Lucas Parts Manual Book

[AlanBartlett]

A friend of mine leant me a book which has all the part numbers and bits and bobs for lots of cars including 1930-1940s jowetts, Headlamps, dizzys, caps, condensors, points, lamps, I think everything electrical , would this be useful on the Jowett Gallery? If so I'll make a spreadsheet with all the different numbers.

[ian Howell]

Alan:

I would like to find out the official type (and quantity - 1 or 2) of rear lamps for my 1930 Long Four.

I went to the Ardingly rally at the weekend (Saturday, very nice black Javelin there - owner not in sight) and bought FOR AN EXTORTIONATE AMOUNT, a Lucas stop and tail light of the type I found on several other early '30s cars there.

I think the original type may have become illegal and were therefore replaced by later designs with larger lens areas, but I would still like to know what was originally fitted.

Part number would be great - any photos / line drawings?

[AlanBartlett]

Sorry to say that the listings only start from 32, at a closer look, end in 38, I will start putting the data into a spread sheet for future use there is a lot of listings and numbers, not for just lucas but thinks like the luvax fillers and oils used on suspension.

[k. rogers]

Ian, I think your car would have originally had just the one tail light fixed to the off-side of the numberplate, which I believe on your car is fixed to the spare wheel carrier. It would probably have been one of those motorcycle type rear lights about an inch (!!!) in diameter with a lovely prism lens. If you have a copy of The Complete Jowett History there is a colour plate of Mike Koch-Osbornes old 'Grey Knight' fabric saloon and that shows the current legal set up of simply placing the same type either side of the numberplate. Some may argue, however, that nowadays there is a question over whether such small lights are safe.
I believe your car is a standard saloon like in the enclosed picture.

[k. rogers]

Sorry Ian, that didn't seem to work - I will send you the picture to your email address!

[ian Howell]

Ken: -

Many thanks for that info. I sort of guessed that the small lights would have been correct originally, but I wanted to be sure. They are fairly readily available (at a PRICE!).

There were no rear lamps with the car when I got it. The rear number plate was fitted to the spare wheel carrier as you suggest, but I though it looked a bit 'Heath Robinson' so I wanted to be clearer.

Some 1928 - 1930ish cars at Ardingly seemed to have two of the type you describe but with a much bigger lens fitted - looked very odd but was presumably legal.

I am still not sure if ONE light with a big enough lens area (I believe at least 1 inch square as opposed to 1 square inch) would be OK?
At Ardingly I did see one car with a single larger lamp setup, but I suppose it may have been 'trailered' to site.

Two seems sensible anyway - but I could only find one lamp there. The hunt continues!

ALSO, do you happen to know the 'right' make and pattern of speedometer? I believe Stewarts were fitted but I have heard that this was by no means always the case - some were apparently Smiths.

I guess the model number would be the letter on the dial under the centre spindle?

Any info would be very welcome.

'Repair' proceeds slowly as usual, but I have finished repairing the radiator - made and fitted new top pipe, removed shell, straightened out (most) dents and resoldered to the core - and I am currently working on the NSR wing - I have welded up cracks and splits and reinforced the broken wired edges. Now to fill and paint. The original paint must have been welded on - it was a h--- of a job to get it all off!

I speculatively bought some brake linings at Ardingly. They look about the right size and if so may provide a useful source reference for others. Watch this space.

Oh - and do you know how the link between the distributor and the advance/retard control looked?

The distributor has a flat lever with two holes about 3/16" diameter (poossibly to give more or less movement) that possibly fitted a rod, bent over at right angles, with a split pin.

The end of the 'crank' in the 'control' rod also has a hole, but only about 1/8" diameter. So an 1/8" dia rod here would be a 'rattling good fit' at the distributor end, and possibly not stiff enough! Might this end have been a clevis on a 3/16" rod?

Again, any info would be very welcome.

Look forward to the photo.

[k. rogers]

I'm unable to advise you on any of the technical items but I'm sure someone else will know. What I am reasonably sure of is that you will need two rear lights for the MoT and that they do not appear to be fussy about the size of them only the position - I stand to be corrected on this or better still if someone has more accurate info!

