MTFCA Forum

My 24 Coupe only has the one taillight without a second wire for a brake light. I see they have several different styles of Stoplight switches available and I wanted to know what you guys think of the different styles. My thoughts were not to put full turn signals on rather just make the single light activate for both headlights and brakes.

I installed a Fun Projects brake light switch kit that works well. My taillight did not have a socket when I got the car so I installed a 2-wire socket that I bought from Langs. A few years later I added a right-side tail lamp and the same bulb socket. Now I have turn signals too and no one but us know that the car didn't come with two lamps.

Ron I get the part about one light with dual purpose. I use to be in that camp but the past 5 plus years have changed my position, due to a lot of young & mid aged drivers that are constantly distracted with their smart phones, in my opinion you need to have at least two lights minimum. I’m even going with turn signals when I’m capable of getting that done. My personal plan is to use existing bolts or holes to mount period looking lights that will meet my goal. In the state I live in Drivers Ed. Is not what it use to be. This along with smart phones has led to increased accidents statewide for 16-30 year old drivers & an increase in fatalities. I haven’t come this far to be a statistic from the latter. Others my have a different opinion. Best John

I have a period correct stop light that is wired separately from the tail light. Below that is a new bicycle led flashing taillight that works very well at getting people's attention. They don't race up as close as they did without it.

Home made brake light switch. The pushbutton switch and the eye bolt are store bought. The sheet metal scraps, spring, and cotter pin were stuff I had on hand.

I use a genuine Ford switch on my 1925.

Original Smith wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 08, 2023 10:56 am

I use a genuine Ford switch on my 1925.

The repop switch that mounts on the bendix cover works well & was correct for the 25-27 accessory brake/stop light.

One thing to keep in mind, most of us driving in traffic don't use the brake in normal driving until we are almost at a stop. Has anyone given
any thought to putting a brake light switch on the low peddle so the car behind us knows we are slowing down? I prefer the clamp on the
Bendix cover switch because it doesn't seem to interfere with axillary brakes like some of the others do.
Now days when using a hand signal most of the time you get a wave back from other drivers. At least you know they see you?
While discussing model T brakes @ a car show once we had a well seasoned gentleman inform us that the only problem we were having with
the brakes on our model T's was we were trying to stop the car with them.
Craig.

Interesting thought.

Brake light switch on the clutch pedal in neutral or lower.
We put the transmission in neutral before activating the brake pedal.
Light would come on coasting too.

The switch would be on though with the parking brake on. You would need to train yourself to ALWAYS park with the brake lever forward.
(Old RM brake problem)
You could wire into the ignition switch. (wont work running on mag)
You could have a separate power switch. ( you would have to remember to activate to drive & deactivate to park)

Still a good idea. A little more complicated to put in practice.

I use the Model A 1928/29 brake light switch. Mounts to lower bolt on the transmission inspection door, use the same thing on my 1920 Dodge mounted to transmission top cover. Saw the setup on someone else car. So far so good.

Mark Gregush wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 08, 2023 9:38 pm

I use the Model A 1928/29 brake light switch. Mounts to lower bolt on the transmission inspection door, use the same thing on my 1920 Dodge mounted to transmission top cover. Saw the setup on someone else car. So far so good.

I am planning to do the same. Saw this picture. so simple

I didn't even use the lower mounting hole on the switch, nor did the one I copied from, just the top hole. If at some point if I do need to add a brace at the bottom, wouldn't be too hard.