Tract-O-Lite headlights

[Lanexa Speedway]

Dumb question, but are all of the different types of the Tract-o-lite headlights reproduced for say, the x00, x01, and x000 machines?

I need some with the rounded back for my 641, and keep finding the generic replacements. Just can't find myself to put the generics on, or even the x00 teardrop ones I have, but am not seeing a repop. Can anyone enlighten me (pun intended)?

Thanks!
Kevin

 

[white halftrack]

Send me an email and I will see if I can help you as I think I
have some lights. I lost your number after we talked a while
back.

 

[1955 950]

Where the x00 series round or the teardrop style?

 

[Tim Daley(MI)]

Speed-
The original T-O-L headlights released by Ford were the 'tear-drop' bucket style and got changed to the rounder buckets around mid-1950. They used the round style up through the Hundred Series and Thousand Series. I have a few sets of both so my email is open. Tim 'PloughNman' Daley(MI)

[i:654c4848f0][b:654c4848f0]<font size="4">Tim Daley(MI)</font>[/b:654c4848f0][/i:654c4848f0]<table width="100" border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" bordercolor="#000000"><tr><td height="25" colspan="2" bgcolor="#CC0000">

<font color="#FFFFFF" size="3">*9N653I* & *8NI55I3*</font>​

</td></tr><tr><td>

</td><td>

</td></tr></table>

 

[Lanexa Speedway]

Thanks guys. I'll email you guys later today. Running like crazy this week.

I always thought that the teardrop (slightly pointed back side) was used up through the x00-series in '57, then the round back came in '58 with the change to the x01-series? My dad's '57 860, which is an all-original survivor machine has the teardrops, as well as the Jubilee I got a hood and lights from, teardrops on it, also. I am extremely confident both had not been messed with.

Regardless, I think I need the round backs for my 641, and will shoot you fellows some emails today.

Thanks,
Kevin

 

[Ultradog MN]

What?
You have spare lights and didn't tell me?
I only have about 20 sets in my stash but need some more to support my fetish.

 

[Lanexa Speedway]

(quoted from post at 11:06:56 03/05/15) What?
You have spare lights and didn't tell me?
I only have about 20 sets in my stash but need some more to support my fetish.

Uh-oh.....maybe I better get it in gear...

 

[white halftrack]

Hoarder.

 

[Lanexa Speedway]

Tim and Halftrack, can you guys shoot me an email, please? I can't see where your email is open. (which might be something on my end?)

I think I have my email open.

Thanks!
Kevin

 

[Tall T]

Tim,

Could the Jubilee be the first of the rounded back Tract-o-Lite,
in which case it would be [i:e35646936f]early[/i:e35646936f] not mid '50's ?

If '53 was not the first year, then I must have incorrect Tract-O-Lites on my Jubil -- not that I care really.

P.S.
A little secret I discovered while painting my light rims. the Plastikote chrome is great, but unless you clear cote it afterward, the nice chrome like surface will dull and it isn't hard enough.

I wish now that i had clear coated them.

Next time.

 

[Lanexa Speedway]

(quoted from post at 22:57:42 03/05/15) Tim and Halftrack, can you guys shoot me an email, please? I can't see where your email is open. (which might be something on my end?)

I think I have my email open.

Thanks!
Kevin

Can y'all tell me if you can see these fellows' emails open? I can't, but is there something I'm doing wrong where I can't see it? I'm in Modern View.

Thanks!
Kevin

 

[Sean in PA]

Kevin, I just checked modern and classic view. No one appears to have email available in classic view. I do see that you have email available in modern view, as well as Tall T, but Tim Daley and White Halftrack do not.

 

[Royse]

(quoted from post at 10:56:49 03/07/15) Kevin, I just checked modern and classic view. No one appears to have email available in classic view. I do see that you have email available in modern view, as well as Tall T, but Tim Daley and White Halftrack do not.

Something odd going on maybe. I see almost everyone's email
open on classic view except yours Sean and 1955 950's.
White Halftrack's is open on one post but not the other.
Kevin's is open as well. I see the same as you on modern view.

 

[Tim Daley(MI)]

T-O-L's never had chrome bezels. The NAA/Jubilee model was not released until September, 1952.

Tim

 

[Tall T]

(quoted from post at 11:15:40 03/09/15) T-O-L's never had chrome bezels. The NAA/Jubilee model was not released until September, 1952.

Tim

What else is new.
Both those things you mentioned are common knowledge but you didn't address my point as to when the rounded backs appeared.

t

 

[Lanexa Speedway]

(quoted from post at 15:45:35 03/09/15)

(quoted from post at 11:15:40 03/09/15) T-O-L's never had chrome bezels. The NAA/Jubilee model was not released until September, 1952.

Tim

What else is new.
Both those things you mentioned are common knowledge but you didn't address my point as to when the rounded backs appeared.

t

As to when the round backs appeared, I'm betting it was at least after the Jubilee and NAA. Reason I say that is because I have tin and lights from an untouched original Jubilee (1953 manufactured), and had the tear drops on it. I know they were on there from the factory because 1) the original paint was still under the pedestals, and 2) the round disks of metal where the holes were punched out of the metal were sandwiched under either the nut or washers. Those punch outs also had the exact, matching original paint and they fit the holes perfectly. Thought it was a pretty cool find at the time.

