Headlamp Glass

[Chris KC]

Were the 'lenses' in the headlamps of a 1930~31 'Ulster' plain / flat glass?
I don't know how many times I've looked at that Autocar review without noticing they differ from my own lamps (which are frosted glass).

[Stuart Joseph]

Good evening Chris. I would suggest that they were 'stippolite' which is a frosting effect and most certainly flat.

Regards from the creative county - Staffordshire

Stuart

[Steve Jones]

'Stippolyte' is a modern pattern of obscure glass in a traditional style made by Pilkingtons and readily available from any, local, glass merchant.

http://www.thebbgroup.co.uk/protechglass/stippolyte.htm

It certainly looks the part in my Ulster and SWB Saloon headlamps and also does the job in our Bathroom window!!

Steve

[Chris KC]

Thanks guys. It might be my imagination but these don't look very stippled though:


  go6302-2_0.jpg (Size: 132.31 KB / Downloads: 416)

[Tony Betts]

Hi chris,

The original are very simular to the stipulate of today.

But the original pattern was not as heavily patterned, so may appear clear in some pics.

Tony.

[Ian Williams]

I have always thought they were frosted and when new had a "Lucas diffuser" sticker in the centre

[Tony Betts]

Hi IAN,

I always called it frosted glass, but nowadays the stipolite tends to get used.

I don't know if LUCAS called them frosted originally, it was the easiest way of describing how they looked.

I think it amounts to the same thing.

And yes I have originals here with the remains of LUCAS defuser stickers on them.

Tony

[Chris KC]

Thanks to all - my current 'lenses' are heavily frosted (hand ground) which does the job OK but doesn't look quite right, will check out my local glass merchant next time I'm passing.

[Ian Williams]

Yes Tony I agree we may call then frosted when that is not quite the correct technical name in glass circles, so perhaps stippled is more accurate.

[Tony Betts]

Hi Ian,

To late in the evening to check now. But from memory the original must have been moulded. It is only from memory but I recall on some ive had the frosting didn't always come up to the edge of the glass.
But if moulded, it didn't look obvious. If you see what I meen.

New ones today will be cut from sheet glass, so the stipple or frosting will be totally up to the edge and look cut through.

Tony.