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Sat Dec 01, 2007 7:03 am

i `ve heard that split era headlight lenses didn`t come with the "A" and "NL" markings on each side of the "HELLA" markings at the lower part of the lense ......

as far as i recall , a friend gave me a set of headlight lenses with the "A" and "NL" letters on it , but the lenses have the "L" and a 6 digit part number on the rim where you put the rubber to chrome ring......

so what`s the story besides this set of headlight lenses ?? split era with "A" and "NL" markings ??

anybody knows ??

thank you !!

Ricardo

Sat Dec 01, 2007 11:00 am

I believe the part number on the lens is a Bosch part number not VW. There is lots of good information in this thread thread:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=180652&start=0

Sat Dec 01, 2007 1:35 pm

lenses are hella , not bosch

Sat Dec 01, 2007 2:06 pm

Here are some pics of early Hella headlights. Lipped lenses with VW logo at 18.00hrs and rings with hella logos in the same position. Reflectors are brass.

Sat Dec 01, 2007 2:39 pm

This is probably the following generation; VW logo at 18.00hrs no lip and note a very narrow ribbed area on top. Hella logo at 18.00 in the ring.

Sat Dec 01, 2007 3:01 pm

Here are some more Hella lenses all with VW logos at 1200.
1) snake - Hella - arrow
2) snake - Hella - made in Germany - arrow
3) snake - Hella - A and NL far left + made in Germany - arrow
4) big A and NL approval markings.
And there are plenty of other versions.

Sat Dec 01, 2007 4:33 pm

i have the "hella brand" , "vw" at 12 , "hella" , "A" and "NL" and the snake at 6 , "L" code and 6 numbers at 2 on the rim

is that correct for splits ??

Sat Dec 01, 2007 5:07 pm

The Hella part number is cast into the lip of the lens at the top. The sequential "dash number" (revision) is cast into the lip at the bottom. These numbers moved to the lower left side of the lens face in 1958 or 59. For Hella-VW sealed beam assemblies starting around the Zwitter era, the Hella part number is 25484, and went through some 26 revisions before this part number was superseded in the fall of 1963.

Sat Dec 01, 2007 5:19 pm

A = Austria and NL = Netherlands approval markings are good for somewhat post 55 ovals. There was also a phase when the lenses had only A approval markings. I have a pic of a pretty original looking Dutch 54 with Bosch headlights. The lenses have originally only an A approval marking and the NL with a Bosch part number has been etched? in the center of the lense (I´d guess) by the importer. This would make A+NL lenses earliest 55 and/or later.
Edit:

Sat Dec 01, 2007 5:26 pm

Libreriajenny wrote: i have the "hella brand" , "vw" at 12 , "hella" , "A" and "NL" and the snake at 6 , "L" code and 6 numbers at 2 on the rim

is that correct for splits ??

The "A" and "NL" are not correct for split.

Sat Dec 01, 2007 6:05 pm

To add to the confusion here´s another oddity. A symmetric Hella lense without A and NL markings found in a post oval semaphore bug with Belgian plates.

Sat Dec 01, 2007 6:06 pm

ok, so why the "L" and a 6 digit number are on the lip of the headlight lense ?????

Sat Dec 01, 2007 6:46 pm

buggen wrote: Libreriajenny wrote: i have the "hella brand" , "vw" at 12 , "hella" , "A" and "NL" and the snake at 6 , "L" code and 6 numbers at 2 on the rim

is that correct for splits ??

The "A" and "NL" are not correct for split.

Agreed...............My '53 has the VW at 6, no "A" or "NL"....... "Hella" logo at 12 and the word "oben" above the logo.

Sat Dec 01, 2007 6:47 pm

HeSa wrote: This is probably the following generation; VW logo at 18.00hrs no lip and note a very narrow ribbed area on top. Hella logo at 18.00 in the ring.

Btw the date code of this Hella light is 43J which would make it 1951 to my understanding.

Sat Dec 01, 2007 6:56 pm

53 0val wrote: buggen wrote: Libreriajenny wrote: i have the "hella brand" , "vw" at 12 , "hella" , "A" and "NL" and the snake at 6 , "L" code and 6 numbers at 2 on the rim

is that correct for splits ??

The "A" and "NL" are not correct for split.

Agreed...............My '53 has the VW at 6, no "A" or "NL"....... "Hella" logo at 12 and the word "oben" above the logo.

forgot to mention; "Hella" on the ring at 6.

Sat Dec 01, 2007 7:09 pm

53 0val wrote: buggen wrote: Libreriajenny wrote: i have the "hella brand" , "vw" at 12 , "hella" , "A" and "NL" and the snake at 6 , "L" code and 6 numbers at 2 on the rim

is that correct for splits ??

The "A" and "NL" are not correct for split.

Agreed...............My '53 has the VW at 6, no "A" or "NL"....... "Hella" logo at 12 and the word "oben" above the logo.

I thought all fluted lenses with both Hella and VW logos have Hella down and VW up. This is another variation added to the confusion...

Sat Dec 01, 2007 7:45 pm

HeSa wrote: 53 0val wrote: buggen wrote: Libreriajenny wrote: i have the "hella brand" , "vw" at 12 , "hella" , "A" and "NL" and the snake at 6 , "L" code and 6 numbers at 2 on the rim

is that correct for splits ??

The "A" and "NL" are not correct for split.

Agreed...............My '53 has the VW at 6, no "A" or "NL"....... "Hella" logo at 12 and the word "oben" above the logo.

I thought all fluted lenses with both Hella and VW logos have Hella down and VW up. This is another variation added to the confusion...

Sorry for the confusion.............This is the Canadian non fluted lens for "sealed beams" as required upon export........... The fluted lens does have the logo at 12 as you pointed out.

Sat Dec 01, 2007 10:46 pm

My '53 oval matches what Bob said. BTW Bob, my original lens matches your description, do you have the infamous oval impression in the center of the lens or is it clear/smooth? My lenses are oben at 12 , then the Hella logo just under it. At 6 at the bottom is the VW logo, kind of thick?

It would be nice to know they are the same, then it's just the ring I need :D

Sat Dec 01, 2007 10:53 pm

It has the "oval" impression and the number 25484 on the back edge of the glass.

Sat Dec 01, 2007 11:28 pm

More items to hunt :( :D :(

That's why we are sick I suppose, it's a love hate thing!