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Black-Out Light, But Is It Luxor?

2010-02-20T20:31:00.004-05:00

Here's a bit of a mystery... Looks like this was designed to be a black-out light for use during WW2. But is it a Luxor? Nothing about the design or construction looks familiar. Note the unique mounting bracket at the bottom... I wonder what size this is? The slot says "Agree____ Luxor", but does that mean the maker was Agree, and the model name is Luxor? At first I thought the black-out hood was bent, but note how the bottom cuts-in to allow more light to reach the road in front of the wheel. I may try to buy it (French eBay), since it would make a fanciful addition to the collection.

Galmozzi pics

2010-01-24T14:19:00.005-05:00

I bought this Galmozzi at Cirque du Cyclisme a few years ago, but haven't done much with it yet. I don't know any of its history, and I can't tell for sure what era it was built... based on equipment and build details we were guessing late-1940s to early 1950s. We think it was built by Galmozzi Sr. A recent auction on eBay of a supposed Galmozzi with cambio Corsa shifters left me scratching my head, as that bike was no where near as nicely finished as this bike. These pics aren't great - bike is dusty and dirty, but I'm trying to learn how best to photograph old, damaged chrome. I post better pics as my quality improves, but for now, here are a few pics.

More Taillights From France

2009-12-20T11:04:00.003-05:00

French eBay sellers "motosavoy" and "rhclassics" have included these interesting taillights in recent auctions. From top to bottom - a. Radios fender-top lights with top-mounted indicator (missing indicator lens); b. same again, but side view, with inidicator lens in place; c. Radios C 134 with central radiator-shaped reflector; d. unkown manufacturer with reflector in base and white lens on back of top red lens (probably for illuminating license plate on moped/motorcyle); Jos "space capsule" with ring lens and central round reflector - this one sold for almost $300!

Luxor La Paon 50 and Matching Taillight

2009-12-01T10:49:00.002-05:00

Another lovely example of a Luxor 50 "La Paon" pattern headlight and matching taillight. I got outbid on these, but won a La Paon reflector... can't (afford) to win them all!

Campagnolo Cottered Bottom Bracket

2009-12-01T10:42:00.002-05:00

Always a surprise to those new to collecting vintage bikes and parts, Campagnolo DID produce a cottered bottom bracket set. I rarely see these in used condition - perhaps they are still spinning along in high-end bikes. When NOS units show up, you can expect to pay $250 to $300. I'd love to have one in my '53 Learco Guerra, but not until I can find a good used example.

Luxor Light, LeFol Fenders, & Curvy Struts

2009-11-30T17:01:00.003-05:00

Here's a lovely set of LeFol mud guards complete with Luxor headlight (probably a type 50), unknown taillight, and curving fender struts. Note the interesting mount for the headlight... looks like the builder added a hole to each side of the shell, then bent some aluminum rod to form a support for the light and forward struts for the mud guard.

The rear strut is even fancier, curving past the top of the taillight, then up to a third anchor point on the fender. Go ahead, ask me if I'm gonna copy this! ;-)

Luxor Stubby with Rectangular Lens

2009-11-29T21:16:00.002-05:00

Thanks to Gunnar for the "heads-up" on this one. Several of these have appeared suddenly on eBay-France and eBay-Germany. Smooth stubby shell with slight flare at the bezel opening, and an entirely new-to-me lens with rectangular marble-style reflector in the center. I wonder how much light made it our the back... certainly would like to try one to see.

Luxor Smooth Stubby Taillight

2009-11-29T21:05:00.002-05:00

Here are three nice views of the Luxor stubby taillight, this one smooth. I also have one with a two-step rib down the top center - pics later. Note how the shell flares out slightly on this one where the bezel/lens assembly goes in. Not all of them have this flare.

Luxor 65 Smooth with matching Stubby Taillight

2009-11-29T20:57:00.003-05:00

There have been a plethora of Luxor headlights and taillights on French eBay lately. This lovely smooth 65 and matching stubby taillight were no-sale items at $65 BIN. Headlight lens looks shot, but the shell is very nice.

The stubby taillight has a different angle were it attaches to the fender - it mounts a little lower than the normal Luxor taillight, about halfway between it and the normal reflector location. I've recently acquired a number of these stubbies, so I'll post some comparison pictures soon.

Unknown Possibly-Luxor Headlight

2009-11-29T20:52:00.002-05:00

Seller on French eBay says this is a Luxor... looks like there's a badge on top, but no other pictures where included with the auction. Shell shape is similar to the teardrop Luxors, but I don't have any other info on the model.

Luxor No 104 Headlight

2009-11-29T20:45:00.002-05:00

Here's a new one - a Luxor 104 headlight. The mounting bracket is a Radios, but you can read the Luxor lettering at the bottom of the lens. Note also the typical Luxor mounting mech at the bottom of the shell and bezel. Switch at top may be for changing from battery to dynamo power.

