I picked up a set of Guide headlamps a little while ago. They have 903 J stamped on the label on top. They're painted black with stainless trim rings. What cars came equiped with these? The guy restored Model A's but I don't think that's where they're from.
I bought a stock model a a couple a few months ago and it had 903J's on it. I figured they were stock.
They're not an original Model A headlight...They're aftermarket replacements. Savvy drivers, even back then, used the hottest things for their cars. The sealed beam headlight conversion is one of these innovations. I've got a set of 903 J Guide lamps in 'da collection. I got them 29 years ago at a swap meet. They were a replacement set of headlights for early cars, like Model A's and Chevy's. But mine have a flexible conduit for the headlight wiring just like the Model A's have. The sealed beam, as we know it, first came out in 1940. It made seeing ahead a lot easier. The original reflectors with the silvered surface weren't much. Especially after the reflector got tarnished. Adapters were made to fit a Sealed beam into the original headlight "bucket". And manufacturors like Guide division of General Motors made lamps like the 903 J. Today we have aftermarket Sealed beams that take a H-3 Halogen bulb insert. I'll probably fit a pair of these to one of my Model A's. Those Big ugly Guides and B-L-C's (withthe marker lights) we used to throw away when we were restoring Model A's...and replacing them with stock buckets. Now you need a week's pay to buy a pair on E Bay...
Many Guide lights were used on commercial rigs I think. Mide had extra long mounting studs when I found them. The OTB aftermarket replacement polished bezels and retainers fit pretty well. I have a pair for my Model A.