Front Headlamp (Headlight) Part 10

次回、この記事の日本語版を投稿します。

This is the final installment of the Front Headlamp (Headlight) series.

So far we have covered:
Part 1: Vintage Japanese bicycle headlamps
Part 2: Various mounting locations and hardware (brackets)
Part 3: Features typically found on headlamps before 1955
Part 4: Features typically found on headlamps after 1955
Part 5: Headlamps equipped with pilot lights, speedometer and odometer
Part 6: External/internal focus beam control
Part 7: Electrical cord weaving (chain stitch)
Part 8: Other types of headlamps besides the dynamo powered type
Part 9: Battery powered headlamps (hand lamps)

As mentioned in the previous post, in this installment we will take a look at dynamos (generators).

Here is a very old dynamo.  The body finish is black enamel.
Notice that it has no lever to engage/disengage the dynamo.
It is not missing the lever, this was the way dynamos used to be.
"But how do you engage/disengage the dynamo if it has no lever?"
Read on.

The badge  reads "SUPER CHERRY DYNAMO LAMP" 12V 0.5 Amps.
Notice it has no  JIS (Japan Industrial Standard) mark. Another indicator that it is at over 65 years old.

The bottom has two terminals one for the headlamp and the other for the taillamp.
Taillamp terminals were often marked in red.

Here are two National brand dynamos.

Again, neither of these has a lever to engage/disengage the dynamo.  They both have badges; however, the one on the left is obviously older as it does not have the JIS (Japan Industrial Standard) mark, and, the manufacturer is "SANYO ELECTRIC WORKS" as opposed to "SANYO ELECTRIC CO. LTD".  Both badges indicate the voltage/wattage for the headlamp "H" and taillamp "T".


Both have two terminals, stamped "H" (headlamp) and "T" (taillamp).

Dynamos can broadly be dated based on whether the dynamo is equipped with an easy locking lever.
Based on my limited resources, the easy locking lever first appeared in export catalogs in 1956 on the National brand models, and by 1958 virtually all other manufacturers had followed suit.

The photo below is from a 1956 export catalog.
Note in the descriptions that only the National brand (lower right) is equipped with the "easy locking lever".

1958 export catalog.
Note in the descriptions that all come equipped with the "easy locking lever".

Now take a look at these two models.
These are both equipped with the "easy locking lever", so post-1956.


The locking lever is a convenient mechanism.  Pushing down (or pulling up) on the lever releases the spring-loaded lock causing the dynamo roller to lean against, engage with, the dynamo roller track molded into the tire. 

Disengaged

Engaged

Left:  Push-down-to-engage type dynamo lever
Right: Pull-up-to-engage type dynamo lever

 

When the dynamo is engaged the roller rubs against the tire creating resistance making it slightly harder to pedal.  During the day, when not in use, the dynamo is disengaged.

Prior to the advent of the easy locking lever, engaging the dynamo was a dirty job.  It consisted of wrapping one's hand around the dynamo body and firmly pulling it forward in order to release the spring-loaded mechanism.  To disengage the dynamo was just as dirty a job as it had to be pulled forward and twisted back in place.  

Here is a very rare chain that came as an accessory with a pull-up-to-engage type dynamo lever. 

The length of the chain is 50cm.  One end attached to the small hole in the dynamo lever and the other end clipped to the front brake rod on the handlebars (if mounting the dynamo to the front fork, front wheel) or clipped to one of the saddle springs (if mounting the dynamo to the seat stay, rear wheel). 

Pulling up on the chain raised the dynamo lever and engaged the dynamo, enabling the rider to engage the dynamo without dismounting.

Lastly, another type of accessory was the roller splash guard, a sort of roller-fender.


 

That concludes the Front Headlamp (Headlight) series.