Dash lights question

I have a 53 Pontiac chieftain that I just bought. It's still on a 6v system. All the fuses are good. The lights in the dash don't come on, clock doesn't Work, taillights work but brake lights do not, headlights and done light work fine. I'm trying to
figure out what the best way is to deduce what the problem is. I'm guessing ether there is a bad wire somewhere or that the bulbs are bad. A friend told me that the dash lights are wired like a string of Xmas lights, that if one goes bad, all the rest behind it don't light up. Do you guys have any suggestions for me? I know basically 0 about electrical systems so if you reply, make
It so I can understand it

 

I expect that you have 3 separate problems.

Clock--they only worked for a year or two when they were new.

Dash lights--usually a separate fuse, and the most common problem is the rheostat in the light switch being trashed. The bulbs are wired in parallel, not series, so if one goes bad the rest will still work, ***uming they are getting power.

Brake lights--probably the switch. Or the turn signal switch if it has one. Or the wiring. Or the bulbs. Or the sockets.

 

So what's the best way to check/ address the possible problems and fix them?

 

The best way to address your problems is to get a volt ohm meter and start checking what is or is not getting power. A Simpson 260 is more traditional but a cheap one from the hardware store will work fine.

 

Find a mentor.

 

eggsactly...diagnosing your problems are not hard but can be lengthy to discribe...get somebody [an old guy that knows automotive electrical ] to help you find the trouble.