History Curious Lorraine Appleton Fog Lights

I picked up this pair of fog lights for a project car because well… I like big lights. I had collected one Trippe Senior before I found these.

After some research I cannot find any information about them… anywhere. I’ve reached out to a couple guys who “specialize” in vintage lights and they could tell me nothing about them.

They are large, 8.5” across, Appleton Electric Model 75 with Lorraine inked in the center of the lense.

I’m looking for an era and application for these, being as large as they are I was thinking possibly commercial vehicles? I haven’t been able to find ANYTHING about them, just the smaller 7” ones popular with the lowrider guys…

 

Is that SEMA the SEMA that we know of today?

 

I had wondered the same thing... I honestly don't know. I've seen other prewar lights marked with SEMA approved. It's also the only reason I'm assuming they're even automotive related.

 

Hope someone can shed some "light" on these.

 

SEMA was founded in 1963

 

Must have been another SEMA prior then, because there's other prewar lenses out the bearing the 'SEMA approved' script on their lenses.

 

There were at least three series of cars named Lorraine. May be for one of them.

 

I pulled one apart hoping to find a patent number to look up and there are none to be found, only “LL CO 2203”

Takes a removable bulb of some sort…

 

Appleton Electric dates to the turn of the last century, so they've been around a looong time. These days they're known mostly for explosion-proof-rated lighting, junction boxes and conduit fittings. But at one time they made a much wider range of products, including automotive fog and spotlights. One thing they made was signaling lights, or lights that were 'rated' for that. These were referred to as semaphore systems in some applications and I suspect that is what is being referred to as 'sema approved'.

 

Lorraine made quite a few models of lights, including some as authorised OEM parts.
https://forums.aaca.org/topic/21260...ray-lights-trippe-lights-and-lorraine-lights/



https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/3626636...MI-tmr2eWE8gIVSw4rCh03VQmaEAQYBiABEgLvtPD_BwE

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/124299456653?chn=ps&mkevt=1&mkcid=28

Cheers,
Harv

 

Great information guys. Big steps toward solving the mystery. Steve, I would have never guessed the sema-phore connection.

 

Silvered reflector's, Maybe late 20's early 30's?