Re: More AR pickup taillight bracket

Posted by Joe on Sep. 17, 1998 at 06:23:31

In Reply to: Re: AR pickup taillight bracket
posted by Joe on Sep. 15, 1998 at 08:59:00

Bill and everyone else
I just thought I would add a little more from my investigations into my own March ‘29 pickup.
When I originally got the pickup, it was missing the drum taillight but it did have the appropriate bracket for mounting it hidden below the seat in the cab.
In an effort to get the truck going to drive, I used what parts I could scrounge up or buy as reproductions which included a teacup taillight and its matching bracket.
For a long time I used the teacup light and bracket.My most recent tear down has inspired me to convert the truck back to what was probably the original lighting system, thus my interest in any printed matter on this subject.

The two brackets (both the original drum taillight bracket and the new replacement teacup style bracket) had what I thought was a nearly identical mount to the flange of the pickup bed: a triangular shaped mounting pad with three holes and a little bump which served to align everything with the edge of the pickup bed flange.
Since there were only two holes in the flange of the pickup bed I naturally assumed that the bracket was designed to be attached using only two of the three holes with the third hole at the apex of the triangle going unfilled and the triangle serving to prevent the taillight from "dipping" down as a result of the taillight weight.
I had read about the "under the bed" taillight in the early AR trucks but had never given it a lot of thought until Bill's latest inquiry.I decided to go back and look at my original March ‘29 bracket.
On inspection I found that the bracket was originally of the "T shaped two hole" versions described by Bill.Also, a triangular shaped piece with a single hole "punched" in it (not drilled) was found to be welded to the "T" shaped original bracket by a none too neat weld.
I say none too neat.The bracket mounting mating surface had been carefully ground down to nearly flat or minimal crown of the weld bead while the surface that you would normally see has a weld bead which is untouched.The edges of the triangular shaped piece were ground to fit also but the grinding was done before the weld was performed.
I suspect that probably the bracket was stock being used up by Henry and that he simply welded on the little adapter piece to allow it to be used on the AA or A as required for a left pointing taillight bracket installation.
Also someone has said that a left facing bracket could not be turned and used underneath the bed.Something about insufficient room for the taillight under the bed stringers.I turned mine around in a faux attempt to mount it and found enough room (it is close, admittedly) although the third mounting hole is exposed where it shows beyond the pickup bed flange. If the added triangular piece were removed, it would fit perfectly.
As to the bracket being a carryover from the Model "T", I can't speak to that except that it is very likely since a good portion of the square cab truck bodies are also from that source.
I would be curious now as to the use of the third hole.It is conceivable that the third hole was duplicated in the wooden block and another bolt was used.Anyone have any information on this?
I hope my little investigation is revealing to at least someone else other than me.As you all are aware, the trucks are among the hardest of Ford Model A's to "type".
Best regards,
Joe

Follow Ups:
Re: More AR pickup taillight bracket Dan Partain Sep. 17, 1998 at 19:41:46(1)
Re: More AR pickup taillight bracket Joe Sep. 18, 1998 at 07:27:06(0)
Re: More AR pickup taillight bracket Bill Sep. 17, 1998 at 19:01:13(2)
Be careful out there Joe Sep. 18, 1998 at 07:52:51(1)
Re: Be careful out there Bill Sep. 20, 1998 at 17:46:16(0)

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