Blue Headlights?

[David Dunlop]

I wonder if there is an organic gel component to the blue film, which goes ponsy over time when exposed to moisture?

David

[Chris Munford]

So I assume that what we have got from this is that all carriers came out of the factory whether early or late with blue headlights and they simply went clear after a while in the elements.

[Lynn Eades]

No Chris, I don't think so? I have a head light here in which the glass has been painted green. Where the paint has been scratched off, I can see it is a laminated glass that the centre plastic has gone yellow. I would guess that this was originally a clear glass. I can't imagine it ever having been blue (doesn't mean it wasn't)
This light has only ever had one coat of paint and is the dark green green that some Kiwis will know about on early LP2 carriers.
The bulb is an Osram275, Gas filled, made in England, 6Volt 24 Watt.(just if someone wanted to know)
There doesn't appear to be any marking on the glass.

Talking about tail light lenses now. (I have 2 of each, in original packaging, nos)

The red lens is marked HELITE and SAFETY in a small circle with a kangaroo pictured between the words.
The blue lens is marked Triplex.

Interesting that the Australian carriers had the blue and red tail lights installed on opposite sides to the early British carriers.

[Chris Munford]

Lynn, interesting, thanks. That could be what the others were talking about saying that the blue eventually fades to a clear to yellow colour.

[Chris Munford]

Ok, so I looked in the spare parts book which was printed in 43 and it only lists blue like stated by Lynn. Also, a second question on the side regarding the air scoops on carriers and the wire mesh and wood frame that goes in them. What date did they actually come out and were first used?

[Lynn Eades]

Chris, can I suggest you start a new thread for the new topic?
That way, when someone does a search to find out about air scoops, they don't have to think of "blue lights" to find the thread.
In saying that, I think lots of threads go off track.
On the lights, I have a cd of a British parts book dated 1942. It covers the older carriers and the Universals. In the front it says 1 tail light with a "Ruby" (red) lens and in the back it says two tail lights with blue lenses.
The U.C. had one tail light, the earlier carriers had two tail lights.

[The Bedford Boys]

When was your Carrier built Chris?

I picked up a tail light from a vintage parts yard the other week and it had a broken red lens in it, with the Melite Safety logo and everything, so I'm going to go with the Blue/Red combo on my carrier. Just need some new lenses and I'll be away laughing.