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NASkeet
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Joined: April 29, 2006
Posts: 3191
Location: South Benfleet, Essex, UK
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 Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 7:04 am Post subject: Minimising Blindspots: The Available Options!?! |
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A few years ago, I completed a first draft of a technical article, dealing with ways of minimising vision blindspots, which plague 1968~79 VW Type 2s and other vehicles, using a variety of mirrors, lenses and other devices, which was published in two parts, in the bi-monthly VW Type 2 Owners' Club magazine, "Transporter Talk".
I've since considered updating it with further information and I am sure that many of you know of other similar or very different products, which should be included in such an overview.
Nigel A. Skeet, "Minimising the Blindspots: Twin-Lens Mirrors, Fresnel Lenses, Periscopes and Other Devices", Transporter Talk, Issue 75, February 2005, pp40~46.
Nigel A. Skeet, "Minimising the Blindspots: Twin-Lens Mirrors, Fresnel Lenses, Periscopes and Other Devices, Part 2", Transporter Talk, Issue 76, April 2005, pp37~44.
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This digital prism-camera & two-zone monitor, which is a factory-fitted option for various Toyota cars, might usefully be adapted for improving front or rear lateral vision, on a VW Type 2.
This is a more complete colour scan of the LIGHT-SIGHT packaging, showing the use of a 75 mm diameter Fresnel lens, for viewing traffic lights, obscured from normal view by the top of the windscreen
The size & postion of the interior rear-view mirror and one's relative eye level, can themselves introduce forward vision blindspots.
This is a more complete set of images, showing the advantages of the Zanetti twin-lens door mirrors
This picture scan, is an excerpt from my copy the J. C. Whitney Catalogue No. 442D, dated 1984, which was given to me nearly 23 years ago, by an American student named Eberhard Montieth, when he was studying for an M.Sc., at Cranfield Institute of Technology, in Great Britain.
The picture shows an accessory, door-mounted, external, twin-lens, rear-view mirror, of a type which bears some similarities, to those patented and manufactured, by Zanetti GmbH, in Switzerland, for vehicles such as the 1968~79 VW Type 2, 1980~92 VW Vanagon, 1975-onward VW LT, plus other marques & models.
The J. C. Whitney marketed, twin-lens mirror, plus the matching single-lens plane or convex mirrors, were said to have swivelling mirror heads, making them suitable for both left-hand and right-hand door mounting. I wonder if these twin-lens mirrors are still available?
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=338080
1968~79 VW Type 2, optional OEM extended cab-door mirrors.
_________________
Regards.
Nigel A. Skeet
Independent tutor (semi-retired) of mathematics, physics, technology & engineering for secondary, tertiary, further & higher education.
Much modified, RHD 1973 VW "1600" Type 2 Westfalia Continental campervan, with the World's only decent, cross-over-arm, SWF pantograph rear-window wiper
Onetime member, plus former Technical Editor & Editor of Transporter Talk magazine
Volkswagen Type 2 Owners' Club (Great Britain)
https://vwt2oc.co.uk
Last edited by NASkeet on Sat May 24, 2008 7:30 am; edited 4 times in total |
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Hippie
Samba Tinner
Joined: August 16, 2004
Posts: 1781
Location: Iowa: The Mud State
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| Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 9:15 am Post subject: |
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 Where can I get a Light Sight viewer? I need that!
The windshields are just a little too low at the top for moderd overhead signals. That's on my short list of Bus complaints.
Rob |
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Mark
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Joined: January 20, 2003
Posts: 1523
Location: Victoria, BC Canada
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| Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 9:18 am Post subject: |
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I've gone and put a couple of the convex mirror dots on both side mirrors and have no more blind spot problems. Problem solved for less than $5.
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cooltercel
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Joined: February 15, 2007
Posts: 136
Location: Bloomington, IL
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| Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 9:32 am Post subject: |
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If I'm not mistaken the "What is it?" is of the back of the kitchen light.
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vwbusbusvw
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Joined: December 07, 2005
Posts: 1337
Location: San Diego
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| Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 9:37 am Post subject: |
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I always look over my shoulder - no more blind spot. WTF is a pram?!?
