Re: AR pickup taillight bracket

Posted by Joe on Sep. 15, 1998 at 08:59:00

In Reply to: AR pickup taillight bracket
posted by Bill on Sep. 13, 1998 at 17:27:59

: I am trying to find out what the original taillight bracket looks like for an "under the bed" AR pickup.I have a bracket that someone cut and added about 4 inches of re-bar to, and mounted to the left of the box, behind the fender.I wonder if it is the original.On page 222 of the supplement to the book "the ford model a as henry built it" it shows A-13470-A bracket for 28-29 pickup, but does not say if it is the same one used for the under the bed type mounting.

: Can someone help me on this one?

Bill

The A-13470-AR arm is being reproduced and is a near copy to the originals (I suspect the original was forged and the copy is cast but this is a small difference that sanding and black paint will cover up)

The word I have is that the A-13470-AR arm and wood block mounting was used in 1928 but was mounted such that the taillight appeared "under" the bed. (i.e. pointing "inwards" on the car.)This practice followed approximately the AA truck practice of the era which utilized the same bracket.

In 1929 the bracket was mounted pointing "outwards" and the taillight appeared directly behind the left rear fender.

Most all the A pickup trucks I have seen (even the '28's) have the taillamp bracket mounted "left pointing".This may be in the interest of safety since the taillight is not that easy to see even under good conditions.The parts are all identical - its just in how you put them together.

The wood block is curious in that it was made from a piece of leftover body wood.It does not appear in the "Parts Price List" per se but most parts suppliers list it under A-13471-W which is a modern convention number.Actually, any piece of small square hardwood about the thickness of the pickup bed metal flange will serve and be historically accurate.

There was no shield on the wiring as was used later on the teacup taillight but two metal clips held the extension wire to the taillight bracket.

I believe it was A&L down there in CT who first reproduced the drum taillight.I marvelled at the apparent quality of the light as I disassembled it to paint the entire exterior in gloss black (it now comes either chrome or black painted) for application to my March '29 truck.I suspect they are still at it as the major Model A parts suppliers all seem to have the same light and the quality seems to be maintained.

I have heard a report that the drum taillight as applied to the commercial vehicles had an unusual black "grillwork" made out of stamped hardware cloth which covered the lens.I haven't seen any examples of this yet on any trucks with perhaps a dozen commercial vehicles examined since I heard this.If anyone has any information it would be appreciated.
Hope this helps, best regards,
Joe


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