Does anyone have an engineering drawing/mechanical drawing/blackline drawing, for a Sunbeam1018 headlight? Similar Sunbeam headlight models would be equally welcome. This is for 1/8th scale reproduction, so a clear scan would fine. I do need the numbers, however. If you have and would be willing to share, it would help me a great deal.

Many thanks in advance.

Dick

Dick,

I am currently building a Sunbeam 1018 headlight in 1/8th scale and have drawn working drawings to help it along. I spent many hours of research and phone calls to get close.

If you would like to discuss this further, send me a PM.

JD Johnson, Morehead and North Fork Railroad Historian

I take it your hunt for the original drawings went about as fruitfully as is mine! I know Sunbeam produced a document, a catalog, with dimensional illustrations at one time. I am hoping one of our readers has access to the same and will share.
I will contact you off the group.

I am not overly familiar with Sunbeam headlights. Is #1018 the large-diameter-reflector headlight with a flared base and angled numberboard wings, used on S.P. locomotives 1920s-1930s? With a larger diameter reflector than the Pyle-National headlights that replaced them in the 1940s? If so, we would be interested buying a set of drawings. Eventually we're going to want to backdate 4-6-2 S.P. 2472 to a prewar appearanxce, including the Sunbeam headlight.

- Doug Debs

If anyone is interested, here is an illistration from a book I have.

JD Johnson, Morehead and North Fork Railroad Historian

Thank you, J.D.

Who owns the Sunbeam product line now?

Was it bought out by Pyle-National at some point? If so, I know who has that archive but, its an active company and they will not take the time to make copies for us railfans no matter how gand our projects, unless we want to pony up some $$.

Loco 112,

During my research, I found that Pyle National did aquire the Sunbeam line. Upon calling Pyle, the person I spoke to did not have archives that went back to the 1920's. If you have a source that can be purchased, PM me and we will talk about it futher. I am very interested.

JD Johnson, Morehead and North Fork Railroad Historian

Some history, probably not of much use but it is interesting:

Somewhere around 1920 the Schroeder Headlight and Generator Co of Evansville, Indiana changed it's name to Sunbeam Electric Manufacturing. Later, in addition to railroad electrical equipment, Sunbeam started to manufacture the Coldspot brand of refrigerators for Sears. The Coldspot featured styling by the industrial designer Raymond Loewy (It's funny how the same names keep coming around). Headlights became secondary and Sunbeam sold off that product line to Pyle-National (I don't have the date). Sunbeam merged with Seeger Refrigerator Company in 1945. In 1955 Whirlpool bought out Seeger. Whirlpool still manufactures appliances in Evansville. Pyle-National is still in the headlight business and it's product line is now owned by Amphenol Industrial Operations.

I very much appreciate everybody's digging into this topic. I have not yet uncovered a manufacturer's diagram with dimensions. I would like to say that several of you have offered to allow me to photograph and measure headlights to which you have access, and that is a door in itself. I thank you all. Please keep me in mind if you come across such a manufacturer's document, as it would be a real contribution to member of the hobby, and possibly to people in the rebuilding or restoration process.

Dick

Loco 112,

There is a PM waiting for you. Thanks for your input.

JD Johnson, Morehead and North Fork Railroad Historian