Headlamp custom or ??

[geo61bird]

I have a pair, pretty nice shape. says "Guide", only one filament so its probably early teens.
Can't identify and need some help.

THANKS

[redmodelt]

I took a quick look at some of the books I have. Most only show the cars from the side and any 3/4 views are not clear enough to really see much. The drum headlights were popular from about 1922 to 1926 and many makes used them. These could be aftermarket too, to update your car in that era. After the gas light era most cars had bullet shaped lights and after about 1926 most makers went back to that style.

[rotorwrench]

Guide Lamp manufactured lighting systems for quite a few automobile manufacturers prior to the buy up by GM. By the time GM purchased Guide in late 1928, the drum type lights were pretty much out of vogue.

I don't recall seeing any drum type head lamps on Ford Model T cars or TT trucks in the early 20s. GM was a different story though. They used a lot of them. There were a lot of other car companies around till the depression hit.

Guide pioneered a lot of stuff in those early years. They had a decent high & low beam set up before a lot of others did it. They were one of the first companies to develop sealed beam lamps.

[redmodelt]

There were a few aftermarket drum head lights for the Model T, even one that covered the 1915-1925 original lamp. But the mount is wrong for 26/27, it would need to curve out not in. They are not GM of the era, nor Chrysler, Dodge or Essex or Overland or Star or Studebaker Light 6. Ok I only looked at 1924 images. None have a bezel with that design on it. I would guess they were for a low end car, just do not have the look for higher price cars. Given the number of market entry car makers in that era at all market levels, could go to any number of "BUILT" cars or trucks, heck might even be tractor.

[rotorwrench]

The design of the lamp door sort of looks to emulate a radiator grill shell shape of the early 20s era. I looked at a lot of makes too and most that have a design on the lamp door are more ornate than the lamps in question. The doors are also rather large in diameter. They are definitely different than most I've looked at.

[gz]

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I would post these on the AACA website (www.aaca.org). Guide made a lot of headlamps for a lot of car as well as aftermarket and accessory lights. I doubt these were Ford accessories. As rotorwrench said, the design of the door/rim should identify it with a particular car.

[geo61bird]

Thanks guys for the input!
"emulate a radiator grill shell shape" that was my thinking. I was thinking like Packard, or Buick, but just a guess.
I'll also try AACA.

[Royce P]

Drum headlights like that were a fad in the 1920 - 25 era, then they quickly became old hat. I know I have seen some like that on something, just can't remember what.