Schwinn Postwar 6 Hole Rack Tail Light?

[elginkid]

What the heck is this? I bought a really crappy bike several months ago because it had a Schwinn carrier, which I was hoping was prewar. Spoiler alert, it wasn’t, and set the rack off to the side because I didn’t have a bike for it. Well, fast forward, now I might, and I was checking it out, and realized that it’s not a rear reflector, it appears to be a very tiny electric light. Was this a factory option, an aftermarket option, or a homemade job? How does it work, how does it get power?

 

[WillWork4Parts]

Not sure if somebody stuffed a dash light in there, or if that's a reflector mashed on top of some other sort of automotive light holder. It does not belong though.

 

[JBone]

Very nice job if it is not a factory part and an awesome piece regardless...

 

[bikejunk]

Most kids don't do such nice work - that thing looks really great

 

[elginkid]

As an update, I got it apart. It only has one wire going to the bulb. The escutcheon is even angled to fit just so with the back of the carrier. I’m not even sure how, or to what I power source I could wire this to on my bike.

 

[WillWork4Parts]

The bayonet style bulb and holder are more typically found in automotive applications. Part number on the bulb might get you closer to what it came from.