Brittax L471 Lenses

[jagnut66]

Hi,
I thought they were all Lucas but mine are stamped 'Brittax'.......... aftermarket??..............
Best wishes,
Mike.

[geoberni]

That looks like a plastic one.
The originals of the day were, as far as I'm aware, thick glass.
But there were a great many made, then and since, because they were not restricted to the Morris range.
They were on Triumphs too and on Indian built cars for many years. There's still plenty of Indian made stock on the internet.

Unless Lucas held a patent then Britax probably made copies or were perhaps even an alternate/licensed supplier.

In the 60s Britax went more into seating, seat belts, aircraft interiors etc.

[JOWETTJAVELIN]

Keep your Britax lenses. They were a quality manufacturer and have built-in reflectors, unlike the Lucas original.

[jagnut66]

Keep your Britax lenses. They were a quality manufacturer and have built-in reflectors, unlike the Lucas original.

I intend to, I like them.
However, I picked up a pair of NOS Lucas L471 rear lights off eBay a month back, so out of curiosity I opened one up to take a look and guess what.....
Plastic lenses..............
Images below.
I'm still glad I've got them though, they will come in handy one day.
Best wishes,
Mike.

[geoberni]

They're probably later production after the mid 50s; Lucas no doubt realised that plastic ones were cheaper to make than glass.
They never incorporated the reflector aspect though, which they could easily have done with a plastic moulding, unless the wording of the new vehicle regs prevented the stop/tail lamp actually being behind the reflector
Or perhaps they were just happy with manufacturers using the L549 in that regard.

[jagnut66]

I have to admit the L471 unit looked a little small for brake lights when I first saw them on a Moggy many years ago, however they have grown on me and now I rather like them (in either Brittax or Lucas form).
I don't know about vehicle regs at the time they were in current production but the position of the reflector doesn't seem to impede the visibility of the rear light / brake light in any way.......
However if the Lucas lenses were selling well enough without them incorporating a reflector, why would they go to the expense?
Best wishes,
Mike.

[moggiethouable]

I visit what is left of the Britax factory in Bridlington from time to time, through my job supplying engineering parts.
They still make lenses but were bought out by Ecco of Leeds where most production now takes place,
https://www.eccoesg.co.uk/gb/en/products/Beacons they are specialists now in ambulance and police lights etc.
It is highly unlikely they still have the moulds for those units though, collectors items.

[jagnut66]

It is highly unlikely they still have the moulds for those units though, collectors items.

Preserved on my car for posterity!
Best wishes,
Mike.