Electrical Question

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2016: Electrical Question
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By brass car guy on Wednesday, November 09, 2016 - 12:47 pm:

My newly acquired 1919 coupe has the ignition switch and combination light switch which is connected to the lights on the dash with the ammeter.

The steering column also has the column mounted light switch/horn button combination. The horn button is connected but the light switch is not.

Which is right and if the column switch is right, what does the ignition switch look like with out the light switch?

Just askin'

brasscarguy


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Charlie B actually in Toms River N.J. on Wednesday, November 09, 2016 - 12:58 pm:

Does the dash mounted switch do everything it's expected to do? Like turn on the original lights? I'm thinking the horn switch you have is an accessory. Possibly for add-on lamps and was perhaps never used as a light switch at all just a horn button. Check the catalogs. They all carry the horn button and you'll see what it looked like.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By brass car guy on Wednesday, November 09, 2016 - 06:40 pm:

Yes the dash switch is wired and works well. I read some where Ford had a column mounted light switch and horn button combination in the teens. Just wanted to know if there was a different type of ignition switch with this type of light switch.

just askin'

brasscarguy


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Erik Johnson on Wednesday, November 09, 2016 - 07:32 pm:

The combination horn button/light switch was introduced in the fall of 1917, a few months into the 1918 model year. It has two "on" positions and was used in conjunction with a dimmer coil since the lights operated off the magneto.

It was used from 1918 through at least 1921 model year non-starter/generator cars. Some folks say through 1922 model year. In any event, when Ford quit putting the ignition switch on the coil box and moved it to the instrument panel for non-starter/generator cars is when they eliminated the combination light switch/horn button.

(All 1918 models were non-starter generator.)

1919 forward they were on non-starter generator roadsters, tourings and, I believe, TTs.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By brass car guy on Wednesday, November 09, 2016 - 09:28 pm:

So I guess my steering column must be incorrect as my car is a 1919.

brasscarguy


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dennis Seth - Jefferson, Ohio on Thursday, November 10, 2016 - 07:00 am:

Brass car Guy,

Please post pictures of your new 1919 Coupe...inside, outside, front side, back side, top side, bottom side, and any other side not mentioned. I would love to see it.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John F. Regan on Thursday, November 10, 2016 - 01:04 pm:

A true 1919 T had some "odd ball" parts on it having to do with the newly designed and first offering of the starter/generator cars. The "paddle" on the dash mounted light switch was not the sheet metal painted black version that is most common on the later T's. The 1919 had a cast nickle plated handle for that "paddle" switch actuation. Please show a picture of the dash with the paddle switch in the picture. Also the very earliest ammeters were NOT Ford scripted and had a different and more exotic movement which is clearly visible at the face.

The battery horn didn't come out until around March of 1922 so battery horns were not offered until that time. Dimming position of the steering column mounted switch probably used the "dimming resistor" rather than a "dimmer coil". I have seen a drawing of that resistor and might have a copy of it. The years from 17-22 are interesting with regard to electrics so be careful of trying to follow the wiring diagrams that are posted here to try and help you because many of them show the "later" version of the wiring and also show a battery horn being used starting with 1919 - it was not offered then.


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