[TedAllen]

Although it is some years now since I carried out an MOT test, I think the only retrospective legislation was that cars with non-opening windscreens had to have washers, irrespective of age.
I think in all other aspects if a car was manufactured on a certain date and adheres to the law as it was at that time, then it would be ok for the test.
However, if you turn up with extra lights, flashers, etc fitted then they have to work and be of current legal wattage, position, etc. My 8hp, with one headlight dipping mechanically and the other going out satisfied my tester.

Having said all that, I would certainly not use a car with only one rear light in modern road conditions. Not just for safety, but every police car behind you will stop you at night and you'll be hours getting home !
What about a couple of red lights which could be clipped on the bumper irons nd plugged into the light circuit when needed and kept in the boot, using one original light for shows and during the day.
Most of the younger generation of testers are not used to old cars and may not have gone into this area of testing too thoroughly.
You can always ask your tester to let you have a read of the testers manual, which they all have.
Ted

[ian Howell]

Ken / Ted As always, more useful info! Many thanks. Any on the speedo or ignition linkage?

I agree TWO lights are more or less essential - even if only to cover the likelihood of one bulb 'blowing'.

My original enquiry was really to find out how the car looked when new.

Repairs: - Last night I took off the remains of the NSF wing - seems recoverable (eventually), and found ALMOST NEW brake linings, at least on that side front, and NO MEASURABLE WEAR on the kingpins - BONUS! (at last!).

Rest of the steering linkages tonight - with luck.

[Keith Andrews]

Out of interest re MoT (WoF in NZ) NZ rules gone wrong..'by the book'
The Bradford fits in to a classification made for old cars, including no seat belt etc
I have a single brake/tail number plate light center rear
That is legal
I also have a small round, reflector lens tail light just above the bumpers on each side
That is not legal...I cant have a center tail light and one each side.
BUT, If I take the bulds out of the side lights, and have them just as reflectors...that is legal.

If I go to the offical land transport testing station, they will pass it, but pass it because the inspector doesnt know the rules
If I go to the workshop inspector, he will let it go with light bulbs in but points out, strictly speaking its not legal.

I have access to the WuF specs manual with all updates, and can assure u it is clearly stated...it is illegal with the bulbs in.

[Tony Fearn]

There's a cross-member below the rear window in the 1934 Jowett, just under the blind. This is ideal for screwing a Japanese/Chinese-made 24 LED linear stop light to.

"Mary Ellen" now has one fitted, and it's almost invisible from the outside, until of course you light it up, and it doesn't intrude into the interior too much.

I feel much safer now that her rather efficient deceleration is more obvious.

There's also a similar one on my Series IIIA Sunbeam Rapier.

Wouldn't do for the purists though.

Check out 'led brake' in 'car accessories' on eBay.

Tony.

[ian Howell]

Keith / Tony

Thanks for the continuing interest.

Tony: - Is Mary Ellen 6 volt? I like the idea of an unobtrusive rear light assembly - especially as it would be simple to remove and would not alter the appearance of the vehicle. I think Javelins could benefit too - mounted on the picnic tray?

I commend the idea to the house.

[Tony Fearn]

Hi Ian,

No she's 12 volt and always has been.

Any old car would benefit from such a stop lamp at high level, as we've all seen the "intensity" of small rear lights, and I'm sure it could be made removable by using a 'hidden' plug and socket.

Regards,

Tony.

[AlanBartlett]

Tony, your modernising technique seems a great idea, Just got back from my first proper night run in the Jowett, could I see anything, hardly, One of my friends was behind said its quite hard to spot the lol red cicular tail lamps in the dark. mind if I borrow your iginuity.

[Forumadmin]

From mods section on JowettNet; number may be old....

Halogen tail/stop 12v 35/15w at least twice as bright at the rear from Andrew Brock, Classic & Vintage Bulbs +44 2082990299. He also does the rear Number plate, festoon indicator and front side bulbs in halogen to make them more reliable and brighter. Be seen , do not be hit!

For those in Aus:
http://www.classicandvintagebulbs.com/page4.html

I have used these for probably 10 years and never had one fail.