Here is something beautiful

"JR1" (type35bugatti) 06/01/2015 at 15:36 • Filed to: Auburn, cord, duesenberg

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Party-vi > JR1 06/01/2015 at 15:38

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No better cars have been made since.

/getoffmylawn

For Sweden > JR1 06/01/2015 at 15:38

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Nah, Alabama-Huntsville is where the proverbial it is at.

Jedidiah > Party-vi 06/01/2015 at 15:41

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Agrees with you

*Sits up chair on lawn*

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > JR1 06/01/2015 at 15:43

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Woodlites: the best/worst non-hidden headlights ever.

JR1 > Party-vi 06/01/2015 at 15:43

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Amen

JR1 > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 06/01/2015 at 15:46

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It gives the car a very sinister look.

RallyWrench > JR1 06/01/2015 at 15:58

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Man, have I got some cars to show you... there was a Concours locally yesterday, and no less than 3 V16 Cadillacs and a Packard Dual Cowl Phaeton showed up, among others. Just stunning, as these are. Expect a monster photodump later this week.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > JR1 06/01/2015 at 16:00

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They’ve got a special shape designed to reflect light in a very specific pattern, but since reflectivity of the case isn’t great (even in silvered brass), the brightness of the bulbs wasn’t either, and since the magically effective reflector design required light to bounce twice and then pass through diffusing glass, the end result of what hits the road is... kind of bad. I also don’t think the light pattern is even, because the reflector isn’t evenly distant from the bulb. Some of the intended voodoo here from the patent application:

You could probably optimize it with a computer model and use an HID and come up with something really kickass at almost exactly the same shape but tweaked to work. This was, however, the 30s. Just enough guesswork about what should work to get a patent filed, and... done.

Sam > JR1 06/01/2015 at 16:06

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That’s a great museum. Highly recommend.

JR1 > RallyWrench 06/01/2015 at 16:10

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Great! I can’t wait to see them.

JR1 > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 06/01/2015 at 16:14

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I doubt it will ever be optimized. There will never be a need for it.

Where did you dig up that paten information anyway?

JR1 > Sam 06/01/2015 at 16:15

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I have been there twice and plan to do a research project there in their archives I am looking forward to it.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > JR1 06/01/2015 at 16:19

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All that stuff turns up when you search for info on the Woodlites, which I did the first time I found out what they were called. There’s even, I think, a little Hemmings mini-article on them. Optimization of the design wouldn’t be hard, and in the age of 3d-printing and/or CNC work would be really good for hotrodding market use (get them made die-cast in China or something), but the trouble there is that the repro housing for use with a modern bulb would have to get DOT approved, I think. There are hotrodders who want these, but they go for way too much to catch on as a trend.