Is that "chrome looking bracket" ubiquitous for cast headlights?
My 248 prewar electric didn't come with one ( a recent eBay purchase and untested). But to me, its "T" fiberboard seems pretty snug when inserted into the cast headlight assembly
Sans bracket, do the contacts wander out after extended run time?
Same here no bracket on 248 there is no hole for it and does not use T fiberboard instead connecting wire goes thru hole in shell and is affixed on back of strap headlight assembly.
The T fiberboard on all of ours listed below fit rather tight, my best guess for Lionel back then securing it with a bracket is if it does work loose and falls out it may cause a short .
Our 251e, 252, 253, and 254 all cast headlights use T fiberboards and have the chrome type bracket held on by 1 screw.