Go Back   The Ford Barn > General Discussion > Model A (1928-31)

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 11-17-2014, 04:36 PM   #1
Ian Curtis
Senior Member
 
Ian Curtis's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Snohomish, WA
Posts: 100
Default 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?
Ian Curtis is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-17-2014, 05:29 PM   #2
armchair67
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Chicago, IL USA
Posts: 115
Default 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!
armchair67 is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 11-17-2014, 05:50 PM   #3
daveymc29
Senior Member
 
daveymc29's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Danville, CA
Posts: 1,548
Default 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.
daveymc29 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-17-2014, 07:05 PM   #4
Fred K-OR
Senior Member
 
Fred K-OR's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Stayton, Oregon
Posts: 3,806
Default 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.
__________________
Fred Kroon
1929 Std Coupe
1929 Huckster
Fred K-OR is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-17-2014, 07:25 PM   #5
DougVieyra
Senior Member
 
DougVieyra's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Eureka, California
Posts: 1,716
Default 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
DougVieyra is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-17-2014, 07:38 PM   #6
Clem Clement
Senior Member
 
Clem Clement's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Fairfax, VA
Posts: 3,388
Default Re: Winter Driving in the Good Old Days

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Windows? In the old days, you had windows??
Clem Clement is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-17-2014, 07:50 PM   #7
Gino
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Falmouth, Ma.
Posts: 313
Default 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
Gino is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-17-2014, 07:50 PM   #8
Mark DeRoseau
Member
 
Mark DeRoseau's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Grand Rapids MI
Posts: 45
Default 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.
Mark DeRoseau is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-17-2014, 08:07 PM   #9
Fred K-OR
Senior Member
 
Fred K-OR's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Stayton, Oregon
Posts: 3,806
Default Re: Winter Driving in the Good Old Days

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark DeRoseau View Post
No heater here in Grand Rapids michigan, and buur, it was cold today! But still got her out.��
Had you run it on it's side when you took this picture? (Just a smart axx-sorry)
__________________
Fred Kroon
1929 Std Coupe
1929 Huckster
Fred K-OR is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-17-2014, 08:27 PM   #10
Mark DeRoseau
Member
 
Mark DeRoseau's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Grand Rapids MI
Posts: 45
Default 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.
Mark DeRoseau is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-17-2014, 08:38 PM   #11
Cool Hand Lurker
Senior Member
 
Cool Hand Lurker's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: So Minn
Posts: 1,562
Default 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...
Cool Hand Lurker is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-17-2014, 08:51 PM   #12
Joe K
Senior Member
 
Joe K's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Cow Hampshire
Posts: 4,160
Default Re: Winter Driving in the Good Old Days

Quote:
Originally Posted by Gino View Post
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
Pretty much. All made from aluminum, including the "waffle cover type" which is available too.

No one has reproduced the waffle manifold to my knowledge.

Joe K
__________________
Shudda kept the horse.
Joe K is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-17-2014, 08:59 PM   #13
700rpm
Senior Member
 
700rpm's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Portland, Oregon
Posts: 5,891
Default 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.
__________________
Ray Horton, Portland, OR


As you go through life, keep your eye on the donut, not the hole.
700rpm is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-17-2014, 10:53 PM   #14
armchair67
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Chicago, IL USA
Posts: 115
Default 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!
armchair67 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-18-2014, 05:55 AM   #15
Tom Wesenberg
Senior Member
 
Tom Wesenberg's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Mpls, MN
Posts: 27,582
Default 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.
Tom Wesenberg is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-18-2014, 06:18 AM   #16
western77
Senior Member
 
western77's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Grand Rapids Mi
Posts: 168
Default 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
western77 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-18-2014, 07:20 AM   #17
slackcat
Member
 
slackcat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Galesburg, KS
Posts: 87
Default Re: Winter Driving in the Good Old Days

I don't live far enough south.
__________________
1929 A Special Coupe
1926 T Speedster
slackcat is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-18-2014, 08:23 AM   #18
Mark DeRoseau
Member
 
Mark DeRoseau's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Grand Rapids MI
Posts: 45
Default 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
Mark DeRoseau is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-18-2014, 08:49 AM   #19
mshmodela
Senior Member
 
mshmodela's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Posts: 2,763
Default 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.
__________________
-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.
mshmodela is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-18-2014, 10:26 AM   #20
Terry, NJ
Senior Member
 
Terry, NJ's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Bucks Co, Pa
Posts: 3,740
Default 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
Terry, NJ is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:49 AM.