[Hydriv]

Recently, there has been some discussion about the availability of lenses and gaskets for the headlamps. Rather than speculate, I wrote to Speaker. Here is my e-mail.


Name: Tom Arnold
Company:
Phone: ************
Email: [email protected]
Location: Richmond Hill Ontario, Canada
Message:
I am one of the owners of an on-line forum that discusses Case garden
tractors. Way back in the late 60's, many brands besides Case, used
Speaker 777 headlamps that had glass lenses. You guys obsoleted those in
the 70's and replaced them with the Model 780 that used a plastic lens
and the same bucket. I know that you do not make the glass lenses any
longer but would you please tell me what the status is on the plastic
lens for the 780 and....the gaskets that sealed both types of lenses?
We have members that need these for restoration purposes. I look forward
to your earliest reply.

Thank you.

Tom


Here is their reply as of 12:57PM today.



RE: Contact form message from jwspeaker.com

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Speaker Account
to me, Ryan

show details 12:17 PM (48 minutes ago)

Hi Tom,
We discontinued production of the Model 780 lamp in April 2005. I am
sorry, but we have no remaining stock on either the lens or the gasket.
We do not have a lamp with the same footprint as the Model 780. All of
our product development for the last few years has been in LED
technology.
I am sorry we cannot be more helpful.

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Thursday, April 14, 2011 10:09 AM
To: Speaker Account
Subject: Contact form message from jwspeaker.com

The following message was submitted via the jwspeaker.com contact page.

Tom Arnold intends this message for JW Speaker Global Headquarters.

 

[Mr onetwo]

:headscratcher: That was the answer I expected....I am seriously thinking about exploring the possibility of making reproduction glass lenses myself.Molded glass is very inexpensive material-wise and equipment and techniques are fairly EZ. Are there any glass blowers in our midst? :usa:

 

[Bart]

:headscratcher: That was the answer I expected....I am seriously thinking about exploring the possibility of making reproduction glass lenses myself.Molded glass is very inexpensive material-wise and equipment and techniques are fairly EZ. Are there any glass blowers in our midst? :usa:

I don't know anything about making lenses but perhaps you could buy the tooling from Speaker.

 

[Hydriv]

Since those lenses have been out of production for at least thirty-years, I doubt that Speaker would give shelf-space to the molds even if they bothered to get them back. You would have to make and sell a lot of them just to break even.

 

[kcunningham]

If you have a set of lenses, then you have the ability to make a mold.

 

[ing3018]

So, what is the lighting provided with the newer Ingersoll units? I've not been in the presence of a new tractor since Eastman took over. And, I've not seen a parts book for the newer tractors, either.

Paul

 

[Bart]

The new ones come with plastic lenses. The problem at the moment is that Ingersoll will only sell the lenses, gaskets and buckets as an assembly.

 

[Hydriv]

Eastman must be sourcing lamps from another supplier. Read my initial post. Speaker is only into LED lighting and they don't make anything that will fit the hole the old 777 and 780 lamps did.

 

[Bill.H]

I wonder if we'll see new hood cutouts in the future. I'd like to see them use a nice, small, bright, LED unit that could go use a simple sheet metal adapter for the existing hood cutouts. Work tractors could upgrade to these and ease up on the demand of the old 777/780's. This would result in better light for both new and work tractors, better prices for the purists, and no hood changes.

 

[ing3018]

Eastman must be sourcing lamps from another supplier. Read my initial post. Speaker is only into LED lighting and they don't make anything that will fit the hole the old 777 and 780 lamps did.

That's what I was thinking. If Eastman is using a new lamp/lens from a different supplier; what is it and does it fit on the older tractors?

 

[Hydriv]

It probably does fit the old tractors but so what? You are not a manufacturer so they won't sell to you direct. And if that lamp is proprietary to Eastman, then they won't sell it to anyone. Eastman will not sell separate components, only complete assemblies. Whether the new manufacturer puts his name on these latest headlamps is unknown to me. If someone on this forum has an Eastman tractor, then please examine your headlamps closely, inside and out for identification and then tell us please.

If we can find out who the manufacturer is and the stock number, I can contact them and find out if they sell those lamps to wholesalers and ultimately retailers.

 

[Caseman2]

:headscratcher: That was the answer I expected....I am seriously thinking about exploring the possibility of making reproduction glass lenses myself.Molded glass is very inexpensive material-wise and equipment and techniques are fairly EZ. Are there any glass blowers in our midst? :usa:

I do not, but I know someone who does, I could look into it.

 

[Hydriv]

Headlight lenses are not blown, they are molded or pressed.

 

[Bob MacGregor]

I am going to say again that I bought a new pair of plastic lenses from GPHope last fall for $10 plus shipping, has anyone tried them lately??? No gaskets however but they can be made easily even without a pattern gasket and possibly easier than using a gasket for a pattern.
Bob MacGregor in CT :wave: :mowlawn:

 

[Hydriv]

I am going to say again that I bought a new pair of plastic lenses from GPHope last fall for $10 plus shipping, has anyone tried them lately??? No gaskets however but they can be made easily even without a pattern gasket and possibly easier than using a gasket for a pattern.
Bob MacGregor in CT :wave: :mowlawn:

The wording on Gary's site indicates $10.00 per lens.

 

[Stewart]

As I see it.

New assembly from Tom H. I suspect he got them from the factory.

Comes in a unmarked white box, inside is the assembly is wrapped in a plastic bag, it has no numbers or any markings what so ever other than a small gold label "Made in Taiwan" on the bucket. :thumbsup:

The bucket is of reasonable quality but the reflectiveness seems a little dull to me. theres two quality cut gaskets, the outer gasket is a little narrower than the inner one and the plastic lens is decent quality to me. It has a 12v 21W bulb.

These assembly's will look mighty fine in my 224-79 someday. :thumbsup:

 

[Hydriv]

Comes in a unmarked white box, inside is the assembly is wrapped in a plastic bag, it has no numbers or any markings what so ever other than a small gold label "Made in Taiwan" on the bucket. :

IF......... and I emphasize IF, those lamps came from Eastman and are being used on the production line, then there goes the claim that Ingersoll's are the only 100 percent All-American made tractor.

This is like being a "little bit pregnant", is it not?

 

[Stewart]

Comes in a unmarked white box, inside is the assembly is wrapped in a plastic bag, it has no numbers or any markings what so ever other than a small gold label "Made in Taiwan" on the bucket. :

IF......... and I emphasize IF, those lamps came from Eastman and are being used on the production line, then there goes the claim that Ingersoll's are the only 100 percent All-American made tractor.

This is like being a "little bit pregnant", is it not?

:sidelaugh: :sidelaugh: I'm sure Tom or Brian could clear up the first question, as for the second, I'll keep my :canada: view to myself. :thumbsup:

 

[Nutcase446]

I saw the same thing at a dealer today. I wonder if Ingersoll/Eastman outsourced them or Speaker. Gregg

 

[Hydriv]

I saw the same thing at a dealer today. I wonder if Ingersoll/Eastman outsourced them or Speaker. Gregg

I thought that Speaker was pretty clear in their reply to me. They don't have a lamp that will fit that hole size. Based on your discovery it would appear that Eastman is starting to source parts off-shore.