Collection: E10 bulbs

The E10 bulb: the screw base for vintage vehicles

The E10 (Edison 10 mm) base is one of the oldest bulb formats still used on classic vehicles. Its 10 mm diameter threaded screw is easily recognizable — different from more modern bayonet (BA9s) or wedge (T4W) bases.

The E10 primarily equips:

• Dashboards of cars and motorcycles before 1970
• Instrument warning lights: fuel gauge, charge indicator, turn signal indicators
• Certain interior lights on vintage vehicles
• Industrial signaling devices (rotating beacons, machine indicator lights)
• Certain old agricultural equipment

6V or 12V: identifying the correct voltage

A crucial point to check before purchase:

• Very old vehicles (before ~1960) were often 6 volts — Citroën Traction, first generation 2CV, Renault 4CV, Peugeot 203, Simca Aronde, as well as most French motorcycles before 1960.
• Newer vehicles (generally post-1960) are 12 volts.

⚠️ Risk of breakage: never connect a 6V bulb to a 12V circuit — it will burn out instantly. Conversely, a 12V bulb on a 6V circuit will not light up correctly (undervoltage).

The voltage is indicated:

• On the original bulb ("6V" or "12V" engraved on the base or glass)
• In the vehicle's technical documentation
• On the manufacturer's plate or battery

E10 LEDs for old dashboards

E10 LEDs are available in 6V and 12V, in several colors:

• White, warm white — modern or nostalgic look
• Red, green, amber — to respect the original colors of the indicator lights

Advantages: 10× longer lifespan (major advantage for infrequently used classic vehicles), whiter light, very low consumption.

Pay attention to polarity on some old vehicles — LEDs only work in one direction. If the LED does not light up after installation, remove it and reverse the insertion direction.