Any truth to this assertion?
According to a discussion some years ago with Mr. Stern, even sealed beams ain't what they used to be.
Manufacturers crank them out using the same dies they used for years. According to Mr. Stern, the dies wore out 20+ years ago, but the market is so limited now, there's no motivation to replace them.
So even a brand-new sealed beam light ain't what it used to be.