Era brake light switches

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Topic author
Dropacent
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Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:39 am
First Name: Tim
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* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1925TT, 1926 Martin-Parry bodied wagon, 1927 mercury bodied speedster
Location: Norwalk Ohio

Era brake light switches

Post by Dropacent » Thu Apr 01, 2021 2:55 pm

Digging out a brake light switch for a current project. They sure made things better back in the day, I think either one of these would do the job well.
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speedytinc
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Re: Era brake light switches

Post by speedytinc » Thu Apr 01, 2021 3:32 pm

Where do you mount? Underside of floor board?


Topic author
Dropacent
Posts: 3384
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:39 am
First Name: Tim
Last Name: Morsher
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1925TT, 1926 Martin-Parry bodied wagon, 1927 mercury bodied speedster
Location: Norwalk Ohio

Re: Era brake light switches

Post by Dropacent » Thu Apr 01, 2021 7:10 pm

They probably will work anywhere you mount them, but probably better to NOT be on the floorboard.


Allan
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Re: Era brake light switches

Post by Allan » Thu Apr 01, 2021 7:51 pm

While those are closer to period correct, they are bulky and mounting them would be far more difficult than the 80's Subaru one I use. It takes a simple angle bracket and one hole to mount. The metal housing on the switch is threaded at the mounting, so the switch body is adjustable in the bracket. The plunger rests directly on the pedal shaft, and as soon as the pedal is pushed, the switch is activated. Can't get much less intrusive than that, with Japanese reliability as a bonus. Newer switches are almost universally plastic, clip-in pieces which are not adjustable, so the bracket itself must adjustable.
Allan from down under.


Topic author
Dropacent
Posts: 3384
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:39 am
First Name: Tim
Last Name: Morsher
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1925TT, 1926 Martin-Parry bodied wagon, 1927 mercury bodied speedster
Location: Norwalk Ohio

Re: Era brake light switches

Post by Dropacent » Thu Apr 01, 2021 8:55 pm

Don’t want to sound snooty, Allan, but the day I have to start using modern imported car parts to keep the old cars going, I’ll find a new hobby.


Allan
Posts: 5205
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 7:21 pm
First Name: Allan
Last Name: Bennett
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1912 van, 1917 shooting brake, 1929 roadster buckboard, 1924 tourer, 1925 barn find buckboard, 1925 D &F wide body roadster, 1927LHD Tudor sedan.
Location: Gawler, Australia

Re: Era brake light switches

Post by Allan » Fri Apr 02, 2021 12:35 am

Tim, few of us have access to original accessories like those you show. I hide my brake lights in old T tail lights, and even have those on Henrietta hinged, so that when she is on display, they disappear up under the tray.
The switch I use is really small, easily removed and requires no drilling to fit. It also doesn't have to be laid aside to adjust the bands. Prior to fitting this type of switch, I used a motor cycle pull switch, but the car type is much more positive.
The indicator switches I use are Lucas brown bakelite types from the 50's. Not modern, but not T period either. They do not look at all obtrusive, unlike like the column mounted levers the dealers sell. The used one in Henrietta even has a broken mounting lug, and the brass washer fashioned to hold it in place looks like a period repair.
I work with what I have/can source, with an eye to making any additions as inconspicuous as possible, and as reversible as can be managed with no damage to original parts. I certainly will not be giving up on my hobby because I cannot source original parts to make modern safety concessions.

Allan from down under.


Topic author
Dropacent
Posts: 3384
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:39 am
First Name: Tim
Last Name: Morsher
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1925TT, 1926 Martin-Parry bodied wagon, 1927 mercury bodied speedster
Location: Norwalk Ohio

Re: Era brake light switches

Post by Dropacent » Fri Apr 02, 2021 10:27 am

Thanks Allan, I appreciate all you say.

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