Motobecane Rack & Tool Boxes

2009-11-29T20:40:00.002-05:00

Slightly different take on the rack/tool boxes idea. This seems to be from Motobecane (see M at base). Boxes and rack both appear to be steel. Nice rectangular loop at the bottom for attaching panniers or other straps.

Vitalux Headlight & Dynamo

2009-11-29T20:28:00.002-05:00

I've always loved the graphics on the Vitalux boxes - the cyclist and car set against a blue background with yellow triangle. This headlight is very pretty - art deco top ornament is non-functional, but beneath it there's a red indicator lens. Note the vertical line on the front lens. The nut on the bottom is for securing/removing the lens bezel.

Radios 119 with Switch

2009-11-29T20:14:00.002-05:00

A NOS Radios type 119 found on eBay-France. Note the switch for changing from dynamo to battery power. Size suggests it is about the same as a type 18.

Unknown French Headlight with Faceted Lens

2009-11-29T20:10:00.003-05:00

I have no idea who made this headlight, but I like the faceted headlight. Looks like some running lights from cars in the 1920s. Bakelite shell and bezel.

How Many Angels Fit on a Chainring?

2009-11-29T20:05:00.003-05:00

Anyone else see a different recognizable pattern to this chainring? All I can see are three Angels. No idea what bike this came from, but an interesting graphic.

Luxor 50 La Paon

2009-11-22T10:34:00.004-05:00

Here's another new-to-me Luxor variation from eBay-France: a Luxor 50, their smallest headlight, with the ribbed "La Paon" (peacock) finish. This one is set-up for the domed base as opposed to having two feet on the bottom. Looks like the lens is cracked - a shame, as I've yet to see a replacement lens for Luxor 50s or 65s, and this is the rarer smooth lense without the vertical lines.

More Luxor Taillights

2009-11-01T20:52:00.002-05:00

A few more Luxor taillights will be making their way to Ohio. This batch includes a smooth side mount with spherical lens, smooth stubby fender mount, smooth long fender mount with stepped flute, Le Paon (peacock) long fender mount, smooth long side mount, smooth long side mount with extra rings, smooth short side mount, and a couple of clamp-on models.

Another Luxor Pattern - Smooth W/Single Center Flute

2009-10-31T11:45:00.004-05:00

Oops! Yet another variation on the Luxor headlight. This is a No.50 with smooth shell, but with a flute down the top center.

2009-10-31T11:02:00.004-05:00

This dilapidated 1940s Olmo recently showed-up on eBay-Italy (blue bike). Poor photos reveal little except the toothed dropouts for a Campagnolo sliding hub shifter, and a Universal front brake with qr. What a mess... first one I've seen that was in worse shape than the one I bought a few years ago (green bike in last two pics, before and after overhaul).

The red seattube panel is interesting... no hint of color other than blue on the headtube. The seatstays and chainstays clearly had about six inches of chrome... the fork is too far gone to be certain. The fork crown was probably chrome, although the headlugs were not.

My bike is almost certainly a respray. The headlugs and crown are chrome, but the ends are not. I really should get some better pictures of the green bike... sun is out, so maybe today?

Camel on French eBay

2009-10-26T17:21:00.005-05:00

This Camel bike appeared on eBay-France. Local pick-up only, but look closely... "Knobbly" fenders, and honeycomb w/ribs Luxor #65 headlight and taillight. This fender pattern would match those knobbly Luxor lights (http://aldoblog2008.blogspot.com/2009/02/knobbly-luxors-post-polish.html)

Interesting to see how the front fender brace passes through the holes in the headlight mount - I'd wondered about the holes. Also note the white plastic spacer at the bottom of the mount - so now we've seen these in white and medium blue.

Luxor Taillight Shopping Guide, Pt.1

2009-10-25T11:58:00.004-05:00

The story so far... still missing the smooth shell, fluted, and zeppelin models, but here's a summary of the four shells and two lenses I've obtained so far:

Top to bottom - honeycomb with attached lower keel spacer, honeycomb, honeycomb with flutes, and knobbly.

Left column - with ringed lens. Right column - with diamond lens.

Green-Anodized JOS!

2009-10-17T15:53:00.003-05:00

This surprise popped-up up on eBay-France - a JOS 513 headlight with the eyelid visor, and a green-anodized shell. I've only obtained one other colored aluminum French light, a red-anodized 65mm of unknown manufacturer. I wonder if JOS did a complete spectrum of gold, blue, and black anodizing? Same seller had an unknown headlight with interesting top crest, and a SELF dynamo.

Odds-n-Ends Lights From Both Ends of the Bike

2009-10-15T21:10:00.003-05:00

Various lights found on French eBay. The first one is a nice, rare "SELF" with visor. Second light looks like a Radios with replacement lens from an old car. The "ROB" at the bottom is probably from the same people who made Ducellier.

Calcium Carbide Luxor Lights Catch-All Collection

2009-10-15T20:58:00.005-05:00

Once in awhile I find images of lights which, although outside my normal focus, are really quite fascinating. Here is a selection of images of Luxor carbide lights I've found on eBay-France.