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Tue Mar 23, 2010 3:27 pm

elliottjohnson wrote: Besides the Hella logo and "Made In Germany" the only other writing is the marking "R" for the right side and "BL70 SAE-I 61".
I *think* the 61 logo is the earliest design but I am not 100% sure of that.

I don't think the 61 logo indicates clear though as I have what was sold to me as an NOS pair of clear lenses and only 1 has the 61 logo. Of course, the other could have had the amber insert removed at some point since they appear identical.

There are least 3 different versions of the long letter/number sequence above.

Tue Mar 23, 2010 4:37 pm

Anchovy wrote: The parts were original vacuum metalized. The reproductions are painted since it is cheaper. If you can't find NOS or good used, then having them plated is the way to have them look original.

Thanks! Vaccum depositing was the method I was looking for. From the look of the process it doesn't appear very DIY friendly. Thanks again for the constructive info Anchovy.

Tue Mar 23, 2010 4:52 pm

EverettB wrote: elliottjohnson wrote: Besides the Hella logo and "Made In Germany" the only other writing is the marking "R" for the right side and "BL70 SAE-I 61".
I *think* the 61 logo is the earliest design but I am not 100% sure of that.

I don't think the 61 logo indicates clear though as I have what was sold to me as an NOS pair of clear lenses and only 1 has the 61 logo. Of course, the other could have had the amber insert removed at some point since they appear identical.

There are least 3 different versions of the long letter/number sequence above.

I added a wiki to the oacdp (http://wiki.oacdp.org) to document subtle part variations shown in the various manuals. I think this simple lens might be a good candidate to start with and do a HowTo write up on adding to the wiki. Thanks for the extra info and I may PM you, Everett, about the other two letter/number sequences.

Too bad I couldn't help answer the original question of if the casting was different for the "A" part #.

Tue Mar 23, 2010 4:58 pm

mine have the same "61" lettering

Tue Mar 23, 2010 5:04 pm

The earliest lenses '62 and up to even '67, I think, if you look at the plastic sprue that stops the cover screw from cracking the lens, the early ones are shortest and the later and replacement Hellas are longer: long enough to bottom out. I'll try to find some examples. The '62 has neither one long as there are two per lens.

Tue Mar 23, 2010 11:33 pm

I pulled out some lenses I have. Here's a breakdown of what I have:

1. Original orange insert front lenses from my 7/63 Deluxe:
BL70 SAE-I62
~~~ K2267
***
A 2114
(A is in a circle)

My NOS dealer lenses are the same. Age unknown but I'm pretty sure they are from the 70s or so.
I have one other NOS lens, age unknown, same logos.
Original lenses from a '66 panel I parted out - same.

Clear lenses I bought as NOS.
One is:
BL70 SAE-I62
IGM 2971 IA

One is:
BL70 SAE-I61
IGM 2971 IA

These "IGM" lenses use a different font.

Misc. junk lenses:
Either the same I62 as the first logo reported above or the same but end in I61.

All are Hella. All are marked L or R for left or right.