Anyway, just my two cents. And I'll throw this out there: I'd be interested in trading you my pair of teardrop housings for your roundback housings.

Thanks,
Kevin

 

[Tall T]

Kevin,

That '53 Jubilee promo video from Dearborn shows the round backs too, so like your original, the round backs probably were new with the Jubilee like so many other innovations were new with this tractor.

I'm keeping them though after restoring them last summer -- rusty rim adjusters etc.

Terry

 

[Tim Daley(MI)]

Here is my link...gotta click on the 'EMAIL' link. if one doe snot insert their info, then it won't show up in the post as a link. I don't always put my email in my posts for obvious reasons.

[i:654c4848f0][b:654c4848f0]<font size="4">Tim Daley(MI)</font>[/b:654c4848f0][/i:654c4848f0]<table width="100" border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" bordercolor="#000000"><tr><td height="25" colspan="2" bgcolor="#CC0000">

<font color="#FFFFFF" size="3">*9N653I* & *8NI55I3*</font>​

</td></tr><tr><td>

</td><td>

</td></tr></table>

 

[Tim Daley(MI)]

Kevin-
What you may be confused about is that lighting kits were NEVER factory installed until the 60's. Kits were available at Ford Tractor dealers as optional equipment accessories and you could have their mechanics install them or take them home and install them yourself. Now, that being said, it would very possible that a dealer had a an older teardrop bucket set on his shelf and when a guy came in who had a later Hundred Series tractor, the dealer just sold him whatever had. This happened all the time as dealers were instructed to deplete old stock prior to issuing new. That is why often times you'll find a set of car or truck tools on a tractor. Wrong versions of the correct tools often were sold to tractor owners as many tractor dealers were simply car dealers who, early on, were obliged to accept tractors at their car dealerships to sell alongside. It was just the way the industry operated way back. So, a Ford car dealer in Manhattan would get a box car of tractors delivered to him, and as was the practice too, he was required to pay for them on the spot in cash. He probably never sold a single tractor and went broke trying to. So, do not base your findings on a specific tractor you have or have seen.

[i:654c4848f0][b:654c4848f0]<font size="4">Tim Daley(MI)</font>[/b:654c4848f0][/i:654c4848f0]<table width="100" border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" bordercolor="#000000"><tr><td height="25" colspan="2" bgcolor="#CC0000">

<font color="#FFFFFF" size="3">*9N653I* & *8NI55I3*</font>​

</td></tr><tr><td>

</td><td>

</td></tr></table>

 

[Tim Daley(MI)]

Well, obviously it is not common knowledge my friend. I simply state the facts and try to help clarify questions members have here. So can you tell the group who made the T-O-L's and where?

Tim

 

[Lanexa Speedway]

(quoted from post at 09:10:22 03/10/15) Kevin-
What you may be confused about is that lighting kits were NEVER factory installed until the 60's. Kits were available at Ford Tractor dealers as optional equipment accessories and you could have their mechanics install them or take them home and install them yourself. Now, that being said, it would very possible that a dealer had a an older teardrop bucket set on his shelf and when a guy came in who had a later Hundred Series tractor, the dealer just sold him whatever had. This happened all the time as dealers were instructed to deplete old stock prior to issuing new. That is why often times you'll find a set of car or truck tools on a tractor. Wrong versions of the correct tools often were sold to tractor owners as many tractor dealers were simply car dealers who, early on, were obliged to accept tractors at their car dealerships to sell alongside. It was just the way the industry operated way back. So, a Ford car dealer in Manhattan would get a box car of tractors delivered to him, and as was the practice too, he was required to pay for them on the spot in cash. He probably never sold a single tractor and went broke trying to. So, do not base your findings on a specific tractor you have or have seen.

Tim,

Very interesting, I get it now - thanks.

Scratching my head on the email thing, because I can look in both Modern View and Classic View and it doesn't show up for me for you.

Tell you what, if you could shoot me an email, maybe we can get the ball rolling. My email is krleppert attt gmail dotttt com. I could be interested in purchasing a pair of round back housings outright, or if you had any interest in the pair of teardrops I have, I'd be willing to work some sort of swap.

Thanks again,
Kevin

 

[Tim Daley(MI)]

Lan-
When you reply to a post, you need to type in your email address in the box provided under your name that says EMAIL if you want your email to be available in your post. You will not SEE the actual email address in your post. When you read a reply, look at the lower right corner. If the poster has made his email address available, it will say EMAIL in blue or else it will say NO EMAIL. You have to click on that blue dialog EMAIL note to then open up YOUR email with the fellas email address in the recipients box.


[i:654c4848f0][b:654c4848f0]<font size="4">Tim Daley(MI)</font>[/b:654c4848f0][/i:654c4848f0]<table width="100" border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" bordercolor="#000000"><tr><td height="25" colspan="2" bgcolor="#CC0000">

<font color="#FFFFFF" size="3">*9N653I* & *8NI55I3*</font>​

</td></tr><tr><td>

</td><td>

</td></tr></table>

 

[Lanexa Speedway]

Got it - thanks. And sent you an email.

Kevin