Thread: Dietz 211?

Hello all, I just got this and have no idea what its worth. I would really appreciate any info you l can give me on this. I dont plan on keeping it so please let me know what it may be worth. As you will notice the dome is cracked. I am not to sure if it works or not but I will test it asap. Thanks

EDIT: I was able to test it and it does work. All four bulbs lit up and it did rotate.

I have. or will shortly me acquiring a NOS red dome, if your interested!

You have a very basic Dietz model 211. The serial number on the badge indicates it was made in 1966. If it is all original, there will be a date stamped in ink on the motor, it should also be 1966, but a beacon made at the first of the year might have last year's dated motor. You do have the mounting gasket, something that is usually missing.

Thanks everyone, what would this be worth. I may take you up in that NOS.

Pinball Charlie would be a good source for your question. He is quite knowledgeable on Dietz 211 & 711 beacons.

Originally Posted by flahotrod

Pinball Charlie would be a good source for your question. He is quite knowledgeable on Dietz 211 & 711 beacons.

Hey, I am a sucker for these lights. When I see them for sale I usually end up buying them. I would say your light is worth $60 the way it is and then if you put on a NOS lens, the price would go to $100.

Nice light for your collection though.

Pinball Charlie

Originally Posted by PinballCharlie

Hey, I am a sucker for these lights. When I see them for sale I usually end up buying them. I would say your light is worth $60 the way it is and then if you put on a NOS lens, the price would go to $100.

Nice light for your collection though.

Pinball Charlie

Thanks, this is actually the first vintage light I have had my hands on and I am unsure if I should keep it or not. Hmmmm pondering the thought. Its very clean inside. Pic to come.

Looks nice on the inside, definitely worth a new dome. If you clean the inside, do not clean the motor with any sort of solvent as that will remove the markings on the motor.

Well this one is on it's way to me, to be put in service on a work-truck. I didn't realize it was that old honestly. I figured late 70s, early 80s. Shopping for a clear or amber replacement dome now...

Well I received the light yesterday. Finish is in pretty good shape for the age. First thing I noticed is that the rotating assembly is mounted way off center inside the "pan" (lower housing). It would appear someone for some reason has moved the motor assembly around and lined it up in the wrong holes. I could be wrong. Anyone else have a Dietz setup like this? I will try and snap a picture tonight. Basically it looks like this-




Anyway, just looking for some guidance here, rather than start a new thread.

Originally Posted by kadetklapp

Well I received the light yesterday. Finish is in pretty good shape for the age. First thing I noticed is that the rotating assembly is mounted way off center inside the "pan" (lower housing). It would appear someone for some reason has moved the motor assembly around and lined it up in the wrong holes. I could be wrong. Anyone else have a Dietz setup like this? I will try and snap a picture tonight. Basically it looks like this-




Anyway, just looking for some guidance here, rather than start a new thread.

The center post of the rotating unit should be in the center of the base. Sounds to me like someone took it apart for cleaning or a repair and didn't quite put it back together correctly.

Originally Posted by kadetklapp

Well I received the light yesterday. Finish is in pretty good shape for the age. First thing I noticed is that the rotating assembly is mounted way off center inside the "pan" (lower housing). It would appear someone for some reason has moved the motor assembly around and lined it up in the wrong holes. I could be wrong. Anyone else have a Dietz setup like this? I will try and snap a picture tonight. Basically it looks like this-




Anyway, just looking for some guidance here, rather than start a new thread.

I would remove the bolts, center it the best you can, mark it with a sharpie and drill new holes. Problem solved!

Pinball Charlie

This is the California version of the 211! This is about as rare a pice as I've seen!!!!!!
There is supposed to be a steady burn red light mounted in the larger open area, and this is the front of the light.
This way everything is enclosed under the dome / lens.

Heard enough?

Just kidding!

