Another Dominion Auto addition. need info

R

Richard P

Senior Member
Member
May 23, 2010
1,031
113
Sudbury, On
I picked up another Dominion auto 357, but this one has a newer (it seems) gear box and rotator assembly, anyone know when these were introduced?


When I bought it, it was mounted to a cooking sheet that the fella would bolt to his truck come winter. It had a Do-Ray 4005 blue lens on it, which I later replaced with a proper 357 dome.


I gave the chrome a small bath to remove the scum build up,, wiped down the inside and that was about it, the chrome is faded a bit, but still presentable. I now have 3 DA 357 beacons, I know where to get one more, and possibly another chrome base amber.

DSCN7337.jpg

DSCN7338.jpg

DSCN7339.jpg

DSCN7340.jpg

DSCN7341.jpg

DSCN7342.jpg

DSCN7343.jpg
 
I have seen a lot of DA 357 in town an don't recall any with that Do-Ray lens... I guess they needed a new dome and this one fitted and came in handy. :)


Good find!
 
I've seen Do-Ray beacons with Dominion Auto 357 domes on them!


Rich, that dome you put on the 357 - is that a newer one? The blue 357 domes I remember were a very dark blue.
 
Richard , That is a do-ray motor assembly . Dominion Auto never had that type of wire in the bottom of the motor assembly.Dominion Auto always used the exterior brush assembly. However that does look like a D/A mounting plate . Never seen one like that before .
 
Peter F said:
Richard , That is a do-ray motor assembly . Dominion Auto never had that type of wire in the bottom of the motor assembly.Dominion Auto always used the exterior brush assembly. However that does look like a D/A mounting plate . Never seen one like that before .
Click to expand...

The top bulb holder looks very dominion, maybe the companies merged?

Wailer said:
I've seen Do-Ray beacons with Dominion Auto 357 domes on them!

Rich, that dome you put on the 357 - is that a newer one? The blue 357 domes I remember were a very dark blue.
Click to expand...


This dome is just as dark as my other dominion lenses, pretty dark. My dominion auto intermediate beacon has a much lighter dome.
 
It could be a very early D/A, I have a Do-ray with the same wiring hook up as that one . If you notice the bulb wires come of close to the base . All the D/A lights have the collector rod with the wires coming of the top of the shaft . That is what makes me think it is a early Do-Ray
 
Peter F said:
It could be a very early D/A, I have a Do-ray with the same wiring hook up as that one . If you notice the bulb wires come of close to the base . All the D/A lights have the collector rod with the wires coming of the top of the shaft . That is what makes me think it is a early Do-Ray
Click to expand...

I though maybe it was a later model, Since the inside is prestine. Usually with Northern ontario weather and salt after a year the bulb holders tarnish bad, since he said he used this every winter I figure it was newer. Heres bulb holder comparison shots, theyre the same shape aside the different finish on them. The base it mounts on even seems factory drilled for this, no holes to mount an old rotator assembly. There is a shorter collector rod in this, but the bracket (which screws to the lower bulb holder) gots over it which is the ground for the other bulb posts.


The printing on the tag is gone, all thats left is:


Dominion Auto


357 12


A 2649


Maybe the Do - ray dome is a factory job then? Does DoRay have canadian connections? I cant say for sure, but I sweare the old canadian Tire Catelogues had Do-Ray, I recognize the bubbeled out bas and the retainer ring for the dome. Since DA is Canadian, maybe they shared? Like target tech? If you look at the old target tech catelogues, tehres teh DA flat top, the DA intermediate with a target tech parabolic rotator in it (large square) And I got some Dominion Auto Turbo beams.

DSCN7344.jpg

DSCN7345.jpg
 
Richard P said:
This dome is just as dark as my other dominion lenses, pretty dark. My dominion auto intermediate beacon has a much lighter dome.
Click to expand...

I've seen 357 domes darker than that - so dark they almost look purple.

Richard P said:
Maybe the Do - ray dome is a factory job then? Does DoRay have canadian connections?
Click to expand...

Some Do-Ray products were stamped with 'Do-Ray Lamp Co. Chicago Toronto'.

Richard P said:
I cant say for sure, but I sweare the old canadian Tire Catelogues had Do-Ray, I recognize the bubbeled out bas and the retainer ring for the dome.
Click to expand...

Canadian Tire sold Do-Ray beacons and domes in the 1970s and 1980s.

Richard P said:
Since DA is Canadian, maybe they shared?
Click to expand...

I doubt it. The domes are interchangeable, but that's not unusual. A Dietz 711 dome will fit a Federal 184 Power Light or CJ184/284 speaker/light and vice versa.


