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11-17-2014, 04:36 PM | #1 |
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Winter Driving in the Good Old Days
The Seattle area has been enjoying a week of unseasonably sunny skies, which I have taken advantage of, going for several cruises. The lack of cloud cover has also resulted in unseasonably cool temperatures -- and I've been here long enough that 25 degrees F now feels freezing! My truck has an Auto-Lite heater, which does a respectable keeping the cabin warm with windows up. But, with the drivers window down so I could signal, definitely pretty chilly.
Back before signal lights, was signaling required by law at intersections? Were there aftermarket turn signal kits for those who wanted to stay warm, or did people just wear more coats? |
11-17-2014, 05:29 PM | #2 |
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Re: Winter Driving in the Good Old Days
Not sure about the old days cause I wasn't around for them, but I'm installing turn signals on my A soon. I'm winter driving it and I'll agree I froze my hand in today's 15 degree weather when signaling with my hand!
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11-17-2014, 05:50 PM | #3 |
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Re: Winter Driving in the Good Old Days
I have seen a signal light that i am told was to be mounted on the drivers rear fender. It had a choice of right or left on a knob on the shift lever. It didn't blink, just pointed the direction you planned to turn, if you remembered to use it. No inside indicator that it was on other than the position of the knob on the shifter. Better than nothing and i guess you could mount it on the front if that was your preference. If i remember it gave an orange arrow to the front and a red arrow to the rear.
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11-17-2014, 07:05 PM | #4 |
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Re: Winter Driving in the Good Old Days
To answer your question about the good old (cold) days, we were "suppose" to use some kind of signal, hand signals, mechanical arms, etc-- always, 24/7 365 days.
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Fred Kroon 1929 Std Coupe 1929 Huckster |
11-17-2014, 07:25 PM | #5 |
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Re: Winter Driving in the Good Old Days
I have two sets (from different manufacturers) of NOS Turn Signals in their original boxes. Both were manufactured in Los Angeles. One box has a patent date of 1914 and the other 1924. These were 'after-market' items sold to car owners, who had to mount them themselves. These both have seperate left (red) and a right (green) arms that extend out and light up when activate from the steering column mounted control.
I have a third 'Signal Lite' that was made in 1928 - it is NOS, but does not have the original box. It is a single rectangular pressed metal box, with and arrow (red pointing to the left, and on the other side of the box, an arrow (green) pointing to the right. I do not have the operationg controls for this turn sighnal. - Doug Vieyra, Eureka, Calif |
11-17-2014, 07:38 PM | #6 |
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Re: Winter Driving in the Good Old Days
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11-17-2014, 07:50 PM | #7 |
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Re: Winter Driving in the Good Old Days
Hi, got a question about the Auto-Lite manifold heater. Are they all the same, you know from say Snyders, Mac's or Brattons? Thanks
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11-17-2014, 07:50 PM | #8 |
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Re: Winter Driving in the Good Old Days
No heater here in Grand Rapids michigan, and buur, it was cold today! But still got her out.😊
Last edited by Mark DeRoseau; 04-08-2019 at 09:27 PM. |
11-17-2014, 08:07 PM | #9 |
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Re: Winter Driving in the Good Old Days
Had you run it on it's side when you took this picture? (Just a smart axx-sorry)
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Fred Kroon 1929 Std Coupe 1929 Huckster |
11-17-2014, 08:27 PM | #10 |
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Re: Winter Driving in the Good Old Days
Camera was in left hand after I had just been holding it out the drivers window forever... Long light. Grocerys fell of back seat. ABS was touchy.. GEESH, lucky to keep her on the ash fault. Lol.
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11-17-2014, 08:38 PM | #11 |
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Re: Winter Driving in the Good Old Days
"In the old days" before turn signals you used your arm. Roll down the window and stick out your arm straight to the side for a left turn and bent at the elbow straight up for a right turn. Also we used the arm straight down for a stopping signal.
Before that time back in the Model T days they would just open the driver side door to signal a left turn. I saw an old guy still doing this about 25 years ago in a very small town in southern Minnesota. Too bad I didn't have a camera. And he was driving a nice 46 Ford coupe... |
11-17-2014, 08:51 PM | #12 | |
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Re: Winter Driving in the Good Old Days
Quote:
No one has reproduced the waffle manifold to my knowledge. Joe K
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11-17-2014, 08:59 PM | #13 |
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Re: Winter Driving in the Good Old Days
Drivers still have to learn hand signals for their driver's license test in Oregon. I'm always dismayed when posters here say their state doesn't require that, and young drivers don't know what they are.
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11-17-2014, 10:53 PM | #14 |
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Re: Winter Driving in the Good Old Days
Speaking of the AutoLite heater, I was surprised at how effective it is. It was low 20s here yesterday and it was adequate. It was low teens today and I wished for more heat, but it was bearable. Going to install my SouthWind gas heater soon as we still have a ways to go down In temperature if last winter even comes close to repeating itself!
