RE: [CBQ] Cuckoo clock

["'Charlie Vlk' cvlk@comcast.net [CBQ]" <CBQ@yahoogroups.com>]

Hol-

I always thought that the “Cuckoo Clock” headlight was simply a simplified version of the V-shaped squared kerosene GN-NP-ish headlight.   I would not be surprised that the tin shops were re-manufacturing the older style as they were converted to electric although I guess a number were electrified in-kind with the simple removal of the chimney vent.   Probably the rationale for the Cuckoo vs. the V-shaped was that the lamping was simpler with the numberboards closer to the plane of the headlight bulb.   Why the Q started buying commercial cast headlights is a good guess….maybe they were cheaper to buy for new locomotives than making them out of tin.   I suppose one could do a survey of photos to see if the number of cast headlights removed from USRA switchers approximated the number applied to older Q power.   I’d wager that Pyle-National and Sunbeam didn’t sell huge quantities of headlights to the Q!!

Charlie Vlk

The other Q-manufactured headlight is shown in the attached view of D-4-A 3103 at Galesburg in 1925.  This one was a bit more complicated to produce, as the large diameter arc of the top had to be a separate piece, sealed where it met the sides.  The arc of the top can be clearly seen on the tender backup light in this view.  This lamp had no side number boards, instead employing a V-shaped pair of number boards located above the front glass.  Early versions of this headlight burned kerosene and had a capped conical vent centered on top.  This headlight was nearly as widely used as the cuckoo clock for about 20 years, then dropped from use rather suddenly.

 

Hol

 

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From: CBQ@yahoogroups.com <CBQ@yahoogroups.com> on behalf of jonathanharris@earthlink.net [CBQ] <CBQ@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, October 26, 2015 10:39 AM
To: CBQ@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [CBQ] Cuckoo clock

 

 

Thank you, as always, Hol!

What was the also-ran, the headlight design which coexisted with but eventually lost out to the cuckoo clock?

Jonathan

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Posted by: "Charlie Vlk" <cvlk@comcast.net>

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