Lucas H52 spares

[Deleted User]

Hi all,

Anyone any ideas who does parts for Lucas H52’s? I need a glass, switch and the part that connects the bulbholder to the switch. This has kindly been donated to Scruffy by Bitsa who has no need of it!

Thanks

James

[Deleted User]

British Only in Austria usually has access to parts, probably of Chech manufacture. They also has a 1929 7″ H52 for sale at €500. It may be a replica or a restored original.
The original Lucas 4-position switches for 3-brush dynamos are more rare than hair on an egg. A 3-position one is useable.
Try this link: https://www.vintage-motorcycle.com/index.php?language=en&site=4&pid=32&id=15872&limit=120

Kind regards,

Carl

[Deleted User]

Hi Carl,

Now I’m confused, that headlamp is very different to mine which has a large 4 position switch mounted on the back with the 2″ ammeter in the normal position on top.

James

[Deleted User]

I believe that H52 may have been made in different varieties. Your bike is 1927, while the advertised lamp is from 1929. I will anyway recommend to contact British Only in Austria to find out whether they can supply parts. You may e-mail them a photo of your headlamp. The owner of the company speaks English perfectly.

Kind regards,

Carl

[Deleted User]

Hi all,

A couple of pics that may help identify what I have.

Internal shot; wiring is thought to be factory original!

James

[Deleted User]

Hi again,

You are very lucky to have the original 4-position switch with resistors for regulating the field current to the third-brush dynamo. The switch handle is the same as on 3-position switches. Your headlamp is undoubtedly a H52 as used on other British bikes of the period. The Ammeter is correct, and I believe that the headlamp bezel, reflector and glass is the same as on the headlight in Austria. That is, if your lamp is a 7″ headlamp – Which I believe it is.

The wiring may of course be original – rubber-insulated cables were often used. I would not recommend using them, though. Good cotton-braided cabling is available on the market (The Stafford Show is just around the corner – 23rd/24th April). It is important to remember that the copper core of the cables to and from the headlamp has to be thick enough to serve at least 15 amps. 6-Volt systems need heavy cabling.

Kind regards,

Carl

[Anonymous]

I am interested to hear from others with the switch and ammeter in the headlamp shell for circa 1929 bikes. My reason for asking is one of mine has the ammeter on the back of the shell and the switch on the top, ie the other way round to the pics above. I never gave a though to it being correct or not as it as I bought the bike. Does any one else have the same setup as I describe, or are you all ammeter on top kind of riders 😕

Regards,
Richard

[Martin Heckscher]

I have a vague idea that the original H52 had the ammeter in the back of the lamp, and that around 1930 it moved to the top with the switch at the back.
Some spares (and complete lamps) are being re-manufactured by Jiri Horice in the Czech Republic – and he is normally at Stafford for the April show. However his lamps are designed to work on the 2 brush system so quite a few of the individual parts which he offers are not compatible with the original lights (I have already been down this road!). He makes a lot of very good replica items.
Check out his website: https://www.vintage-replica.cz/indexE.htm
Martin

[Author]

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