Hella 128 Question

[hdavis]

Is there any way of telling if this is the real deal or a newer manufacture?

Thanks

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifie....php?id=347871

[Soterik]

My personal opinion is that these are old original ones. The chrome on the new ones is not as nice as the original ones, and the chrome looks very very nice on these. Also, if you look closely at the mounting bolts you will see that they look very old and used.

Just my two cents.
Eric

[hdavis]

Thanks Eric, could you comment on the price?

[denson]

If I have my information correct, the newer lights use H-3 halogen bubs. The older units use a regular tungsten bulb.

Here is an idea you may like as it worked well for me. The inside of the units are interchangeable between H-3 unit and tungsten unit. The tungsten bulb does not provide the lumins of the H-3 bulb. If you want the older patina with the brighter bulb, just remove the inside of the H-3 unit and use it in the older tunsgsten light. This gives you the best of both worlds.

John

[Bobs 67S]

Denson is right about the two generations of the lamps.

In the photo "A" is the tunsgsten lamp from about 1965/66 and it had a large light blocking reflector infront of the light. (That gold thing'y) You should be able to see that reflector through the front glass lens.

"B" is the newer lamps and I have highlighted the shape of the smaller silver light blocking reflector that it has.

When those old lamps rusted out some real home brew solutions were imployed. This example was covered with the foil lining of a cig. pack.

[70SATMan]

This example was covered with the foil lining of a cig. pack.

You'd be surprised how much reflection you can get with polished Aluminum foil I did that in my young, no spare money days to an old pair of Cibies on my 280Z Much better than my idiot friends painting them silver. Couldn't convince them of their error until they turned them on. Ahhh, the smell of burning paint. LOL! They just couldn't wrap their heads around aluminum plating