VCCA Home Forums GENERAL DISCUSSION What did you do with your vehicle today? Origional tail lights

I bought a 1932 4 door sedan last June that was supposed to be mostly original but after getting it home and going over it I found the tail light lenses were plastic! I was shocked and they had to go. I found original on line ordered them and put them on today. Also the screws were Philips head ,I changed those too.

The original 1932 taillight lenses were indeed plastic (celluloid). Not the same type as the modern replacements.

If you installed glass taillight lenses then they are incorrect.

Then I just screwed up but I would rather have the glass ones than the cheap looking ones that were in them. Why do they make the glass lenses to fit them then and where can you get the original lenses at? I just checked on the Filling Station site and they are saying the plastic lense with the boe tie is a faithful reproduction which is what I took out. They just look cheap to me , not sure what to do.

If they look cheap then stay with what you like. I have the other opinion that using plastics in the late 20s and early 30s was very innovative. They look great to me. Also are brighter than the glass ones.

I am thinking I like things original but it only takes a few min to change them so I have the option now.. I am just wondering why glass lenses were even made.

Never thought about the plastic lenses being unique back then. Make sense. I like it.

Bob

I totally agree. I would never use a glass lens in my '32 Chevrolet because I think that it dosen't look as cool as the correct celluloid lens.

Where can you get the celluloid lenses rather than reproduction ones?

Original celluloid lenses are scarce but they do show up from time to time but they are very expensive when found. Actually, the reproduction lenses are the way to go because the original celluloid lenses are fragile and they tend to disintegrate due to the sun. The reproduction lenses, which are identical except that they are made out of modern plastic instead of celluloid, have better color holdout and are not as perishable.

Thanks for the education fellas ,you have convinced me . I didn't think plastic was invented until WW@. Guess my glass lenses will become wall hangers!

Cellulose is a natural polymer (aka plastic). There are others. The first commercial plastics were discovered in the mid-1800s. They were modified cellulosics. If you are interested you might check out https://www.thoughtco.com/history-of-plastics-1992322 .

Cool! Once you install the correct tail light lens you will like that one better than the glass lens. And, not only that......the plastic lens is correct for your tail light.

After market replacement tail light lenses were common for popular makes of cars. The 1932 glass lens would have been afttermarket. In 1933 Chevrolet switched to glass lenses. The advantage of the glass lens is that it was designed as a built-in reflector so cars head lights would reflect in the lens after dark when the car was parked. That eleminated the need to hang on a seperate reflector.. In mid 1948 switched to what they called Crystal lenses and were said to give a brighter light.(they were) and if you want brighter brake lights on a 1941-1948 used the crystal lens (which was eventually sold as a eplacement for 1941-early 1948).

...and Crystal lenses were make of what ????

Dick

I installed a pair of the FS plastic lenses yesterday. They fit perfectly and look great. I too had the glass replacement lenses but decided t put the correct ones in. Doing all kinds of things to my 31’ while I have a gap in my “old car” time.

I think my glass lenses will turn into reflectors for the end of the driveway!

I would guess crystal lenses are made from Lucite, a type of plastic.