Need Help

Comox Air Force Museum · #1 15-09-11, 07:54

Looking for info on the item in the photo. It looks to me to be a turning signal of some sort. The truck in question is a Ford wrecker that is located in the Yukon. Does anyone have info for this instillation? And was it from the war era or something that was added post war.
Thanks for looking Rob

Lang · #2 15-09-11, 08:45

Rob,

That would almost certainly be a post-war mod.

Here in Australia post-war all the left hand drive American vehicles required a similar signal because the driver was on the wrong side and his hand signals could not be seen by following drivers. As this truck is right hand drive in Canada it would be fitted for the same reason.

Looks like a rod went across the back of the cab to a handle for the driver to operate.

Lang

gordon · #3 15-09-11, 08:58

That's a very fancy looking version, so Lang is probably correct, but ...

When RHD trucks were used in Europe during the war they had very similar equipment on, but a bit plainer, for exactly the same purpose.

So, it's a remote left turn signal for RHD vehicles, and it looks post-war, but date uncertain unless there is a date somewhere on it.

Gordon

Aberdeen

Mike K · #4 15-09-11, 09:46

Quite a few LHD civilian registered WW2 Jeeps here had a mechanical arm fitted across the windscreen where the riflle bucket would be . I had a Jeep with one fitted, some of them were quite fancy with a lever that moved the hand up and down for displaying the STOP sign, or alternatively, the RIGHT turn signal with the hand horizontal . The hand was normally a bit of tin cut out in the shape of a hand . I think the army here might have used them post war as well, but not sure .

rob love · #5 15-09-11, 15:25

I have seen similar setups on many CMPs. I was told that in Saskatchewan, it was mandatory for the right hand drives. There was a lever mounted inside on the roof to actuate the outer arm.

I have never seen one with Khaki paint on it, so I assume it was only installed in civilian use. Note that even today, the DND's vehicles in Canada are exempt from the requirements of the provincial governments with regards to safety inspections and requirements of the HTA. Many of the vehicles were not made to DOT standards either.

Jon Skagfeld · #6 15-09-11, 15:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by rob love

I have seen similar setups on many CMPs. I was told that in Saskatchewan, it was mandatory for the right hand drives. There was a lever mounted inside on the roof to actuate the outer arm.

I have never seen one with Khaki paint on it, so I assume it was only installed in civilian use. Note that even today, the DND's vehicles in Canada are exempt from the requirements of the provincial governments with regards to safety inspections and requirements of the HTA. Many of the vehicles were not made to DOT standards either.

That sort of turn signal manifested itself in British civilian vehicles during at least the '50s.

They were called trafficators and I had them on my Morris Minor, Austin A40 and Hillman Minx.

ps...Rob, surely you don't allude to the MLVW in your last sentence!