Wanted: Sexton Lights

[Colin Alford]

Here are some images from the Ram I and II parts list. This mount appears much simpler than the Valentine mount and more similar to the mount Rob pictured from the early Sexton parts list. On Ram I and II, the headlight mounting brackets were welded to the 3-piece differential.

The master parts list shows that the Sexton headlight mounts were the same as Ram up to Sexton #84.

Rob,

Does your Sexton parts list detail any changes in the headlight mount after veh 84, and does it give any indication of how the mount attached to the hull? (I realize you may not get back to the parts list until Monday).

Colin

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

"Bulb, R.H. Purple" First time I've seen that. What colour was the left? Was this a tank thing only? I expect early because later on typically there was a single hooded lamp on the left.

[Jordan Baker]

Originally Posted by Bruce Parker

"Bulb, R.H. Purple" First time I've seen that. What colour was the left? Was this a tank thing only? I expect early because later on typically there was a single hooded lamp on the left.

One of the headlamps I got for my old carrier was a Sexton light. It had a brass fitting on the rear for the wires to pass through and a purple light bulb inside.

[Colin Alford]

Bruce,

The “purple” bulb was U.V.

I read an explanation somewhere, but my memory is that it was a short lived Canadian attempt at improving blackout driving where the U.V. Lamp would be used to illuminate white markings on the rear of preceding vehicles.

Attached are images from the May ‘42 Ram I and II instruction book, Apr ‘43 Ram II instruction book, and Jan ‘44 Data book, showing the progression of the Ram lighting arrangements.

The left bulb was clear throughout production, whereas the right bulb started clear, changed to U.V., then reverted to clear.

[Colin Alford]

Tom,

Here is an image showing the difference between a Carrier headlight, and one originally manufactured for a tank type vehicle.

The tank type headlight has the treaded union, whereas the carrier headlight has a bushing ( damaged on this example). It should be easy to convert them if required.

[Colin Alford]

Bruce,

Here is the link to CMHQ file 55/621/T37 - U.V. Lighting in Ram Tanks:
https://heritage.canadiana.ca/view/o...eel_c5778/3980

It does not contain much information.

Colin

[Colin Alford]

Tom,

Are there any weld scars on your differential housing to indicate where the original brackets were fitted?

The attached image was shared by Alex in post #6 of this thread: http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...d.php?p=265924

This is the best image I have found which shows the early headlight bracket on a one-piece differential (it certainly helps that the headlights are missing).

My best guess is that the bracket as shown in Rob’s images from the Early Sexton parts list is welded directly to the differential housing.

C4EA59CA-98D1-4CAB-9BBB-35CE8BA41E2A.jpeg B6B8160A-2A92-415E-A4E9-006C636C3376.jpeg

[Tony Smith]

Originally Posted by Colin Alford

Tom,

Here is an image showing the difference between a Carrier headlight, and one originally manufactured for a tank type vehicle.

And, for the sake of identification, here is the same style light showing the cable connection for a Cab 11/12 CMP. These connections are Left- and Right-Handed (ie 2 versions of light housing for the CMP).

[tankbarrell]

I don't think Sexton ever had the post mounted Canadian lights. I believe they went from the stirrup mounted Canadian lamp to the US socket mounted on the glacis plate.

Certainly on Ram, the stirrups were welded straight onto the transmission housing and I'm sure Sexton was no different.

The various styles of bracket seen on post war Sextons are to take the standard British Butler or Lucas lamps.

[Tom Millward]

Hello Chaps, thanks for all the info, I'm starting to build a better picture of what should be fitted and what's been done to the vehicle post war now.

Very interesting to read of the UV bulb that was fitted to RH side to aid night driving, I wonder whether Carriers did the same thing?

So, my understanding so far is that the correct headlights should be the stirrup type, as fitted to the Mk1* Carrier, but with a screw connection on the back (presumably for the armoured cable conduit fittings?).

I will ask the guys in the workshop to check for any welding scars on the nose plate. I'm guessing that the stirrup style headlamps must have been removed along with their brackets during the postwar rebuild and new brackets welded on to accept the Butler lights.

I'll discuss it with the group, but I'm thinking I'll need to remove the current headlamp mounts, remanufacture a pair of stirrup mounts and weld them onto the nose casting.

Thankfully Brian has one of the correct headlamps with the threaded boss on the back.

Does anyone have dimensions for the stirrup? Or could I use the Carrier style housing for the the rough dimensions?

Thanks again,

Tom

[Hanno Spoelstra]

This has turned into a very interesting thread! I have collected some photos in an effort to create some sort of a "headlamp timeline":


Ram II with stirrup mounts and bucket headlamps on the three-piece final drive housing:
Ram cruiser 001 mk2 early.jpg


Sexton I with stirrup mounts and bucket headlamps on the three-piece final drive housing. Note the style of the guards.
sexton 1.jpg


Sexton II with stirrup mounts and bucket headlamps on the one-piece final drive housing. This one has the style of guards as on your Shop No. 1164.
Sexton 1st Polish Armoured Division during the Battle of Falaise Pocket.jpg


Sexton II with US socket headlamps mounted high up on the glacis plate:
Sexton 2 test Montreal 1943.jpg


As Adrian pointed out, the Butler/ Lucas headlamps with their mounting was a post-war British modification. As they do not look totally out of place and are part of this Sexton's history, you may well decide to keep them.