Appleton spotlight on a 1956 Ford

Appleton spotlights, or simply Appletons, were a common feature in early automobiles, up to the "muscle car" era. The bullet-shaped spotlights (usually installed in pairs) included a handle which was mounted through the side window pillar of the cab (just above the hood) into the interior of the vehicle.[1] This allowed an occupant to maneuver the direction or focus of the spotlight beam with a simple twisting motion. Appleton spotlights, marked with an embossed oval around the brand name, Appleton, were often found on pre-1960 vehicles (especially on service vehicles—police, armed forces, mail vehicles, etc.), but were also an often-added, after-market automobile accessory. They became so popular during the 1940s and 1950s for custom car enthusiasts, that "dummy" spots were commonly installed.[2]

References

  1. ↑ At Google Books: Ganahl, Pat; The American Custom Car; MotorBooks International; retrieved February 08, 2013 from: GoogleBooks.com; September 01, 2001; p. 167.
  2. ↑ How to Install Spotlights; article; HotRod.com online; retrieved February 8, 2012.
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