Factory Appleton spotlight for the 1941 Studebaker car or for cars around that age group. Series 90 Appleton spotlight and most likely this was a deluxe type spotlight meant to go on higher end models of the Studebaker like the President and the Commander. In the 1941 1942 era, American manufacturers offered some higher end deluxe models of their cars and appropriate accessories to go with them. Ford used the Appleton spotlight as the factory production accessory spotlight for their cars and so did MOPAR, Cadillac and Studebaker. Most other manufacturers used the Unity spotlight.This spotlight is very similar to the famous series 112 that Appleton made. The screw on type bezel is the difference. This spotlight is sealed beam type. Outside mounting bracket is marked L975. Useable shaft length is 6 7/8". The unique handle identifies the spotlight as STUDEBAKER. The metal tag and the handle--mottled brown with red overtones--is unique to Studebaker.

This spotlight is the correct Factory Spotlight for 1941 Fords and it could also be used on a 1941 Mercury---41 Mercury lights were different but very close. This spotlight was made for FoMoCo by Appleton. Stamped into the top of the Spotlight it says " FORD MOTOR COMPANY Series 90 SEMA APPROVED Appleton Electric Company Chicago, U.S.A ". On the handle of the spotlight, there is a small metal plate with the word FORD in Ford script.

So the process in this case is to "cut out" (yea right out of a document from the fourties) the templet and slide it into the driprail (for those of you that still has them attached to the car) marking the two screwholes . Then drill and screw on the base onto the A-pillar with the rubbergasket inbetween . Then screw in the drillguide into the base and drill the big hole all the way thru the post . Then remove the guide and insert the light into the hole and assemble the light . It took me decades to understand this and not until I got hold of a NOS 112 I got the picture . As for the Lorraine tool kit I guess the arc drill guide needs to be held on the right angle while drilling the big hole otherwise the same precidiour as the fixed base on the Appleton lights !

There is different basebrackets with a ID number cast into the inside so different cars would get different brackets . I have no idea how many different brackets exist but my best guess would be between 10 to 20 basic styles with different angles and left and right on each model ! This dont help too much today since documents showing matching brackets and cars is atleast to me unknown ! Also using the descibed tecnique with the wrong bracket to a car would probably put the light in a unwanted position . Best bet is to do the process manually and position the lights on the same angle as the great customs built wayback when, by drilling a small hole from both sides and put a welding rod thru checking the angle thru the post compearing with old photos of the genuine customs . Then grind it bigger to adjust so that both sides match . If the bracket dont fit the post then they need to be ground on the mating face . In those cases where no left and right base bracket can be found then get hold of dummy spot brackets that uses the same base with the same thread as original Appletons (In most cases I should ad if there is some odd dummies that carry bases that dont fit , that I havn´t found ) . These bases usually have a unground deep skirt
that leaves material for adjustment .

This very rare Appleton Spotlight Traveling Salesmen Kit is for sale. If you are intersted please contact the owner at:

dingleballer@comcast.net
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This particular spotlight was all new for the 1948 Ford car. In late 1947, Ford Motor Company went to an alternate spotlight manufacturer--The Standard Thomson Co of Dayton Ohio and had them make this new chrome finished spotlight with pistol grip control as one of their factory dealer installed accessory spotlights. Ford gave it service part number 6A-18552. It was a bit sleeker than the offering from Unity that Ford used as their standard accessory remote spotlight. It is 6 volt and has a 4" sealed beam lamp. The on-off switch is located on a separate assembly which is operated with the finger. This type switch is a first for a Ford spotlight and it was only used with this spotlight. The next year the switch went to the pistol grip handle. Standard Thomsom continued making spotlights, along with Unity, until 1952. Then Unity was the main supplier and Standard Thomson was out. Ford literature suggests that this spotlight also be used on all cars 1941 to 1947 as well as the Mercury for those years.