After years of looking, I finally found the perfect "oldtimer" light for the restoration! (The Germans actually call these old bikes Oldtimer Fahrrad's!).
This light is an original, never used, or mounted, Berko brand light from the 1930's. I spotted this on US eBay, and ended up getting it for an outstanding price! The seller said that he picked it up in France last year, so after sitting on a dusty shelf for years, it finally found it's way to the US, and into my happy hands.
This model of Berko light was made by the Berko-Werke company of Berlin. This particular model appears to have been manufactured from about 1929 until about 1939. It is the "classic truppenfahrrad" style of light used on the official German Military Truppenfahrrads of WW2. After this old boxy style fell out of fashion, the "bullet" housing lights appeared.
This light is marked "Importe' d'Allemagne", so I imagine this was imported to France, before France was invaded and occupied by Germany in 1939!
I located a scanned version of the French instructions for this light. The instructions date to the 1930's, and shows the light inside.
These lights are designed to use a 4.5 volt battery, or to be connected to a dynamo that ran off the front tire. The most common method was to wire it up to a dynamo. I would imagine that the battery operation was mostly saved for an emergency option when one's dynamo quit working.
The light has a heavy glass lens, and still has the original, frosted bulb inside.
On the back of the light, there are two knurled knobs to secure the two wires from the dynamo.
Between the knobs is a three-way switch: Battery - Off - Dynamo.
On the side there is another knurled knob that holds the hinged front tight when in use.
Inside there is a clip to hold the 4.5 volt battery, and a basic wire to switch arrangement. Pretty basic.
The light came with the original mounting plate attached.
I opted to remove the original plate-bracket, and mount the light on the Polizei Dienstfahrrad using a 1950's style, light mount (in keeping with the actual age of the bike). This light mounting arm is also a "new old stock" part made of heavy steel and chrome plated.
Until I find a period-correct dynamo for the light, I'll just have it mounted as a "battery light". There is always something else to hunt for!
I'll post a more comprehensive posting about the finished light mounting, in an upcoming blog post, so for now I'll just show off the "as found" light, before installation.
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