People Ask Me What Is It For?

[billybronco1]

There are a few things on my 1936 car people ask me what are they for, I have my ideas but don't know for sure - do you know?

1) What is the little handle on the radiator cap for? Its not a pressure release, it does nothing?

2) What is the rope handle that runs the length on the backside of the front seat for?

3) What is the rear window shade for? No its not to going parking, I don't think Henry was thinking of that.

4) My car has a cigarette lighter (not hooked up) did these cars come standard with a lighter or was this an add on?

5) Since I have a radio and no front ashtray, was there another place an ashtray should be in the front?

[corvette8n]

2. It’s a robe cord to hold a lap robe(blanket) to keep the rear seat passengers warm.
4. Lighters might have been standard in the Deluxe models, also many dealers and aftermarket ones were available.

5. I think it was on the right side of dash, can’t find my ‘36 book at the moment.

Get the 35-36 Ford book from the Early Ford V8 club, lots of good info.
I bought the book cause my Dad owned a Rumble seat coupe in 1945.

https://shop.efv8.org/collections/fo...book-softbound

[rotorwrench]

The little handle on the cap was likely a way to hold a very hot cap without getting a burn.

Robe cords could hold a lap blanket or could also be used as a hand grab to aid in movement inside the rear compartment. Ford used them in cars clear up into the 50s. Kids would sometimes stand up in the rear compartment and hold on to the cord. I did this as a young child.

Window shades are just that. They shade the sun and it's effects.

Cigar lighters were in the infancy in the early V8 era and as was mentioned, they were not in all cars.

Radio installations could have the under dash sliding type ash tray installed if a customer wanted one.

[Brian]

Further to the above, the lighter is standard equipment in your vehicle

[KiWinUS]

Rear shade is for night driving. Stop headlight reflection in rear view mirror

[rich b]

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I've seen quite a few '35-'36 cars with a regular style ashtray between the radio head and glove box door. How they ended up there is another matter.

[PeteVS]

I'm thinking that the older cars with flat glass windows could result in a myriad of reflections off of the windshield and rear window, especially if both were vertical or close to vertical. Covering the rear window with a shade simply took care of that if it was a problem.

(Glass usually reflects a portion of a light shined at it and "conducts" the rest of it through. This is affected by the angle the light strikes it at, the surface finish, glass composition and coatings if any. It's a big field in physics with optics and all that stuff. IMHO)

[Frank Miller]

Originally Posted by PeteVS

I'm thinking that the older cars with flat glass windows could result in a myriad of reflections off of the windshield and rear window, especially if both were vertical or close to vertical. Covering the rear window with a shade simply took care of that if it was a problem.

(Glass usually reflects a portion of a light shined at it and "conducts" the rest of it through. This is affected by the angle the light strikes it at, the surface finish, glass composition and coatings if any. It's a big field in physics with optics and all that stuff. IMHO)

Might not have been as much of a problem on the 36 but mostly a carryover from the Model A days where those headlights would reflect right back into your eyes.

[FortyNiner]

Originally Posted by KiWinUS

Rear shade is for night driving. Stop headlight reflection in rear view mirror

Exactly correct. Not unique to Fords.

[Automotive Stud]

Originally Posted by rich b

I've seen quite a few '35-'36 cars with a regular style ashtray between the radio head and glove box door. How they ended up there is another matter.

My dad's '35 is like that. My understanding that he told me was if you ordered the radio it would take the place of the ash tray, but if the customer still requested the ash tray installed the dealer would mount one, typically right there.

[ford38v8]

Billybronco, Thank you for reminding us old geezers that you young whippersnappers do absolutely have questions that we never had to ask, simply because we lived and breathed these old cars back when they were new or almost new. Here's a couple answers to questions you probably never knew to ask:


Where did we hide when playing Kick The Can?
On running boards.


Henry Ford campaigned strongly against cigarettes, so how could he put lighters in his Fords?
He called them cigar lighters.


Why are suicide doors called that?
Rear hinged doors caught by the wind would drag you out if you opened them even slightly while running down the road.


Why did Ford adhere to the name "Dash" instead of "Firewall" ?
To catch the Ladies market and dispel rumors that Fords engines were on fire.


Suction cup ashtrays and rubber bladed fans were commonly installed for the benefit of drivers.


Suicide knobs were outlawed because they could get caught by a man's sleeve cuff.


What was so great about the driver's side vent?
The driver could smoke up a storm without annoying his passengers.


Why did windshields open up?
Poor man's air conditioning.

[billybronco1]

Alan, that's all great nostalgic trivia, thanks