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  1. #1
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    Default Marchal 750 Lens Frames

    I have a pair of lens frames for the 750's that are significantly heavy then the few I've been involved with before. These others are much thinner and more subject to dents and rust. I know these are from Belguim. While they are the same physical size, they heavier ones have the lens spacers built in. The weight difference is substantial with the heavier ones weighing 6 ozs. and the others 2 ozs.

    I can only assume these heavier ones are from Spain. Or perhaps the heavier ones were standard when the 750's were originally produced only to be replaced by the thinner and obviously much cheaper ones later on. Can anyone shed any light on this?

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    FEP Power Member 87gtVIC's Avatar
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    To add to this I have had issues with lenses fitting into frames...the light fragile frame versus the heavy duty frame.

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    Mine are identical with the same lens fitting properly in either.

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    FEP Power Member 87gtVIC's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by jud149 View Post
    Mine are identical with the same lens fitting properly in either.
    Id wager then if you had the "other lens" it would not fit one way or the other. Ive ran into this though I cannot say where which lens/frames originate from.

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    You may be right. All I know is that the lens that came with heavier frame fit properly into the lighter frame.

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    Anyone???

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    FEP Senior Member rodster's Avatar
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    I've seen this before and it's a cast frame versus a stamped frame. The only cast frame I recall seeing was on my 83 TC so maybe it was an early/late thing? Probably a cost concern?
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    Last edited by rodster; 11-09-2020 at 11:02 PM.

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    Thanks for responding. And yes, those are the 2 frames I asked about. It's obvious that the cast is a much superior product than its stamped version. It's superior because it is a much heavier duty frame than the stamped version weighing several ounces more, has built in lens spacers, and eliminates rust as it is aluminum.

    I suspect as mentioned that the cast version was more than likely scrapped in a cost saving measure when the original Marchal of France sold out to a Belguim company, but of course I have no idea and can find no info as to why and when the change actually took place. An interesting tidbit is that there was a Mr. Marchal who started the company back in the 20's according to an article I read.

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    FEP Senior Member rodster's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by jud149 View Post
    Thanks for responding. And yes, those are the 2 frames I asked about. It's obvious that the cast is a much superior product than its stamped version. It's superior because it is a much heavier duty frame than the stamped version weighing several ounces more, has built in lens spacers, and eliminates rust as it is aluminum.

    I suspect as mentioned that the cast version was more than likely scrapped in a cost saving measure when the original Marchal of France sold out to a Belguim company, but of course I have no idea and can find no info as to why and when the change actually took place. An interesting tidbit is that there was a Mr. Marchal who started the company back in the 20's according to an article I read.

    As I said, I found the cast frames on my 83 TC and my 84 SVO has the stamped frames. I would guess the change took place after 83 when the lamps were used on a lot of cars. Maybe at that point when someone decided to stick with the design, they looked into cost reduction. I'm sure that's a typical business model in the car world.

    Marchal has been around a long time and has made many products. On Fords, the early 68 Shelby's had Marchal fog lights, later changed to Lucas.

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    FEP Senior Member rodster's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by 87gtVIC View Post
    To add to this I have had issues with lenses fitting into frames...the light fragile frame versus the heavy duty frame.
    The lenses are different depending on the body/frame.

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    Quote Originally Posted by rodster View Post
    The lenses are different depending on the body/frame.
    Great further confirmation. I am not imagining things. I have parts and pieces of marchals but they don't fit together!

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    FEP Senior Member rodster's Avatar
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    That's why making lamps out of parts isn't always that easy. You can see the differences in the lenses.



    Why I bought NOS and not parts.

    Name:  Marchal 750 759.JPG
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    Thanks, guys. This is clearing up some things with the different parts.

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    Quote Originally Posted by rodster View Post
    That's why making lamps out of parts isn't always that easy. You can see the differences in the lenses.



    Why I bought NOS and not parts.
    Name:  Marchal 750 759.JPG
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    Do the 2 lenses have the same front design?

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    FEP Senior Member rodster's Avatar
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    Same basic design but the fonts of the letters and numbers are different.

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    If you have the time would appreciate it if you would post pics of the fronts of the 2 lenses indicating which is for the cast frame version. I'm doing some resto work and don't want to get screwed up buying a bunch of parts that don't fit as you mentioned. Thanks so much.

    BTW, I spent a lot of time in Allentown/Bethlehem years ago. I went to Perkiomen in Pennsburg which I see is still going. Also I see it's no co-ed. Not so when I went there in the 60's (bummer). My sister lived in Bethlehem and her husband worked for Bethlehem Steel.

    Anyway, thanks for your posts...very informative.
    Last edited by jud149; 11-17-2020 at 08:37 AM.

  17. #17
    FEP Senior Member rodster's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by jud149 View Post
    If you have the time would appreciate it if you would post pics of the fronts of the 2 lenses indicating which is for the cast frame version. I'm doing some resto work and don't want to get screwed up buying a bunch of parts that don't fit as you mentioned. Thanks so much.

    BTW, I spent a lot of time in Allentown/Bethlehem years ago. I went to Perkiomen in Pennsburg which I see is still going. Also I see it's no co-ed. Not so when I went there in the 60's (bummer). My sister lived in Bethlehem and her husband worked for Bethlehem Steel.

    Anyway, thanks for your posts...very informative.
    Let me see if I can find the pics of which lens matches which frame. Something else to consider is there may be other variations I haven't seen. Did they change the font when they changed the lens thickness? If there are running changes it might take buying a lot of parts and pieces to make everything work. I know I was surprised when I saw the cast frame. There are also different marking on the body too. Some have text, some just have an 'I'. Then there are the covers, gray, white and the 84 SVO's had black. Don't forget Marchal's were made for lots of other brands and some had driving lenses vs fog lenses. Good luck.

    Pennsburg is still a nice area, Bethlehem Steel is long gone and replaced with a casino. Some of the building have been saved and it's a very neat place to visit, assuming there is no virus!

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    Thanks...Make that Perkiomen is now co-ed, not "no co-ed". I know Beth Steel is long gone and that it was replaced by a casIno. Never got up from FL where we now live to see it. Built by Las Vegas Sands only to be recently sold by them.
    Last edited by jud149; 12-04-2020 at 04:26 PM.

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    Just wondering if you were able to find the pics of the 2 different lenses fronts. Thanks for your help...


    Quote Originally Posted by rodster View Post
    Let me see if I can find the pics of which lens matches which frame. Something else to consider is there may be other variations I haven't seen. Did they change the font when they changed the lens thickness? If there are running changes it might take buying a lot of parts and pieces to make everything work. I know I was surprised when I saw the cast frame. There are also different marking on the body too. Some have text, some just have an 'I'. Then there are the covers, gray, white and the 84 SVO's had black. Don't forget Marchal's were made for lots of other brands and some had driving lenses vs fog lenses. Good luck.

    Pennsburg is still a nice area, Bethlehem Steel is long gone and replaced with a casino. Some of the building have been saved and it's a very neat place to visit, assuming there is no virus!
    Last edited by jud149; 12-04-2020 at 04:28 PM.

  20. #20
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    I recall reading this post but maybe never finished it to the end. I was just attempting to replace a cracked lens on my 84 GT. Got every thing cleaned up only to find the lens won't fit. The front frame is cast metal and my lens came from a stamped steel frame. Not interchangeable. The cast ones seem to be original on my 84 GT Turbo with 84 dates inside. Need to dig for more spares.
    Last edited by KevinK; 06-30-2023 at 11:23 AM.
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