Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums General Petroliana Discussion Globe body for 13.25 lens

Have 13.25” glass lens set(no cut outs).
Are glass Gil’s the only globe body for this size lens?
Have seen online Gil’s in 13.5” lens size, but unclear if bodies are unique for a 13.25” vs. 13.5 lens.
Metal band looks like it is adjustable, but have not seen these globe bodies in-person.

Help is appreciated.

Yes your 13.25” inserts are made for a Gil body that size and that is the only correct body they were used in. There are 13.5” Gil bodies too but they are two different sizes bodies, the rings aren’t really made to adjust the different size inserts to the same body. There are 13.5” Gill lenses also. If you can’t find ( or don’t care to pay the $1000+price they’re bringing nowadays) a Gil frame you can mount your lenses in a common plastic capco body but the body will have to be modified to hold it as all capcos are for 13.5” inserts. You grind/sand off material at the top and bottom faces of the body where they screw together to make the circumference smaller to hold the lens. It’s not easy but you can do it with patience. The inserts will never fit the body perfectly but they will hold well enough for display purposes. Good luck.

Thank you for the great info!!! The capco mod is an interesting idea. Have a older plastic base that is cracked on neck, but might just practice on that one and see how it goes.
Then buy a new plastic body and modify once I’ve got one under my belt.

That might be a good idea to start. I have a bench style belt sander that I use to take off material top and bottom of the body. You need to leave just enough of the flange to hold the thing together with the screws and not break through. Loading a pair of regular size inserts into a capco isn’t always easy so trying to get ones that don’t fit real well can have you saying a choice word or two but it can be done if you take your time. What brand are your lenses?

If you end up buying a new body to modify - get it from Gas Pump Heaven.

Their bodies are too small to start with - so you would have less material to remove.

😝

Jim

You can buy a kit off ebay to use with a capco body that comes with all you need to attach a gill lens with bands. They are about $250 i believe

Rabbitman: "What brand are your lenses?” The lens set is Wood River.
T-Way: Thank you, good to know and sounds like that would save me some time modifying.