"King of the Road" No. 784 Headlamp, 1902-1914

01

Artifact Overview

Drivers in the early 1900s attached headlights to their automobiles to help light their way at night. To use this "King of the Road" model, automobilists filled the chambers with calcium carbide and then added water creating acetylene gas. Igniting the gas burner produced a strong white light. The lamp's lens and parabolic reflector cast a broad beam lighting the road ahead.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Headlight

Date Made

1902-1914

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

2017.0.34.29

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Brass (Alloy)
Glass (Material)

Color

Gold (Color)
Silver (Color)

Dimensions

Height: 12.5 in
Width: 10 in
Depth: 12 in

Inscriptions

on plate: JOS. LUCAS LTD. BIRMINGHAM / NO. 784 on plate: LUCAS / KING OF THE ROAD / DUPLEX / JOS. LUCAS LTD B'HAM