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calebmelvin
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cooltercel
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Joined: February 15, 2007
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Location: Bloomington, IL
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| Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 10:30 am Post subject: |
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Context = Baby stroller..... maybe?
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1977 Volkswagen Transporter - Westfalia
"A.K.A. Bussy"
1800cc
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dr. no
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Joined: August 06, 2004
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Location: Santa Fe
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| Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 10:55 am Post subject: |
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"Pram" is a contraction for "perambulator," a device for walking with an infant. One must, however, exercise caution when going off a kerb with a pram.
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elstrom
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Location: Seattle
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| Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 11:06 am Post subject: |
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| Mark wrote: |
| I've gone and put a couple of the convex mirror dots on both side mirrors and have no more blind spot problems. Problem solved for less than $5. |
That's what I've got too. No more blind spots.
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whc03grady
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Location: Livingston Montana
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| Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 11:14 am Post subject: |
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| dr. no wrote: |
| "Pram" is a contraction for "perambulator," a device for walking with an infant. One must, however, exercise caution when going off a kerb with a pram. |
Right. There might be a lorry coming down the road.
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vwbusbusvw
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| Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 12:22 pm Post subject: |
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| whc03grady wrote: |
| dr. no wrote: |
| "Pram" is a contraction for "perambulator," a device for walking with an infant. One must, however, exercise caution when going off a kerb with a pram. |
Right. There might be a lorry coming down the road. |
Bloody hell, that's spot on! What kind of tosser wouldn't be cautious going down a kerb with a pram in front of a lorry doing 60km?!? Sod off!
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ccpalmer
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Joined: September 17, 2006
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Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
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| Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 2:55 pm Post subject: |
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| Mark wrote: |
| I've gone and put a couple of the convex mirror dots on both side mirrors and have no more blind spot problems. Problem solved for less than $5. |
Ditto on that - they work great!
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visibleink
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Location: Austin, Texas
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| Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 5:59 pm Post subject: |
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| ccpalmer wrote: |
| Mark wrote: |
| I've gone and put a couple of the convex mirror dots on both side mirrors and have no more blind spot problems. Problem solved for less than $5. |
Ditto on that - they work great! |
+1
Be sure and get the chromed ones from China - no more blind spots even if mirror gets out of adjustment.
You will see those pramz.
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Been on the samba so long I remember petting that dog to see VWs, WYHI, and green bug girl.
<-- Helga, she slammed her dub in '53 and adjusted valves with her teeth |
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Mark
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Location: Victoria, BC Canada
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| Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 7:37 pm Post subject: |
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These ones have a blue tint to them. I assume they were made in China, (what isn't)? The tint seems to knock down the glare ...and it's a close match to the paint.
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NASkeet
Samba Member
Joined: April 29, 2006
Posts: 3191
Location: South Benfleet, Essex, UK
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| Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 5:00 am Post subject: Minimising Blindspots: The Available Options!?! |
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| vwbusbusvw wrote: |
| I always look over my shoulder - no more blind spot. WTF is a pram?!? |
I would be interested to observe your sudden switch from the left-hand driving seat, to the right-hand passenger cab-seat, to look over your right shoulder, to check that blindspot!?! 
| vwbusbusvw wrote: |
| whc03grady wrote: |
| dr. no wrote: |
| "Pram" is a contraction for "perambulator," a device for walking with an infant. One must, however, exercise caution when going off a kerb with a pram. |
Right. There might be a lorry coming down the road. |
Bloody hell, that's spot on! What kind of tosser wouldn't be cautious going down a kerb with a pram in front of a lorry doing 60km?!? Sod off! |
Judging from the number of pedestrian casualties, quite a few! Although people should always be cogniscent of what is happening around them, sometimes they are not, for one reason or another. Therefore, motorists are duty bound to exercise all reasonable care, to avoid collision with pedestrians and other road users; what the Institute of Advanced Motorists, would call defensive driving.
