me at least that to restore the one off ebay and his one is much nicer than the one I did .As mentioned in my recent post the Sportslight makes a night run much more pleasent. Tonight I actually have had the one I restored in pieces as just before last nights run I found an internal short with lots of heat and smoke . I simply switched Ron's light onto the car and it performed like a dream . On inspection some insulation had cracked on the central wire - a little heatshrink and we should now be good to go. Seeing its out of the car I have attached some photos -you will see its missing the plate on the top (it was a Chevrolet one) and at some stage I must buy a correct one from Ron -Karl

[FL&WVMIKE]

KARL .............................
I did not comment on that $190.00 price, because I had not seen one sold for years. It seemed like a good price to me. They are very scarce !
MIKE

[Karl]

Mike -yes I agree its a good price

PS I love the 1934 Phaeton. Hopefuly my next car will be a 1934 Ford of some description. I've been actively looking for 2 years . Not many of them in this country and even fewer that have survived unrodded. Flathead Ted has a 1934 Phaeton body but not sure that there is much else other than the body- Karl

[Deluxe Delivery]

I have an unrestored sportlight that I would love to install on my delivery. I have a very nice newly plated bracket for an open car. It is in very fine condition and is identical to #A18561 but has no number on it. I can only assume it is a replated original as it must go back about 30 years, when my father acquired it. Anybody interested in a swap for a closed car one? Or, how may I contact Mr. Ehrenhofer ?

[Steve Plucker]

You can email his brother Ken at [email protected]

Pluck

[Billaz]

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A very interesting thread on the sportlights. I have one of the Sportlights with the Chevrolet name on it. Otherwise exactly the same as another light I had without the Chevrolet name on it which I sold to a Model A guy about a year ago. This one may be available as I don't have a use for it.
I have had both of these for close to 50 years.

BillAZ

[oldcarz]

Originally Posted by Billaz

A very interesting thread on the sportlights. I have one of the Sportlights with the Chevrolet name on it. Otherwise exactly the same as another light I had without the Chevrolet name on it which I sold to a Model A guy about a year ago. This one may be available as I don't have a use for it.
I have had both of these for close to 50 years.

BillAZ

Bill, If you still have the Chevy sportlite,I would be interested in purchasing it. You can contact me directly by e-mail [email protected]. Thanks. Frank

[Keith True]

With all the old spotlights I have I don't have one Sportlight.These are two I have taken out of A's though.The one with the round knob is a Mobilite Cruiser,and the pistol grip light is a Clymer that came in my A that was given to me in 1968.That light mounts right in the windshield,through a big hole bored through it.

[HoarseWhisperer]

There's a fine article by Ron Ehrenhofer and Larry Rust, in the Nov-Dec issue of Model A News for "Identifying the Model A Sportlite", complete with helpful photos.

In an effort to determine if I indeed have a correct Sportlite on my roadster, I am trying to resolve possible discrepancies between the artlicle research and the 2011 Judging Standards.

1. Operating knob:

JS indicates the bakelite knob as either black or brown with a single groove centerline

Article indicates only black with a double groove for the Model A era. "Brown actuating ball with the single groove shows up on literture for the J-1 (dated 1941)."

2. Data plate:

JS indicates that in early 1930, the data plate was changed from brass to dull chromium plated with the "Model J" listed on a background of painted black.

Article seems to indicate the "Model J" data plate was not introduced until 1935, unless I am misenterpreting.

Any researchers that can shed some light on the above?

[msmaron]

Waiting to install mine with Ron in my Slant. Love the look

[Bob-A]

I had a Sportlite on my '31 roadster for a while that I got off of eBay. It is a beautiful restored one and came complete with the proper mounting bracket. I only paid -$200- for it, a real steal! Unfortunately, it was just
to shiny and nice for the car, so I took it off. It nows rests nicely in my display cabinet. When no ones looking I like to caress and whisper sweet nothings to it. It's that gorgeous! And, on the roadster I installed an
original (not very shiny now) late 20's/early 30's Packard open car C.M. Hall spotlight.

Bob-A

[ERWIN DL]

Dear Mister;
Is it possible to receive some pics of the installation on your car please. [email protected]
greats

[ERWIN DL]

Dear members
Where can i order for a replica sportlite ? Mac's or mike's or others ?

[Wick]

A friend has a nos sportlight in the original box. I'll get a picture of it.

[Synchro909]

I had one of those but can't remember what I did with it. I'll have a look around for it. Who knows what I will find!

[abachman3]

Ron Ehrenhofer in Illinois refurbishes and sells the correct Sport Lites for the Model A Fords. He makes/has made some of the hard to find parts.

[John Dayhuff]

My dad put one on his 1930 Phaeton in the early seventy's, pretty cool. I now own the exact same car and wouldn't dare think of taking it off.


John