Early 3rd brake light! Actually, I don't know for sure that it's on the brake circuit, but should be. Anyone know for sure.?
There is also a plain version without the clipper ship that is found on Canadian Dodge versions of this car.
It was the only brake light on the 46-48 Plymouth. Dodge, Desoto, and Chrysler also had their own versions of a trunk mounted brake light in the same era. The Plymouths had two variations, one for the business coupe, and one for all the other Plymouths. The business coupe had a different trunk angle at the point the light was positioned, compared to the other Plymouth trunk lids. There is a "Coupe" version and a "Sedan" version. The emblem should have the words "Coupe" or "Sedan" cast into the trunk side with raised letters. I suspect the other makes had a similar requirement of having two versions as well, but I don't know for sure. The "Coupe" trunk lid was more laid back, much like the trunk lid on your car looks. The "Sedan" version trunk lid has nearly a vertical angle.
Well, if it were mine I'd be figuring out a way to wire up those outboard tail lamps to work to work as brake lights also. Especially if I was driving it at night.
My 47 Lincoln had the center mount brake like the Plymouth did. The outer lights were tail and signal lights. When I installed the GM column and the new wiring harness, I connected the trunk light to the third brake light wire in the harness, the outer lights are now brake, turn signal and tail lights just like modern cars. My wife has followed me and said the three brake lights get your attention since they are all small compared to most modern cars.
BamaMav: Interesting... Sorta like soft whisper instead of shouting? Never thought that approach would work well. Gotta get the wuffos' attention somehow & hold it for more than a second or two. Marcus...
I'd imagine that the Lincoln might have had turn signals as standard equipment and had two bulbs or dual filament bulbs in each tail lamp. The Plymouth, or other more basic models, might have only offered turn signals as an option. Adding turn signals might require a bit of creative engineering.
@ClayMart, you are correct, it had dual filament bulb sockets. The turn signal switch didn’t allow for brake and turn lights on the same bulb though, thus the need for the trunk mounted brake light on its own . Lincoln might have been the first with flashing turn signals? I think I replaced my sockets in the tail light reflectors with some off a GM car, but it’s been a while and I don’t remember right now. Might have just cleaned and put in a new pigtail. It would depend on the light body and fender just how hard it would be to replace the sockets on the Plymouth lights.
For probably more information than you really want to know about the history of the automotive turn signal . . . http://secondchancegarage.com/public/history-of-turn-signal.cfm According to this article, Buick was the first to offer the modern, flashing turn signal lamps in 1939 for the tail lamps only. In 1940 the feature was also added to the front parking lamps. Initially, GM seemed to have taken the lead with their introduction. Prior to this, the more mechanical "trafficator" or "semaphore" turn indicators were coming into usage, especially in Europe.
Didn’t know that! I knew the Germans were putting the semaphores on the kdf, Volkswagen before it was Volkswagen, in 1939, but not about flashing tail lights in the US. Never seen it mentioned on anything before the 42 Lincoln’s. Learn something new everyday!
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