Originally Posted by Steve0625

The center post of the rotating unit should be in the center of the base. Sounds to me like someone took it apart for cleaning or a repair and didn't quite put it back together correctly.

My thoughts exactly.

IDK about drilling any more holes. In looking at this, there are several holes already in the bottom of the pan. Drilling more is just going to make it flimsy on the bottom...

So, I'm trying to just take it apart and align it properly, but this has been a challenge. The screws are absolutely tighter than hell, so it's a struggle to get them out in one piece. I've removed ONE so far. I think I'm going to have to break out the Dremel.

I took this apart. I'm not sure what the deal is, but the holes are reinforced (threaded) and the only way to mount this is in the holes with the reinforcement. Not sure why this is like this, as it appears to be stock and unmolested. Very odd.

I took down one of mine to have a look. Are you absolutely positive that the post for the lamp carrier assembly is off-center? My motor and drive are mounted just like yours, but the post is in the center of the dome and base. Besides, I don't think there is enough room inside the dome for the lamp carrier to be off-center and still rotate.

Yea, I'm positive. Here's a good view-

Note the center of the lens marked by the mold mark is way off from where the center post of the rotating assembly is.

Here's the pan with the rotating assembly removed-

The smaller holes with the circle around them appear to be the correct mounting holes. I'm thinking this just was a shoddy job at the factory. It's not even close to centered and you can only mount the motor one way as far as I can tell.

Originally Posted by kadetklapp

I'm thinking this just was a shoddy job at the factory. It's not even close to centered and you can only mount the motor one way as far as I can tell.

I would agree. It looks like someone said "Good enough" and packaged it up.

Thanks for the pics, I see it is off center just a little, not enough to affect function, but enough to be visible. The base looks correct, I don't see where any of the motor mounting holes have been modified. Could well be that this beacon was either a Friday last one for the week or a first one on Monday with a hangover.

are you still selling this light? And how much?

Hey Guys, I am a newbie. I joined this forum just to be able to access the vast knowledge base available.
I have had a Dietz 211 it also has the numbers 7-110 and more info such as SAE-W3-70. The serial number is 07-1570.
It has a red dome that has a few scratches but no cracks. The sealed beams are all missing and I would like to replace them, what bulbs would I need? I think everything else is there.
Any help would be great!!!

4416

Originally Posted by kadetklapp

I'm thinking this just was a shoddy job at the factory. It's not even close to centered and you can only mount the motor one way as far as I can tell.

Originally Posted by flahotrod

I would agree. It looks like someone said "Good enough" and packaged it up.

Interesting enough, I found another "It's finally Friday" or "Monday hangover" Dietz 211 with an off-center rotator assembly while roaming eBay. Your's is not the only one, Kadet!

That's amazing.
There has to be an answer.

I actually had one that was way off center. Somebody was probably smoking the wacky weed!

I ended up drilling new holes and it looked much better! That one got traded towards an Aero bar...

I've got to say, this being my first Dietz rotator, I'm not too impressed with the build quality. The rotating assembly is not only off center, but appears to be bent up. I had to shim two of the screws holding the motor to the bowl to get it to even sort of sit evenly in the pan.

eBay purchases can be like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get.

I've gotten some real gems on eBay, I've gotten some junk. With used pieces of emergency equipment the seller often doesn't know what he has or how to properly evaluate it, so it can be a roll of the dice as to what it will be when you open the box.

Originally Posted by stansdds

eBay purchases can be like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get.

I've gotten some real gems on eBay, I've gotten some junk. With used pieces of emergency equipment the seller often doesn't know what he has or how to properly evaluate it, so it can be a roll of the dice as to what it will be when you open the box.

Didn't buy it off ebay, bought it from the OP. Not that it matters, but I digress.

This is going to get tossed on the work truck and banished to a life of hard work. Once I found out how old it was I was considering putting it in the display case, but I'm so disgusted with it that I'm sentencing it to a life of hard labor. I've got some log trailers to pull and this fits the bill.