Brass head lamp

[Rory_d]

Hi guys, 

 

does anybody know know where I can get a traditional brass head lamp for the narrow boat.

 

its got the brass mounting bracket on the boat but no lamp, I cannot find a replacement one for love nor money anywhere! Looked online at many chandlers and all I can find is modern led ones but I just don’t like the look of them and want to keep the boat looking original,

 

any ideas much appreciated

[Alan de Enfield]

I don't think there is a 'standard' brass head light - they originally used anything they could get hold of and many actually came from old Fire Engines.

 

Of course - the 'original' light would have been a candle (still readily available from many different suppliers - even £ shops)

[carlt]

Ebay

[Ray T]

Midland Chandlers: https://www.midlandchandlers.co.uk/store/category/1938/product/vn-005.aspx

 

Auto Jumble:  https://www.newarkautojumble.co.uk/ http://www.jonniejumble.co.uk/classic_car_events_and_shows/Mid_Kents_Autojumble.shtml   You will need to make sure it has a wire return. Not through the body of the boat, if you get a car one.

 

 

Edited December 29, 2018 by Ray T

[Rory_d]

Thanks for the replies, will have to look at auto jumbles maybe and see what’s out there, maybe I’m being a bit picky!

[Ray T]

Got one from an auto jumble. From a 1914 Humber Tourer.

[roland elsdon]

Not sure what a ‘traditional’ brass headlight for a boat is. However the shop half way down buckby locks have a selection of period 1930 through 1970 headlights off motor vehicles.

 

[David Schweizer]

All the working boats i knew in the 1960's used an old car fog light as a tunnel light. The fog light lens is better because it throws a wide letterbox beam, which can be adjusted to illuminate the roof of the tunnel.

 

Here is a photo of the one we had on Helvetia -  it was an old Lucas King of the Road Fog Light fitted with a 45 watt tungsten bulb.

 

 

 

Edited December 29, 2018 by David Schweizer

[alan_fincher]

I agree with previous posters.

A traditional light would be very unlikely to have been brass on the outside.

 

Many were chromed, and as David suggests, the use of vehicle foglamps was the most popular, because they throw a suitable wide beam, rather than a narrow spotlight.

 

Huge brass lights, (and particularly those more appropriate to a fire engine), are a new fad to add a lot of expensive modern boats as bling, but are not "traditional", (or at least not on a narrow boat).

Many of the published pictures of our boat "Flamingo" at work, actually show something quite small and inconsequential, though no doubt it did the buisiness.....

 

 

Edited December 29, 2018 by alan_fincher

[Ray T]

2 hours ago, alan_fincher said:

 

 

Huge brass lights, (and particularly those more appropriate to a fire engine), are a new fad to add a lot of expensive modern boats as bling, but are not "traditional", (or at least not on a narrow boat).

Many of the published pictures of our boat "Flamingo" at work, actually show something quite small and inconsequential, though no doubt it did the buisiness.....

 

There is always the exception......

Edited December 29, 2018 by Ray T

[dave moore]

I don’t recall brass headlamps on the working boats I knew in the 60s,most were chromed or black. Neither am I a fan of the searchlight style from fire engines. Middletown’s of Manchester used to supply replica lamps, ours served perfectly for many years, they may still carry stock.

[alan_fincher]

54 minutes ago, Ray T said:

There is always the exception......

That's not an exception to what I actually said, because I think it is chrome rather than brass finish.

Flamingo in it's Willow Wren days carried a variety.

This one appears to be painted, and is significantly larger than the one on the last picture I posted.

 

[Chewbacka]

1 hour ago, Ray T said:

There is always the exception......

I do like big headlights......

[alan_fincher]

9 minutes ago, Chewbacka said:

I do like big headlights......

That's actually a pair of very small boats being steered ny midgets!

[Movin' on]

21 hours ago, Rory_d said:

Hi guys, 

 

does anybody know know where I can get a traditional brass head lamp for the narrow boat.

 

its got the brass mounting bracket on the boat but no lamp, I cannot find a replacement one for love nor money anywhere! Looked online at many chandlers and all I can find is modern led ones but I just don’t like the look of them and want to keep the boat looking original,

 

any ideas much appreciated

You could also try Holdens Vintage and Classic in Bromyard Worcs

[Dav and Pen]

I have a headlight from one of our working boats. I tried to sell it on eBay but the “buyer”never paid or collected it.

pm me if interested.

[Ray T]

2 hours ago, alan_fincher said:

That's not an exception to what I actually said, because I think it is chrome rather than brass finish.

 

I was referring to its size not the material it was made from.

[BWM]

EBay should provide something, i ended up buying one from America via eBay as even with shipping it was cheaper than anything i could find over here.

[pearley]

This is similarly one we had. The bracket parted company with the shell of the lamp so now have a smaller chrome one from Midland Chandlers. At least we no longer havevto polish it.

[matty40s]

On 29/12/2018 at 00:16, Ray T said:

 

You will need to make sure it has a wire return. Not through the body of the boat, if you get a car one.

 

 

Although many older boats do earth through the holding bolt.

[Alan de Enfield]

9 minutes ago, matty40s said:

Although many older boats do earth through the holding bolt.

Which is on the BSSC check list :

 

3.7.1 Is the electrical system insulated from the hull? 

Check any wiring that can be seen to a suitable device
such as a horn, headlamp, or navigation light for the
presence of a two‐wire insulated cable.

Electrical systems using the hull as a conductor
will not pass this check.

NOTE – an electrical fitment attached to a metal hull or superstructure and having only a single wire
connected indicates the use of the hull as a conductor.

[Ray T]

Lots of lamps here: https://www.geniusofthelamp.co.uk/shop

[alan_fincher]

1 hour ago, Alan de Enfield said:

Which is on the BSSC check list :

 

3.7.1 Is the electrical system insulated from the hull? 

Check any wiring that can be seen to a suitable device
such as a horn, headlamp, or navigation light for the
presence of a two‐wire insulated cable.

Electrical systems using the hull as a conductor
will not pass this check.

NOTE – an electrical fitment attached to a metal hull or superstructure and having only a single wire
connected indicates the use of the hull as a conductor.

What you have failed to include though is that this is only an advisory point.

Non compliance is not a BSS failure.

As Matty suggests, I suspect vast numbers of boats would not pass this test.

[Jen-in-Wellies]

What you need.

 

Jen

 

[Alan de Enfield]

32 minutes ago, alan_fincher said:

What you have failed to include though is that this is only an advisory point.

Non compliance is not a BSS failure.

As Matty suggests, I suspect vast numbers of boats would not pass this test.

I did not suggest, or even allude to, the fact it would be a 'fail'.

Irrespective of the BSS, it is not a good idea (electrically) to use the hull as a 'return'