Carbon Arc Searchlight
Restoration
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This page is dedicated
to
those who want to restore a searchlight to its World War II Military
Condition.
I will try to provide as much information to help you with your
project,
and share what I have learned with my restoration. See some examples of
both military and commercial restorations HERE
RESTORATION PARTS
Bubble Levels
You can repair the bubble levels that are mounted on the searchlight
turntable if they are dry or broken. The bubble capsule can be
replaced
with a new unit of the same size. The original capsule was made
of
glass, and had clear fluid in it. The replacement will be made of
plastic,
and will have a green colored antifreeze fluid in it.
To remove the old capsule, wiggle and pull the ends straight out
of the tube. You might need to use penetrating fluid on them to
break
them loose. Once the ends are off, with a small drill, drill out
the glue, old capsule, and cardboard piece used to secure the glass
tube,
and also acts as a reflector. Make sure the outside of the tube
is
clean and smooth so the outer sleeve will slide around it easy. You are
now ready to install the new capsule.
You need to buy a line level made by Empire Level Manufacturing
Corp. of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. You can buy them in the section at a
local
OSH, Sears, or Home Depot Store. The capsule is the same size as
the searchlight original.
The Empire Level capsule can be removed easily from its mount. Once
you have done this, take a small piece of white poster board, and cut
it
so it will be as long as the capsule, and wrap half away around the
capsule
body. Soak it under warm water to make it soft, it will then form
around the capsule easy. The white poster board helps seat the
capsule
in the tube, and it also provides a reflective surface to view the
bubble.
Once the piece of poster board has softened and formed around the
capsule,
push both the poster board piece and capsule into the level tube
and center it. Use cocking or silicone to set it into place.
Calibrate
the level against a known level surface using a standard level by
resting
the mounting screws on the level and adjust the nut on one side until
the
bubble matches. This fix should last another 60 years.
1940's 6 volt Reproduction
Battery
for Restorations
GE Generators used Mopar Batteries
Sperry Generators used Willard Batteries
All batteries shown were quoted at $135.00 plus shipping in
2004.
Last I checked these batteries have doubled in price and are about
$260.00 each..
Antique Auto Battery Co.
2320 Old Mill Rd.
Hudson, Ohio 44236
330-425-2395 or
1-800-426-7580 M-F 8-4 EST
http://www.antiqueautobattery.com/index.html
Battery Central Mall
4030 Cobblewood Drive
Disputanta, Virginia 23842
804-861-0165
9am - 5pm / Mon-Fri Eastern Time
http://www.batterycentralmall.com/Batteries/TurboStart/TurboStart_Script.html
Brand
Model
Cold Crank Amps Measures
Mopar G2OM
800
CCA
10.25 x 6.75 x 9 For GE Generators
Willard
G2W
800
CCA
10.25 x 6.75 x 9 For Sperry Generators
Blue Light Bulb for Generator Panel light
According to the manual, the original bulb was a GE 25W Blue Bulb
120V.
Brass base. These are hard to find these days. Blue bulbs in
stores
now a days are the clear blue party bulbs. The lamp below is the
original
type used in the generator above the control panel. Average life
is 2500 hours. You may buy them 2 per pack for $6.00 off the internet
from...
CornerHardware.com
Paint
What color should you paint your light?
These lights came in a few colors depending on what branch of the
military
they were in, and what region they would serve in. Some were
painted
Olive Drab for sure. The Navy lights were Blue. My light was
painted
silver by an advertising company when I first got it, but after
removing
a few covers, and looking at the paint inside the covers, I found it
was
originally painted a dark semi gloss olive green darker than olive
drab.
I took the inside cover to an automotive paint store, and had it
matched.
I also painted my light glossy instead of flat drab. I did this so the
paint would last longer, and would be easier to maintain.
Semi Gloss Paint
Jim Gillmore who resotores miltary equipment
tells
us that Semi Gloss Paint did not come into use for tactical
vehicles
and equipment until August 1945 and only for vehicles that were
to
be repainted. No tactical MV such as jeeps, trucks and such
were delivered in semi-gloss.
"use of a semi gloss paint
is
quite acceptable?"
Dave Dunlop, from Canada has
restored
many military vehicles. This is what he has to say about paint......
