Several years ago a cache of these were being offered on Ebay. I picked up four of them, one for each of our T's. The acid paper these were wrapped in reacted with the metal in several places causing the dusting of mild cosmetic corrosion you see in the photos.
I bought one a couple of years ago and mounted in the back for a "period correct" turn signal. The "S" is hooked to the brake light switch along with the two tail lights.
We mounted the switch on the dash over a hole I needed to cover up anyway.
Don't you just love that wiring diagram and instructions. There is absolutely no mention of a fuse. Who needs a stinking fuse???? The wire will eventually become its own fuse?????
Ironically it's from the same period as fused neutral house wiring
For those of you who don't know, house wiring with fused neutrals was incredibly dangerous.
Couple of interesting things with these units. First of all the switch comes with a little clamp for the steering wheel spokes. Instructions are to leave enough cable to get a few wraps around the steering column. Simple solution for a lack of a slip ring I guess.
Secondly, I'm not sure what the "GO" side was intended for. Mine is installed upside down with only the STOP side showing, and we disabled the "GO" function on the switch. Fortunately "S" looks the same upside down.
Michael,
Good point about the fused neutral. I hadn't thought about it, but each of the 15 vacation cabins at my family's resort is wired that way--a double throw switch with two fuses at the point of entry. Hmmm. Think I'll talk about this with my brother (who now owns the resort). I'm going to be doing a lot of rewiring there this summer anyways--the trees have grown OVER the mains insulators--time for new insulators!
T'
David D.
The instructions say to mount it on the left front fender (mud-guard) and it appears that the little nipple would serve as a parking light, red to the rear, green to the sides, and white to the front, such as those seen on the rear fenders in another thread.
On the front fender, it could be seen from behind if not following too closely, and it would signal turns both front and rear.
The switch looks like it indicates to pull the lever out to signal "PARK", but I don't see an "S" position. Is there a separate stop switch for the brake pedal?
The "GO" light is probably used to signal an oncoming car to proceed before you make your turn, or maybe to signal cross traffic that you are stopping and that they can "GO".
David,
Whatever you do don't destroy the original panel if you can. Most licensed electricians will just rip out the old panel and replace it with a modern one. An electrician who can (is willing) to do "historical" repairs (make the original system safe) will be pricey.
I would just permanently jump out the fuse holders in the neutral leg but leave the fuse holder itself intact.
The other problem with an electrical system that old will be the absence of grounded receptacles.
Conventional wisdom screams to rip out the old and upgrade. I just love the knob and tube wiring and hate to see it be destroyed.
Jeff,
I stand corrected - we disabled to parking setting where you pull the switch out.
There was no brake setting on the switch, we just wired the center light through the brake switch.
Mine serves its purpose nicely in its incorrect location. The center light adds to those on the tail lights and the turn signals aren't so terribly non-period as my front ones are.
Steve
Mihcael
Boy is this a thread drift, but assuming others here are interested in old stuff, I'm posting it here.
It occurs to me that I could just put a real copper penny under the neutral fuse and no more problem, and no disturbing the historical fabric. (OK, I'll put a short jumper wire across the fuse holder--yeash!) In this case, that's important because the fuse & switch is in plain sight on each cabin! Yes, there are no grounded plugs in the cabins. OTOH, there's only lights and the refrigerator being powered! These cabins are a bedroom, kitchen/dining area and a bathroom, w/usually the refrigerator on the back porch, as originally they were iceboxes on the front porch! Some cabins have two bedrooms. Very simple, 1923s accommodations.
As to knob and tube;properly done, it is safer than romex--especially if rodents start chewing on the wiring! In the little community of Vina, north of Chico, CA, there is a warehouse at a vineyard that dates back almost to the gold rush. It has three-phase knob & tube wiring--and it is the most beautiful installation I've laid eyes on. parallel lines, proper tie ins, etc. etc. It is a work of art! Over 100 years old, and still functioning as intended! I'd post a pic if I had one.
Y'all T'ake care!
David D.
Sorry for the drift!
David I'm with you, proper installation is indeed beautiful.