what cars had the turn signal arm spring out

The arms I think sprung out behind the drivers and passengers door ro show what direction you wwere turning. Some were lighted I think. I also think there was a slot they hid in when not in use.

 

Volkswagens and Mercedes are the only ones that spring to mind.

 

Trafficators, english and french cars from the 30's thru the 50's lucas and bosch were major makers.

 

I have seen the arms on trucks in the 30's may be a aftermarket option .

 

Anglias and Fiats

 

Early Volvos too. I think they were called semiphores.

 

Had an Austin wagon with them.

 

When I was young one of the neighbors had an Austin with Semaphores and a four speed column shift.

 

My 58 VW has them.

 

rolls royce

 

Thru some range of years they were also used on Morris Minors.

 

european cars in the old days.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turning_semaphore

 

I had em on my VW, all 5 of my Morris Minors and my 57 English Ford Squire wagon (I hate myself for selling that one).

 

my 51' austin pickup had them!

 

I have worked on a 32 model B ford truck, and I am currently working on a 39 ford "big" truck. They both have them on them.
On the old American trucks they appear to be aftermarket, these are definitely a bolt on deal.
The Euro stuff I have seen looked stock, euro guys call them semifores.
The old truck guys dont seem to have an exact name for them.

 

My arm came out the window when my blinkers didn't work.

 

My Morris minor and my '52 Ford Prefect have them.
I have a heap of spare ones as well.

 

It's called a semaphore, after the railroad signals with the blades on them. Mostly a Euro thing.

 

Actually the true name for them is "trafficators".
Google it and see.

 

Semaphores...based on the old system of flag signals before wireless communication.
The name carried over...in Europe anyway.
"Trafficators" sounds like a brand name for a particular version.

 

Trafficators is the true name of them. Not a brand name.
Semaphore is a general term for a traffic control system.

 

I tend to think that they were accessory and/or dealer installed items, not factory items as per say.



.
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Nope, they were factory on European delivered cars. My '52 Beetle has them.

 

Absolutely not. They were genuine factory installed on millions of cars.
Here is the History of them
Quote"
They first appeared in the 1900s when they were actuated either mechanically or pneumatically. In 1908 Alfredo Barrachini in Rome had added electric lights inside the arms that turned on as they extended but operation was still by a cable system. Electric operation came in 1918 when the Naillik Motor Signal Company of Boston added electric motor drive. This system was superseded by two French inventors, Gustave Deneef and Maurice Boisson, who used a linear solenoid in 1923. The final complete system came in 1927 when Berlin-based Max Ruhl and Ernst Neuman combined internal illumination and solenoid operation.
The shape of the Trafficator arm is closely based upon the shape of the semaphore signal arm used by the Royal Bavarian Railway beginning in 1890. The only difference from the railway arm is that it is halved down its length so as to fit flush with the vehicle's exterior.
They were common on vehicles until the introduction of the flashing amber or red indicators at or near the corners of the vehicle (and often along the sides as well). They have been increasingly rare since the 1950s, as ever-tightening legislation has prescribed the need for the modern type of flashing signal. Many historic vehicles that are used on today's roads have had their trafficators supplemented or replaced with modern indicators to aid visibility and to meet legislative requirements.
"

 

Had to install them here on some to get vehicles up to spec's... got a pair of Bosch ones on a 31 A pickup that traveled the pond circa 1935...

 

Known in German slang as "Machs Nix Stix" by some German engineers I knew in the late 60's when I worked for VW.

Ray

 

1960 was the last year for "semaphores" on VWs. I had a 57 and a 60 model with them. If they are on there it is an European spec car. I think they were added on old American trucks because you wouldn't be able to see hand signals.

 

From the beginning, to sometime in 1955, on all Type 1 VWs (Bugs)
and
up until sometime in 1960 on non-US cars, Type 1.
The Type 2 (Bus/Van/Pickup) had them as well.
I still have an NOS set. (NOT for sale)
There were even some called "Klackers" that actually kept flipping in and out, and when they were deployed, they would light up like a regular semaphore, so, in other words, they were flashing units.
You can buy brand new 12 volt ones, (they never came that way in a VW) with the boxes to section them in, from a place called SoCal Imports, on Paramount Blvd in North Long Beach...

 

Mate, you seem to be the only one with a handle on them!! The US seems to know them as 'Semaphore's', the rest of the world called them 'Trafficators'. My A40 has them, trying to decide if I want to get rid of them or get them working. Could be kinda' cool on a gasser??

Speaking of semaphore, I think I still remember the alphabet? Did a course in signaling in the Army, it was a 'Last' resort form of communication. never meet another person that had done the course though, even Signals Corp's personnel!!

Doc.

 

How about this one? haha!


It says STOP,on the back of it...originally the front said LEFT TURN.