Bill,
My '56 Carly has a Bargman No. 6 with 4 screws and a No. 9 Chrome trim ring
with 4 screws.
What's the availability of this type of light?
WAM
----- Original Message -----
From: Bill Scott <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Thursday, June 01, 2000 10:33 AM
Subject: [VAC] Tail lights and model year
> This is another area where you can , at a glance, get an idea of what
> year and model. It gets a little complex, so don't hang your hat on it
> . The Trail-Lite No 99, by Theo Bargman, Detroit , Michigan was used
> as early as 1955, maybe earlier. It is the one that Pearl so aptly
> describes as looking like a tiered wedding cake, with 3 tiers. The lens
> is exactly 6 1/2 inches in diameter, and is no longer made. That
> TRAIL-LITE, was used extensively in the mid fifties, (Bubbles) late
> fifties, and in the sixties up to as late as 1968. It was not the
> exclusive tail light. Some of the larger coaches, like Ambassadors, and
> some mid sixties Globetrotters used a different tail light that had a
> housing that wrapped around the rear quarter panels.
> A replacement lens was made by 2 different companies, as a Universal
> replacement , sometimes with 6 screw holes instead of the original 3
> holes. Many of us on this list, have jumped thru the hoops of (1)
> trying to get Bargman to pull the molds out of storage, and make another
> limited run of perhaps several thousand lenses for the Vintage market.
> Unfortunately, Bargman, according to their representative Ms. Champion,
> no longer has the molds. Even if they did, a small run like that is not
> profitable. (2) SAE, Auto lite, or Auto standard, or some such name that
> made the replacement lenses, has not been contacted, that I know of, but
> they no longer produce the lens either. (3) Some people have purchased
> new lenses from Jim Dunmyer, who had a source that made a few lenses
> from a custom mold. Very pricey at $50 per lens.
> (4) Since there are literally thousands of coaches out there that have
> two Bargman Trail-Lite 99's, perhaps another letter writing campaign to
> Bargman or the other 2 companies, might create enough need to get them
> to make another run of the lenses. (5) Some people have replaced their
> 99's with a 6 inch or 7 inch Signal Stat, with a chrome or Stainless
> Steel ring, with a flush mount. The Signal-Stat lights are quality
> made, reasonably priced, and used on Millions of trucks here and abroad.
> Easy to find at all truck supply stores. (6) Finally, one of our members
> has replaced his 99's with a beautiful Bus Tail light with a nice chrome
> ring. I know you didn't want to hear the whole story, but I thought I
> would cover the bases, so we don't get off on a spur track. If anyone
> else has an idea on replacements for the Bargman 99's, please let us
> know. One final item. Some of the later lenses made by Bargman, when
> you look closely, the "99" looks like a "98" because the mold got a
> little dirty and its like the mis printed coin. It is still a "99".
> Now, does anyone have a "Source" for replacements????
>
> Bill Scott
> 61 Bambi---with 99's
> 66 Trade Wind-- with 99's
>
>