People, especially young children, commonly step onto the road behind stationary vehicles, so one needs to be able to detect the presence or absence of such people, in the rearward blindspot, close to the vehicle, before attempting to reverse.
| Mark wrote: |
| I've gone and put a couple of the convex mirror dots on both side mirrors and have no more blind spot problems. Problem solved for less than $5. |
| ccpalmer wrote: |
| Ditto on that - they work great! |
| visibleink wrote: |
Be sure and get the chromed ones from China - no more blind spots even if mirror gets out of adjustment.
You will see those pramz. |
| Mark wrote: |
| These ones have a blue tint to them. I assume they were made in China, (what isn't)? The tint seems to knock down the glare ...and it's a close match to the paint. |
What are mirror dots? 
| calebmelvin wrote: |
Minimising or minimizing, that is the question.
Great write-up though! |
Thank you, I'm pleased that someone appreciates it.
Whether one spells the word as minimising or minimizing, depends upon whether one is British & British Commonwealth or American! Of course, we British own the copyright to the English language, so we have the final say on the matter. 
| cooltercel wrote: |
| Context = Baby stroller..... maybe? |
I vaguely recall that a perambulator (aka pram), is known in foreign parts as a baby stroller or baby carriage, but being a native speaker of British English (or more precisely, English English, in my case!), I am not familiar with all the American translations.
_________________
Regards.
Nigel A. Skeet
Independent tutor (semi-retired) of mathematics, physics, technology & engineering for secondary, tertiary, further & higher education.
Much modified, RHD 1973 VW "1600" Type 2 Westfalia Continental campervan, with the World's only decent, cross-over-arm, SWF pantograph rear-window wiper
Onetime member, plus former Technical Editor & Editor of Transporter Talk magazine
Volkswagen Type 2 Owners' Club (Great Britain)
https://vwt2oc.co.uk |
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Mark
Samba Member
Joined: January 20, 2003
Posts: 1523
Location: Victoria, BC Canada
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| Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 8:13 am Post subject: |
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Nigel,
Mirror dots, spot mirrors, there are likely other names for them?!
These things really are the cat's ass, (sorry...cat's pyjamas, bee's knees) as an affordable solution for blind-spots, at least the ones behind you!
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www.zwerks.ca |
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NASkeet
Samba Member
Joined: April 29, 2006
Posts: 3191
Location: South Benfleet, Essex, UK
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| Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 5:59 am Post subject: |
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| Hippie wrote: |
Where can I get a Light Sight viewer? I need that!
The windshields are just a little too low at the top for moderd overhead signals. That's on my short list of Bus complaints.
Rob |
Here is a mention of a similar product, on three of the Mini forums and a subsequent suggestion regarding a company in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA:
http://www.gbmini.net/wp/2003/11/lightinsight_traffic_light_viewer_widget/
http://www.mini2.com/forum/general-discussion/56546-cant-see-stop-lights.html
http://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1530446
http://www.lightinsight.com/
http://www.lightinsight.com/our_product.htm
The 75 mm (i.e. 3 inches) diameter Light-Sight, from Metro Products, was available more than ten years ago, through branches of Halfords, in Great Britain, priced at £2·99 (i.e. circa US$6).
Small, high-precision Fresnel lenses, are also available from the following company, but they seem to be rather expensive.
http://www.edmundoptics.com/onlineCatalog/displayproduct.cfm?productID=2040#SpecificationTable
Here's another link to a Fresnel lens for the passenger-side cab window of trucks, to minimise the blindspot, which would be covered to some extent by a downward facing, close-proximity or kerb mirror:
http://www.truckview.net/
http://www.taillightking.com/Blue_Dots-Reflectors.htm
Accessory Traffic Light Viewer, 2 1/4" wide x 2" high Fan Shaped Plastic, Suction cup base
http://www.taillightking.com/images/Traffic_Light_Viewer/TrafficLightViewer.jpg
http://www.taillightking.com/A5168_Instructions.htm
There also appear to be some accessory traffic-light viewers, of a design similar to the the dashboard-mounted traffic-light viewer, which was an option for the 1957 Chevrolet.
