There was another thread on here about what equipment is required on old cars. It specifically mentioned turn signals, and this got me thinking about something I've always wondered about. I have a bone stock '51 Ford club coupe. When I bought it over 25 years ago, it came with all of the original paperwork, including a copy of the original hand-written invoice from Helgeson-Lageson Ford in Hutchinson (I think) Minnesota. On the invoice was a line for $17.50 for turn signals. Any of you that have ever owned a '51 Ford know that the turn signals were well integrated into the car; the mechanism was enclosed under the steering wheel, and the indicators were built into the gauge cluster, so I would have thought they were standard equipment. My question is : Has anyone ever owned or seen an '51 Ford WITHOUT factory turn signals?
Chevy still had them listed as an option on 1955 "cheap" cars. They were optional on trucks into the very early 60s. (RPO 336)
I don't recall one without turn signals but I do know they were optional. I think that some options were already there when the car came to the dealer and the buyer just had to pay for them jus like it is now if you buy one off the showroom floor. Not all optional turn signals were dealer options.
The first application of a flashing electric turn signal was used on the 1938 Buick as a new safety feature. It was advertised by Buick as the “Flash-Way Directional Signal”. By 1940, Buick added the self-canceling mechanism attached to the steering column. This complex and sensitive mechanical method of springs, cams, sliders and lobes with fixed shut-off points is still used worldwide in virtually all vehicles. This was indeed an ingenious solution in 1940 and has worked well enough to get by for many years.
Some of those "optional" equipment in those days was standard but listed as optional to show a lower base price. Some like the one Refried Confusion works on probably went though as stripper models with no options on them for one reason or another though. Either special ordered or ordered by the dealer as a cost leader for their adds. Yuppers, we have the one in the add over there but look at this one with the two tone paint, white walls, turn signals and a heater and radio. You don't seem to see many now but a lot of cars were shipped pretty bare in the 50's and then the dealer added on the options at the time of the sale. The thing I can't figure out now is why a guy would want to consider building a car or truck, rod or custom without turn signals no matter if it didn't come originally. We live in an era where half the people following or meeting you on the road have no concept of what a hand signal is and are damned well not looking for one.
Chevy sold turn signals as an over-the-counter accessories all thru the 50s....for cars and trucks in the early 50s, and for trucks in the later 50s. The 53 car turn signal switch assembly is pretty easy to install, and was used on 53-54 cars, 53 (54?)-59 trucks, and 63-62 vettes. When they didn't have turn signals, they had a "dummy" bell screwed to the back of the steering wheel. i have a few of these that I've taken off of trucks.
My 51 Ford Tudor Deluxe did not have factory turn signals. The gren lens holes are in the speedo unit but no bulbs or wiring and no handle on the column.
Back in the mid-'50's, my Dad had a '49 or '50 Standard Vanguard that had 'semaphore-type' turn signals - with a lighted movable plastic arm that would pivot out of the roof side pillar behind the drivers door, to signal your turn. Mart3406 ---------------- P.S. I've also seen similar 'semaphore' turn signals on early '50's VW's and other 50's-era European cars. =======================
The 39 Buick I had was equipped with them. The shift lever had another small lever on it that controlled the signals. This car also had the radio antenna on the bottom of the right running board out of sight. Always liked the 39 which is the reason I like the Buick Blackhawk so well.
Turn signals were still optional on the 1952 Ford. The lenses & chrome trim on the front end of mine were there for decoration, but there was no wiring or turn signal lever on the steering column inside. The previous owner of my '52 just installed one of the aftermarket signal levers & wired it up about 6 years ago.
My friend's 51 Ford Custom has an add-on signal kit and no provision inside the column for installation of the switch mechanism. I have a couple of NOS Signal-Stat kits from the 50's for generic truck installations. The kits come with the column switch, wiring, and four fender mount light fixtures.
The Jalopy Journal