I think the light you got was one that was repaired with some Do-Ray parts. Maybe it was a repair job using the parts from two different brands - i.e. taking two broken lights to make one that works.
 
Wailer said:
I've seen 357 domes darker than that - so dark they almost look purple.




Some Do-Ray products were stamped with 'Do-Ray Lamp Co. Chicago Toronto'.


Canadian Tire sold Do-Ray beacons and domes in the 1970s and 1980s.


I doubt it. The domes are interchangeable, but that's not unusual. A Dietz 711 dome will fit a Federal 184 Power Light or CJ184/284 speaker/light and vice versa.


I think the light you got was one that was repaired with some Do-Ray parts. Maybe it was a repair job using the parts from two different brands - i.e. taking two broken lights to make one that works.
Click to expand...


I recall a 1994 or 96 Crappy tire catelogue having the lights in them, I thought it was star since it had that circular pattern on the top of the domes, but the bubbled out base really seems doray.


As for my beacon, Theres no mounting holes on the plate inside to mount an original DA rotator assembly, this is all factory. DA rotor assemblies have 3 mounts in a triangular pattern, theres no holes for this, there 4 tiny studs, this came like that right out of the box it appears.


Anyone got DoRay pictures of the original DoRay light?
 
CFD125 said:
That base looks a lot like a Beacon Ray base. Does it match your others identically?
Click to expand...

Yes, It has the dominion automotive label. Beacon rays werent very common at all here.
 
Richard , I was checking through my parts and pieces and I found one exactly the same as yours ,and another one that seems to be a older model again . Both have that do ray type motor and the short collector wiring . Does your motor assembly say D/A or just the skirt. You got me wondering what brand they actually are . Mine dont have anything else but the American bosch printing on the side of the motor assembly .
 
Peter F said:
Richard , I was checking through my parts and pieces and I found one exactly the same as yours ,and another one that seems to be a older model again . Both have that do ray type motor and the short collector wiring . Does your motor assembly say D/A or just the skirt. You got me wondering what brand they actually are . Mine dont have anything else but the American bosch printing on the side of the motor assembly .
Click to expand...

Mine has teh american bosch also, no markings. Just the skirt says DA. I wouldnt doubt it if they shared products between the two companies. Got any DA stuff for sale? lol
 
Ive got one just like that, and a black enamel base and the odd older one with chrome base
 
wow, thats gorgeous! im jealous. I dont have much new DA stuff, just a chrome base junior, intermediate and a turbobeam 22
 
Nice!


I see that the newer styled skirt is straighter than my old one. It also have the newer stick-on label. The same stick-on I have on my DA flat top em'cy lights.


Very clean! I like the motor design: all enclosed, sealed and adjusted. :D
 
dmathieu,


can you please tell me in which way the sealed beams are mounted in your NOS light.


Are the filament horizontal or vertical?


On my 357, the GE 4416 power terminals short circuit on the center post when they are mounted vertical.


They must be mounted with the filament horizontal with the wide light spread horizontally instead of it to be vertical as normal.
 
cmb56 said:
dmathieu,
can you please tell me in which way the sealed beams are mounted in your NOS light.


Are the filament horizontal or vertical?


On my 357, the GE 4416 power terminals short circuit on the center post when they are mounted vertical.


They must be mounted with the filament horizontal with the wide light spread horizontally instead of it to be vertical as normal.
Click to expand...

In my 357, the filament is mounted horizontally but snaps a lot so all in all... it works good for me. :)


-Toon
 
mine are all vertical, every one of my DA lights. my intermediate must be vertical since the contacts are part of the spring loaded bulb holder
 
Mine are vertical. There's enough room. In pictures, I see the problem that you are talking about. Maybe DA decided to make the clamps a little longer to eliminate this problem. How long are the clamps on the different lights? Mine are 6 3/8" long.


Dan
 
Last edited by a moderator:
dmathieu said:
Mine are vertical. There's enough room. In pictures, I see the problem that you are talking about. Maybe DA decided to make the clamps a little longer to eliminate this problem. How long are the clamps on the different lights? Mine are 6 3/8" long.
Dan
Click to expand...

what do you mean by the clamps? the bulb holders? they are all exactly the same length, even the 4 bulb ones.
 
Measure them. There has to be a reason why the bulbs are closer to the post in some lights, and not in others. Or if the center post is wider in some lights. Those are the only variables, that I see, that would cause the issue . That is unless the contacts are sticking out further on certain bulbs.


Dan


Yes, I mean the bulb holders.
 
I will think it might be some differences between the sealed beams.


I do not want to take apart my light at the moment but visually one of them look a little thicker.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum Statistics

Threads
54,951
Messages
453,737
Members
19,613
Latest member
Saxe cooper

Share This Page

Share this page
Top Bottom
Back