When it comes to
original paint work. The common thought is the military only ever
used full flat paint during WW2, and for the most part they did, but
they
were just as much aware as the paint manufacturers that flat paint is
very
porous and allows relatively easy moisture penetration over time.
It is also miserable stuff to keep anything oily from staining,
including
fingerprints.
Both the US and
Canadian
military had been studying paint options extensively prior to WW2 and
throughout
the war. For many years Military Vehicle enthusiasts have heard mixed
stories
that the military never used semi gloss finishes, or did, or whatever.
It was not until all the interest in the 50th anniversary celebrations
a few years back for D-Day and VE-Day, that researchers in the archives
in England stumbled across color still and film footage of the huge
vehicle
convoys moving through England to the various Invasion Embarkation
ports,
that proof positive was found the military had in fact adopted semi
gloss
paints for their equipment.
Use of a semi gloss
paint, is quite acceptable. The other point with wartime paint colors
is
the fact that, in spite of military specs being issued for specific
paint
colors, no two paint makers ever produced the identical color. The
problem
was the availability of the required pigments. The biggest problem by
far
was the Red Oxide Pigment. The vast majority of the production of
this
particular pigment anywhere in the world during WW2
was delegated to navies and ship yards for
their production and maintenance requirements. In fact the situation
was
so bad, it led to the development of the gray primers which are so
common
today.
I have worked on
original paint job WW2 military vehicles, which 'by the book' were
painted
a specific color, but when you looked at all the sub assemblies
made
by different suppliers, they were all variations of the specified
color. You rarely found a uniform paint color on an Military Vehicle
unless
it had gone through the shops for a major rebuild and repaint.
One final item. When
it comes to having to polish the mirrors and glasswork on a
searchlight,
two other possible materials come to mind. You can check local jewelry
supply houses for what is generically known as 'Jeweler's Rouge', or
your
nearest aviation maintenance shop of a creamy white liquid, they
use to polish scuffs and scratches out of Plexiglas canopies etc. Can't
think of the name off hand, but they would know what you are
asking
about.
Where to get paint...
Gillispie 34087 (std WW2) paint.
Most vehicle collectors use the Gillispie paint as it resists fading
better than the Aervoe paint.
Keep it out of the sun...
RAPCO/FORT RYAN SUPPLY #6594
Mark Dodd
P.O. Box 191,
Bowie, TX 76230,
TEL: (940) 872-2403, FAX:
(940) 872-3406
REPRO JEEP/DODGE PTS
Go to http://www.cckw.org/2004_ww2_pics.htm
to get an idea of the color. The crane (my 'Annie') in the pictures was
painted that summer of 2004 with that color and brand of paint.
The Aervoe company below sells military
camouflage
paints for restorations. I used their 997A Olive Drab Semi
Gloss (24087) for the interior cabinet of my GE Generator.
AERVOE INDUSTRIES INCORPORATED
1198 Mark Circle
Gardnerville, Nevada 89410
Ask for Heather Lewis Regional Sales
Coordinator
Toll Free Phone: 1-800-227-0196
Fax: 1-775-782-4027
Email: mailbox@aervoe.com
http://www.aervoe.com/aervoe/shopping/aervoe_PaintsCoatings_detail.asp?ID=6
ATTACK OP GEAR
2121 West Imperial Hwy Suite E415
La Habra, CA 90631 USA
Toll free in U.S.A: 1-877-813-1112
Fax number: 1-714-526-6336 Email: attackopgear@netscape.net
http://www.attackopgear.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=AO&Product_Code=AMSCSP
HERCULES ENGINE
The Hercules Engine was originally painted a gray color. I
painted my Hercules Engine and air cleaner with engine paint made by
Dupli-Color
Products Company DE-1611 called New Ford Gray. I bought it at Pep Boys.
Dupli-Color Products Company web site is http://www.duplicolor.com/products/enginePaint/
I painted the 6 volt Generator, Starter, and Distributor with Krylon
semi flat black.
Tires
Out of the factory, these lights had civilian automotive
tires.
They used a size 600-16 tire. I have found two tire companies
that
handle tires that were used by General Electric Searchlights.
Kelsey
Tire Co, and Coker Tire Co. Photos below depicts tread design
only.
You want to order the black wall version of the same tire pictured.