Deluxe Traffic Light Viewer, "Guide", Bolt type base with nut, View head is 2 5/8" wide x 2 1/4" high fan size, Arm is 2 1/4" long with a swivel on the bottom and a ball in the viewer head.
http://www.taillightking.com/images/Traffic_Light_Viewer/GuideTrafficLightViewer2.JPG
Traffic Light Viewer, Repro of original, very nice, 3 2/4" wide x 2 3/4" viewer fan height x 4 3/4" complete height.
https://koolrides.hosting-advantage.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=59_52
https://koolrides.hosting-advantage.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=107
Chevy Traffic Light Viewer, 1955-1958
http://www.classicchevy.com/product.asp?pf_id=01-71&dept_id=1597
http://www.nationalchevyassoc.com/shop-online/product/2614.html
Traffic-light viewers on E-bay:
http://search.ebay.com/traffic-light-viewer_W0QQfkrZ1QQfnuZ1QQfsooZ2QQfsopZ32
Traffic-light viewer in The Samba Classified Advertisements:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=559554
Another dash-mounted item was the traffic-light viewer, a ribbed plastic visor that was installed just above the speedometer. Because the roof extends so far into the windshield, it is hard to see overhead traffic lights from the driver's seat. The traffic light viewer captured the reflection of overhead traffic lights so that the driver didn't have to lean forward to see past the edge of the windshield.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/'57_Chevy
_________________
Regards.
Nigel A. Skeet
Independent tutor (semi-retired) of mathematics, physics, technology & engineering for secondary, tertiary, further & higher education.
Much modified, RHD 1973 VW "1600" Type 2 Westfalia Continental campervan, with the World's only decent, cross-over-arm, SWF pantograph rear-window wiper
Onetime member, plus former Technical Editor & Editor of Transporter Talk magazine
Volkswagen Type 2 Owners' Club (Great Britain)
https://vwt2oc.co.uk |
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NASkeet
Samba Member
Joined: April 29, 2006
Posts: 3191
Location: South Benfleet, Essex, UK
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| Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 9:48 am Post subject: Minimising Blindspots: The Available Options!?! |
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Although this is probably more appropriate, to car drivers towing caravans, I thought you might be interested to see a roof-mounted rear-view periscope, which enables one to see rearward, through a caravan's higher front & rear windows:
_________________
Regards.
Nigel A. Skeet
Independent tutor (semi-retired) of mathematics, physics, technology & engineering for secondary, tertiary, further & higher education.
Much modified, RHD 1973 VW "1600" Type 2 Westfalia Continental campervan, with the World's only decent, cross-over-arm, SWF pantograph rear-window wiper
Onetime member, plus former Technical Editor & Editor of Transporter Talk magazine
Volkswagen Type 2 Owners' Club (Great Britain)
https://vwt2oc.co.uk |
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NASkeet
Samba Member
Joined: April 29, 2006
Posts: 3191
Location: South Benfleet, Essex, UK
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| Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2008 5:53 am Post subject: Minimising the Blindspots: The Available Options!?! |
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Notice the rear-hatch mounted, downward-facing mirror, on this Mitsubishi Delica; a facility I mentioned in Part 2 of my article:
Nigel A. Skeet, "Minimising the Blindspots: Twin-Lens Mirrors, Fresnel Lenses, Periscopes and Other Devices, Part 2", Transporter Talk, Issue 76, April 2005, pp37~44.
_________________
Regards.
Nigel A. Skeet
Independent tutor (semi-retired) of mathematics, physics, technology & engineering for secondary, tertiary, further & higher education.
Much modified, RHD 1973 VW "1600" Type 2 Westfalia Continental campervan, with the World's only decent, cross-over-arm, SWF pantograph rear-window wiper
Onetime member, plus former Technical Editor & Editor of Transporter Talk magazine
Volkswagen Type 2 Owners' Club (Great Britain)
https://vwt2oc.co.uk |
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joker
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| Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2011 11:53 am Post subject: |
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I thought this could do with being resurrected, it being so hilariously funny and all
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