Hella split headlights

[klubbs]

These headlights came off my oct 1950.
They look like a matching pair but some parts were replaced over the years.

The date code on both the buckets is 0140H wich makes it produced the 40th week of 1950, first week of october, so probably are the originals?

Headlight 1:

I guess the only original part left here is the bucket
The double rivet ring with arrow is '54?
Lens is not vw marked, not Nl or A also. Hella replacement or Porsche?
Mirror E1.0656.06 ?

Headlight 2:

The ring looks to be original, hella marked with no arrow
Same bucket as the other one
Lens looks younger, marked A and Nl
Mirror also younger

What would the correct lens be for these headlights?
Should they have brass mirrors and halfmoon deflectors?

thx

[mikeandkirsti]

You have some wrong parts, your lights are Hella with earlier hardware, used from during the war to about 1950. I restored my Split Beetle Hella lights for my 1952 Split, there are some differences but they are almost the same. The earlier ones have brass reflectors but also should have the beam deflector cup. 1951 and up used steel reflectors. The rings should have stamped "Hella" and "Arrow", earlier rings have a keyhole for adjuster screws, 1951-1952 have just a round hole with early having a raised head adjuster screw which kits the key hole, later are straight sunken head screws as in pictures. Original lenses are very hard to find, just a VW logo on bottom and part number behind lens. Your lenses are earlier eyebrow model. I think they are available as repros however. Here are my 4/1952 head lights restored with NOS rings and hardware, original glass, resilvered reflectors, some hardware parts replated, some new. Hardware is similar to earlier lights except shorter springs. All parts are hard to find and expensive, the early style even more so. Obviously reflectors should have Hella logos and date codes stamped but I will add these later when I have stamps available. Early brass reflectors are not always date coded. However, the pictures will speak for themselves.

[Martin Southwell]

Hi Mike! This headlight restoration business seems to be in a parallel universe of its own! Am I right in thinking the headlight pictures you show are for your 52 car? (The nice one with the wonkey wings/fenders you mention elsewhere?!!)

If so, are lenses with the VW logo at the base correct, as I thought these were for cars up to 1950? I'm sure you'll put me right!

[virtanen]

These were for sale some time ago. Made 21K and 24K (weeks 21 and 24 in 1952).

_________________
Mika
Split beetle restoration panels
Oval beetle restoration panels
New projects

[mikeandkirsti]

[Martin Southwell]

So, when were the lenses with the VW logo at the bottom used until?

[mikeandkirsti]

1953 already has newer glass with a large Hella logo at bottom although the buckets and hardware are same as before. I would assume change was 10/52.

Here is a pair of original 1953 and 1954 buckets

[klubbs]

When did the arrow above Hella appeared in the ring?

I thought a 50 shouldn't have the arrow?

[allsidius]