ClassicCar

Early '52 lenses were glass with a retainer ring that was held to a stamped steel bulb holder by metal tabs, and late the '52 thru 53 lenses were plastic, held in place with three small self tapping screws to a die cast surround that in turn held by two small studs and nuts to the chromed stamped steel housing. The big chromed housings are the same, but you need both the ring and stamped steel bulb housing for the glass lenses, or the die cast bulb housing and the plastic lenses. The plastic lens doesn't have the thick lip for the glass ring type retainer, and the glass of course cannot be held to the die cast bulb housing with screws, so those two types don't work with each other....The plastic lens type is the more common and easier to find type. I think I have some of the glass ones around, if that is what you want for your car.

First picture shows the early '52 sets with the glass lenses.



And 2nd pic shows the die cast pieces that hold the plastic lenses (these are for the taillights, but parking light castings look much the same):