1918 Buick tail light

[Morgan Wright]

My car has only one light in the back, and it's not a brake light. It's just a tail light, on the spare tire holder.

 

Thinking of adding this as a brake light. Anybody know what year it's from, or does anybody have this light on their car?

[Terry Wiegand]

This is from a 1923 I believe.  Someone will correct me if this is not right.  On the 1923 models the tail light was moved to the middle of the tire carrier after frame number 1,000,000  Buick did not have a brake light until the 1928 models.  Again, someone will correct me about this if I am in error.

 

Terry Wiegand

South Hutchinson, Kansas

[dibarlaw]

Morgan :

 With the decorative bezel it is from a 1924 or 1925 Master series.

 I am running a double filament socket so my brake and tail are in the same unit.

I ran the same Master taillight on my Standard for several years

 Now I am back to the correct simpler type A that came with the car. But, with the same double filament socket.

 

 

[Morgan Wright]

I figured mid 20's. I'm going to use it on mine though, as a brake light, and leave the tail light as it is.

 

I believe adding things to a car to improve safety are legal improvements and don't change the originality of the car. I'm thinking of adding hydraulic disc brakes, not because I don't want to die, but because I don't want to wreck the car when I die. Humans are replaceable, Buicks are not.

[Hubert_25-25]

Morgan, 

     The scroll work design on the nickel bezel started with the 1924 model year.  My book shows that they used that lamp for 1924 6 cyl and 25-26 Masters .  I would think also for 1927, but my book does not list 1927.  The Standard cars did not get the nickeled trim ring on the tail light.  Only on the cowl lights, and smaller diameter than the Masters.  

 

What does the other tail light look like?  Maybe you can find a match?      Hugh

[Morgan Wright]

The other tail light was busted, just the surround was there. But the car came with about 5 tail lights the previous owner picked up at Hershey. The ones that fit the surround are just big red glass tail lights:

 

 

[garnetkid]

The McLaughlin Buicks both 1924 and 1925 master series had brake lights housed in one tail light.  The lens were in two parts.  I have been looking for years for original glass lens for mine without any luck.  I have reproduction plastic ones in for now.   It also has a clear lens at the bottom for license plate light!  Leon

[Crazyfamily]

I’d love to have a “STOP” light for my ‘27 Standard!!!

 

if anyone knows of one or has one that they’d part with please keep me in mind!

 

i am fairly close to Hershey area.....

[dibarlaw]

Sent a PM.

This is what the accessory stop light looks like on my Master. It was on it when I bought the car.

 

 It just seems that for such a common accessory that is found at flea markets most sellers want an awful lot of money even for pretty scrappy examples. There are some very nice stylish examples of the period.

This Yankee model below was an accepted factory accessory tail, stop and back up lamp. The photo is of a 1927-24 Standard roadster. The square spot at the bottom had a celluloid BUICK logo. Dave Chambers in his April 1971 AACA article notes that there were at least 15 manufacturers that made accessory lighting for Buick.

 

[Crazyfamily]

9 hours ago, dibarlaw said:

Sent a PM.

This is what the accessory stop light looks like on my Master. It was on it when I bought the car.

 

 It just seems that for such a common accessory that is found at flea markets most sellers want an awful lot of money even for pretty scrappy examples. There are some very nice stylish examples of the period.

This Yankee model below was an accepted factory accessory tail, stop and back up lamp. The photo is of a 1927-24 Standard roadster. The square spot at the bottom had a celluloid BUICK logo. Dave Chambers in his April 1971 AACA article notes that there were at least 15 manufacturers that made accessory lighting for Buick.

 

 

 

If if by chance you hear of one of the STOP lights coming avail for a reasonable price (I know that’s a subjective term) please feel free to let me know!!

 

PM reply sent 

[1924 6-55 Sport Tourer]

Just stumbled across this thread, and the question asked, at the time, was about "adding this as a brake light" on their car.

 

When i bought my '24 6-55 sport tourer, it was missing the tail light. 

 

My car has Ash wire wheels and uses a centrally mounted spare wheel carrier. Therefore to me it was a "no brainer" to run 2 x tail lights ( one either side of the carrier) and to wire them as a combined tail/brake light.

 

The rational behind this is because for symmetry, and the fact tthat motorists these days are used to seeing 2 x tail/brake lights on cars (and to help protect my investment).

 

It took me a couple of years but i eventually was able locate a matching pair of Buick Type - A lights complete with the "large style" Buick (master) enamel badge. One is for a standard and appears to be a NOS badge.

 

One thing i have noticed is the difference in the lenses . Some are deeper set within the trim ring and one is a clear lense with a distinctive "bump" for the globe.

Has anyone else noticed this before ?

 

I can send more photos if you wish.

 

David

Edited January 14, 2022 by 1924 6-55 Sport Tourer (see edit history)

[Leif Holmberg]

David.

The clear lens are not made for this tail light as you probebly already have understood..There where no clear lenses on those lights at any time.

[dibarlaw]

David:

 This is how they did a 1924-45 that had an accessory double spare carrier. Except they used the cowl light housings with adapted modern plastic lens'.

 Below was another variation on a 1924-45 done as a "tribute" model 55 in Sagebrush green. This time using the original center tail light and adding 2 more large series cowl lights for added brake and turn siginal. I think that is what I will do with my 1925 Master.

 What was on my car when I brought it home.

  

 After almost 7 years of owning the car I finally came up with a pair of large series cowl lights. I just have to find red lenses to adapt.

[1924 6-55 Sport Tourer]

Leif & Larry,

Thanks for your responses.

I've just enjoyed 9 weeks overseas and now catching up on all the forum stuff that i have missed.

Leif, surprisingly the clear glass insert fits very well. You would think it was made for it.

As mentioned in my earlier post, i am running Ash wires and i just wanted two tail lights for symmetry ( as it cannot be centrally mounted ) and safety.

Thanks again,

David

[Leif Holmberg]

David.

Your clear lens are probebly made for e cowl light ? I have been trying to find a similar on E-Bay but without luck.In my parts list from Buick 1919-1930 there are no clear lens like this one in these lists.

If you have a Canadian built Buick 1924 your tail light  shoud look like mine on my 1924 4 cyl.Buick made in Canada,and this is the same type as on "garnetkids" picture above.(left and right extra tail lights on my car are from a USA made 1924 Buick 4 cyl.)