Hot Rods Turn signal type

I’m building a ‘32 Ford roadster with an early ‘60s look. What was used for the turn signal switch? Thank you.

 

Hand signals. I just used one today on my home from work.

 

Like Bandit said,,,I used hand signals also,,starting from 1959 tell now with my 28A. Now days there's a few I'd like to give finger signals too.

 

The people who don't know how to shift a manual transmission or roll up a window with a crank, have no idea what a hand signal is. I afraid that constitutes 90% of the drivers on the road today.

 

To be honest it was the finger signal I used. There isn't a hand signal for "why are you doing 35 MPH in a 55 MPH zone on a sunny afternoon on a 2 lane highway...IN THE FAST LANE"? However, I felt I expressed myself quite clear with a single finger, pointed toward the slow lane and "flashing". She responded promptly.

You're all right in my book Dana. Except for that whole "small headlight thing", but we can still be friends. I don;t drive at night much anyway.

 

Add-on's were Allstate, Signal Stat, Yankee....to name a few. Here's a Yankee I have.

 

That's a fact, Jack!

 

Here’s what I’m happy with
https://www.amazon.com/United-Pacif...x=universal+turn+signal+switch,aps,213&sr=8-4

 

I used that on my OT dune buggy to be compliant with local rules. It works great but end up driving with my right turn indicators blinking...a lot. I used to make fun of gray hairs doing that, now I am one.

The light on the stalk works fine but out of sight of mind. And I am out of both.

 

This self cancelling turn signal might be considered OT but one from a vintage British car is an option. It mounts on the dash or a bracket under the dash unlike the typical column mounted add on switch.

Description from a supplier's catalogue:The pneumatic turn signal switch assembly fitted to a variety of classic British cars was an ingenious solution to the need for a simple self cancelling turn indicator

 

Remember, it's made by Lucas, the prince of darkness. The reason Britts drink warm beer is Lucas also makes refrigerators.

 

Goes for the horn, too...

 

I'm not much of a traditionalist.

 

Not historically correct, but appropriate to the "traditional" spirit: https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...oking-self-cancelling-indicator-idea.1028583/

 

I never liked the looks of the aftermarket switches. I used a Tikin Through Time kit that mounts on the shift lever. I got a long piece of shrink wrap and covered the wires that are about the size of a telephone cord. It has a loud obnoxious noise that will remind you to switch it off.

 

If you have the stock column use the stock headlight switch rewired to control the turnsignals.

 

Not that you need to know.....
Back when electric signals came into vogue, conversions were available that featured a small rubber wheel; - that rode on an angle to contact and be rotated by the steering wheel hub.
After turning,,, the wheel tripped and canceled the switch.
Today most switches are for use on Big trucks.
The act of dragging a 53 footer around a corner requires the wheel to be turned in both directions.
A series of moves to go wide, turn, and tuck the tractor in, then clear the trlr wheels at the corner and finish in the proper lane makes canceling the signal before the finish improper.
Sooo most common switches today are priced so.
The specialized ones for rod and custom, can get pricey. IMHO

 

I believe Limeworks has a cool aluminum finned one.

 

That's an attractive decorator shell, the inside is the same as the one in post 8 that everybody sells.

 

I would go with the ones that blink...

 

Here’s one that I found out about from a Brit HAMBER @neilswheels
It’s early VW beetle or van. Manual canceling, simple in appearance and fits the early Ford column
BUT, not so easy to find and kind of pricey unless you live across the pond.
Used it in my 40/1 pickup.

His (RHD)


Mine

 

Billy I use hand signals all the time, I have never owned a bike with turn signals and a lot of my old cars/trucks don't have them either.

As for the original question, yes hand signals are trad, or these were used on cars that did not come with them.

 

That's a Hella piece and you can still buy them new, although the housing is now plastic rather than metal.
I'm using one. I also have an old metal housing version out of a VW. The new one I have mounts with the same radius as the 40 mast jacket, the VW is tighter (like the pic of yours.)

 

And, depending on your diameter/style of your steering wheel hub, the factory turn signals from
a '53 to '62 Corvette may fit. Self-canceling. Just attach a small plate to the back of your steering
wheel hub. Very easy to install.

 

I saw the plastic housed unit when shopping for one for the dune buggy. The United piece is chrome steel though.

 

I like the United Pacific unit. Replaced the indicator light with a LED...I don't forget to turn it off now.

 

So @Timothy Murphy, what did you settle on...I'm going out to take a pic of mine...Its a modern knock off of a vintage unit with 4 ways added...a nice feature really these days...Not self cancelling and the odd time I get caught on that one...

Its a column mounted with a hose clamp along with the tach...fitting to the Hotrod narrative along with my outhouse door locks...









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Dad's roadster just had a couple toggles on the dash. Each had a jewel light to indicate that it ws pn.

 

I've had this one laying around a few years, it would need some "fancy wiring" because it isn't a six or seven? wire unit. I had a similar one (with more wires) that I used on a 49 Ford...wish I'd have kept it. This unit has the roller to turn it off.