Tab on bottom of the headlight surround - black or chrome?

[James Fitzsimons]

Hi all,

I'm trying to track down some correct headlights for my RHD A Coupe. The car was manufactured in March 1957 so is one of the so called "cross over cars". I know that the UK delivered RHD cars came with symmetric bosch headlights with the adjusters in the 9 and 12 o'clock positions. However there are a couple of details I can't quite track down.

1. I know the tabs at the bottom of the surround came in both black and chrome, but I'm not sure when these appeared. I've seen pictures of cars right up to 59 with the black tabs, but earlier cars with the chrome tabs - does anyone know more?
2. I know the later (58 and older?) surrounds had BOSCH stamped in them, but does anyone know what year that started?

Any advice you can provide is much appreciated!

Cheers

[Mike Wilson]

Pretty sure the bottom tabs were galvanized.

Mike

[Joris Koning]

Clear zinc and black on some of the very early Bosch lights

[Mike Wilson]

Thanks for the clarification, Joris.

Mike