A 1941 General Electric Searchlight and
Generator
used tires made by Goodyear.
You can get these tires, without the white wall, from Kelsy Tire
co.
Kelsey Tire, Inc.
Highway 54 East
Camdenton, MO 65020
(573) 346-2506
(800) 325-0091 - (Toll Free in US)
http://www.kelseytire.com/pages/antique&classictires.html
1941 General Electric Searchlight Tire Price: $180.00
600/16 Product Code 114-429-017
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1942-A General Electric Searchlight and
Generator
used a Firestone Tire.
Sperry 1941 & 1942 Searchlights,
from what I can see by photos in the manuals, used this Firestone
tire as well.
You can get these tires, without the white wall, from Coker
Tire Co.
Coker Tire Co
1317 Chestnut St
Chattanooga, TN. 37402
1-800-241-6336
https://www.cokertire.com/catalogsearch/result/shopby/q/SKU%20643500%20.html
You can also get them from their distributors that might be in
your
area to save shipping costs.
If you live in Southern California you can get them from...
Performance Plus Tire
3910 Cherry Avenue
Long Beach, CA 90807
Phone: 562-988-0211 ask for Chris
The 1942-A General Electric Searchlight tire. A white wall tire
is
shown, but you can get the
Firestone 600-16 black wall Price: $165.00
SKU 643500
Black wall tire
Weight 31.00 lbs
Size Full 600-16
Price: $ 165.00
Inner tube #17799 GK-16 550/600/650-16 TR-15 RS TUBE
If you want a more military look, Coker Tire Co. also makes this
military
tire shown below
Re-carboning Lamp
The bulb on the left is an original bulb removed from a Sperry
Searchlight
still in working condition.
The lamp on the right is a vintage reproduction that you can buy.
If you want to really get authentic, get this Reproduction Tungsten
Light Bulb.
The Sperry used this 115V 16 CP bulb for its scale lights and
re-carboning
light. The GE Searchlight used this bulb only for the
re-carboning
light.
This lamp is bright and intense - some would say harsh (40 watt,
120 volt, approx. 1000 hour). Will last much longer in a
searchlight
voltage of 78 volts. Get it at....
Light Bulbs Etc, Inc.
14821 W. 99th Street
Lenexa, KS 66215
Toll Free (888) 757-9591
sales@lightbulbsdirect.com
http://www.lightbulbsdirect.com/page/001/CTGY/Antique
Locks
Searchlight generators came with three locks to lock the two main
generator
doors, and the tool box that sits on rails above the gas tank..
These
locks were military locks made by the American Lock
Company.
They were connected to chains that were screwed to the body of the
generator,
and tool box. They had the letters U.S. stamped on
them.
The original lock is shown on the left. You can order a more
modern
version of this lock shown on the right with a different chain that is
attached to the "U" instead of riveted to the body. I used the
model
MS 100W. It has U.S. stamped on one side. These are very
good
locks, and you can order these locks all keyed alike. With these
locks, the lock must be in the locked position before the key can be
removed.
Get these locks from ...
Hodge Products Inc.
P.O.Box 1326
ElCajon, Ca 92022
Call Steve Bastian at 800-778-2217 ext. 11
or email Matt at..... matt@hpionline.com
Be sure to tell him you want "U.S." stamped on one side.
http://www.hpionline.com/
http://www.americanlocks.com/item1.asp?int_ID=429
Generator Bumper Markings
If you know the number of your General Electric searchlight
generator,
you can put a new identification number on your generator bumper.
Sometimes
you can fine it under the layers of paint. These letters were
make
of vinyl material. They were put in the unit at the factory by
G.E.
I have spent months searching for the font that matches the original,
and
finally found it. A friend of mine has a machine that can make you a
new
I.D. to add to your bumper, or replace the worn out marking that are
already
there. These are vinyl letters cut out by a computer program.
If you have a Sperry Generator, the Sperry Generators had their
ID
numbers painted on the operators door on the side of the generator.
Cloth Wiring
Replica cloth wiring on the outside but modern insulated wire
inside.
Bill Lopoulous Magneto parts website
http://www.magnetoparts.com/wire.htm
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for Sale / Forum
This site is maintained by
Bob Meza
Santa Clarita, California
