Blue Headlights?

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by Lynn Eades

Richard, it appears with the LP2/2A at least, that all lights had blue lenses.(left, right, front, and rear) I haven't done any night driving with them and do not know what the effects of blue lensed light are compared to red.
What tail light colours did the infantry tanks have?
I would have thought an option like you say was more important with them than with carriers and tanks that were too fast for infantry.
This probably deserves its own thread?
I hope someone can enlighten us?

Lynn,
In 1937, I don't think there were any infantry tanks as such, well not in great numbers. This was only on rear in British armour as far as I am aware.

[The Bedford Boys]

I always thought the two colours on the back were so you could tell whether the carrier was coming or going, like a ship.

[Lynn Eades]

So why did they change them then? (to all blue)

[The Bedford Boys]

No idea. Has anyone got an original of that picture parts book?

[Chris Munford]

That is interesting as my carrier had blue and red rear lights. I assumed that the red light may have been used as a tail light for normal night driving and the blue for blackout driving.

I have seen some wartime pictures of carriers with clear headlight lenses and that is what makes me question it. Here are a few below

http://prntscr.com/938vdd
http://prntscr.com/938vp6

Also, if you see this video below from NZ it seems that most carriers here have clear lenses
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlbXhVcaJ0Q

Chris

[The Bedford Boys]

When lined up they look clear, but when driving out of the gate, they look blue to me.

The lenses are two pieces of glass with a blue film sandwiched between them. So natural light can reflect off the first layer of glass, making them appear clear.

The blue film hates water, and contracts when exposed to it, which is why so many blue lenses appear badly tarnished. The seal around the rim of the glass lets go and water gets in. I pulled a tarnished headlight apart outside on the picnic table to see how they went together. A light shower came over and very soon the blue film had wrinkled up terribly and smelt awful.

It's an interesting topic, hopefully someone can come up with some conclusive evidence as to why the different colours and why they either started with blue headlights and went to clear, or the other way around.

[Chris Munford]

Yes, hopefully someone will have a book out there that says exactly the information we are after.

I wonder why they smelt? Something they used to colour the glass maybe.