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11-18-2014, 05:55 AM | #15 |
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Re: Winter Driving in the Good Old Days
I would go with a hot water heater. According to the weatherman we are in for another long cold winter, just like last year. Sure wish I had a drive in garage under the house, like my neighbor has.
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11-18-2014, 06:18 AM | #16 |
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Re: Winter Driving in the Good Old Days
Hey Mark, Do you have her out this morning? we got another 6" of snow last night. It's been snowing for 5 days now! Good news, it's supposed to rain this weekend. It's time to put her away for awhile .lol JB
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11-18-2014, 07:20 AM | #17 |
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Re: Winter Driving in the Good Old Days
I don't live far enough south.
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11-18-2014, 08:23 AM | #18 |
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Re: Winter Driving in the Good Old Days
Hey western been working this.morning so got the regular ride out. Got a path shoveled for her though... Maybe later. Lol
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11-18-2014, 08:49 AM | #19 |
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Re: Winter Driving in the Good Old Days
9F here this morning.... I suppose that would feel warm for some folks.... to all the folks in Buffalo, NY a mountian of lake effect clouds is coming your way... sorry.
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-Mike Late 31' Ford Model A Tudor, Miss Daisy I don't work on cars --I'm learning about my Model A. Cleveland, Ohio Last edited by mshmodela; 11-18-2014 at 12:14 PM. |
11-18-2014, 10:26 AM | #20 |
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Re: Winter Driving in the Good Old Days
My A coupe has a sign with 5" letters saying "Hand Signals Only" because I've almost been creamed turning left into my driveway by someone behind me,trying to pass me, DESPITE MY HAND SIGNAL! They're so far out of use that older people have forgotten them and younger people never knew them. The sign gives them a heads up.
Terry |
11-18-2014, 12:05 PM | #21 |
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Re: Winter Driving in the Good Old Days
Mark,I noticed the hood up from the cowl,it reminds me of a story my dad told about when he drove truck for gannet newspapers, he would prop the hood up at the cowl so the heat would keep the windshield clear.Grand Rapids is a great city my brother lived there and was a prof. At Calvin College,your weather usually arrived I Rochester Ny. A day or two later right now it's under 20 and windy.I hope you are able to avoid the salt,enjoy the cruising whenever possible.
Doug from cold but right now sunny Fairport NY |
11-19-2014, 06:00 PM | #22 |
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Re: Winter Driving in the Good Old Days
I have used hand signals and the other driver waved back at me
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11-19-2014, 06:13 PM | #23 | |
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Re: Winter Driving in the Good Old Days
Quote:
Still, you tried. |
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11-19-2014, 06:52 PM | #24 |
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Re: Winter Driving in the Good Old Days
Hand signals= horn broken, watch for finger!
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11-19-2014, 07:56 PM | #25 |
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Re: Winter Driving in the Good Old Days
question regarding driving in the winter in model A days - Since a garage was relatively a luxury item and a heated garage was unheard of many model A's spent their life in the driveway or on a street. Since antifreeze wasn't used in cars yet what did you have to do in the winter with the radiator water? Get home and drain the radiator and have to refill it before you went to work in the AM? What did you do while you were at work???
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11-19-2014, 08:21 PM | #26 | |
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Re: Winter Driving in the Good Old Days
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Quote:
Starting about 1926 improved formulations based mostly on Ethylene glycol were used. EG has the big downside of toxicity. And EG has not really been replaced - only improved since 1926. Propylene Glycol is the new alcohol on the anti-freeze block. Considered less toxic than EG, it is also more expensive. So I think the answer is that AF WAS used, but probably not favored. Considering the tendency of the original Model A water pump to leak on occasion, it is likely that many pets were lost after finding a sweet puddle under the front axle of a Model A. More details at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antifreeze Joe K
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11-19-2014, 10:38 PM | #27 |
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Re: Winter Driving in the Good Old Days
When I was little Daddy used to keep jugs of something hidden under the porch in the summer. I was told it was antifreeze for the winter. I dunno what it was.
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11-20-2014, 06:54 AM | #28 |
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Re: Winter Driving in the Good Old Days
Here is a link to "The Model Garage" stories about Gus Wilson, an fictional mechanic starting in 1926 who teaches the reader about their cars. Very enjoyable reads, one is specifically about freezing temps and radiator fluid. I can't remember which month and year, I think it was somewhere between 28-31
Enjoy. http://www.gus-stories.org/pdf_storehouse.htm
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11-20-2014, 09:17 AM | #29 |
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Re: Winter Driving in the Good Old Days
I don't have a top!
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11-20-2014, 10:35 AM | #30 |
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Re: Winter Driving in the Good Old Days
I went to army surplus store and bought bombers long coat used when bomb bay was open it was good and warm for driving in Detroit winter of 46 in my 1930 roadster kept the girls in front seat my friend Frank in rumble seat
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