Again one of those interesting only Packard can explain anomalies. I stand corrected on were they used in 53 as one picture of a Mayfair shows them and parts list says 2677-79 while another picture is without.https://www.packardinfo.com/xoops/html/downloads/1953%20Dealer%20Invitation.pdf

As long as the system is from a comparable chassis and is removed and installed complete, everything will work except the steering box between years. You will have to be sure and get all the components--even though they might look the same, there might be a subtle difference. In 55, believe the original plan was Monroe on junior cars and Bendix on seniors but that doesn't seem to be a hard rule and apparently completely thrown out in 56.

I have driven and owned both and while it is subjective, actually think the Monroe has a better feel. Others can speak to their experiences. As to reliability, believe they are comparable but again, others might have a different take. I would install either depending on which was available but if given the choice would go for the Monroe just for the simplicity. While the pumps and brackets will bolt up, the pumps have different pressure outputs for the two systems but are identical otherwise so that would be one thing to watch for in case someone had changed a pump in the past.

As you can see from the pictures, the Monroe installation is a bit less complicated since it is all enclosed in one housing while the Bendix has a separate control assy and power assy so needs more brackets and linkage.

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I don't think they were factory in 53 but since the louvers were a fairly low cost dealer "dress up" option, would bet a lot of cars were adorned after the fact. Same reason you see a lot of lower end 52 cars with 4 louvers on a side when car would have left factory with none or 3.

The actual columns in 56 are almost identical except for the top pieces where the gear selector vs pushbutton housing and associated hardware down the tube is the difference.

The suggestion I was referring to of a 56 parts car is between 55-56 if he wanted to change the gearbox. While just about everything will interchange elsewhere from a 55, the 55 gearbox has a solid shaft to the steering wheel and full length column while a 56 has the short column and gearbox with stub shaft and flex connection a third of the way up.

While the conversion could be made between years, it would be more work that I would want to do.

Many have done that very project. I believe best and easiest is find a comparable parts Clipper for the needed items. As the columns are different 55 vs 56 it would be best to find a 56 parts car for the correct steering box. There is a difference in steering gear box ratio PS vs regular. The question came up not too long ago if that needed to change as well and some who have made the swap said they had left the regular in with no problems. That would be the biggest decision as to difficulty but a 56 is relatively easy to swap compared to earlier. The remaining pieces are pretty much interchangeable, years wise. There are more pieces involved in a Bendix swap compared to the essentially one piece Monroe but rebuild parts seem to be easier to find for the Bendix. With that being said, the mechanical items are fairly easy to swap but you will need the brackets and some items only available from the parts car.

Short of finding a parts car so you could see how things fit together, probably the next best solution in finding things would be to get hold of someone like Mike Dulinski and buy all the necessary pieces as a unit.

Not sure what your collection jar looks like but there are disposable plastic ones available for Schuco/Gomco pumps at a few sites--here is onehttp://www.medonthenet.com/suction-canister-800cc.html if something like that would work.

Small Partshttp://www.smallparts.com/b/393449011/ref=sp_iss_393449011 has a pretty decent supply of rubber stoppers and glass tubes-- also some of the wine/beer outfits as wellhttp://www.howdoyoubrew.com/includes-hdyb/showpage.php?page=Wine_Making_Stoppers_Bungs. Laboratory supply houses too might be a good source although at a quick look it seems most of those want accounts and quantities.
EDIT: The wine link doesn't work well but scroll down to stoppers and bungs if you want to see those.

As to sterilizing what you have, it's hard to say. Some are designed to be sterilized via autoclave but would need more info to be sure. If there is a model number, you might be able to find an online instruction or forum. I would be concerned the steamer would not be consistent enough to do a thorough job. Maybe a cold sterilizing solution or a bleach solution would do the job.

As we were both on the same track, glad it worked out. I have seen several failures with the cotton falling off.

The ultrafine or ultraflex stranded wire is readily available although as you mentioned, with PVC type jacket. It might be flexible enough as is but 1/8 Braided sleeving is also available and in small quantities too. Apparently not the original cotton--all seem to be made of a polyethylene concoction now -- but still claims to be very flexible.

The PVC solid jacket could be removed and braid substituted if the wire is broken and had to be replaced but maybe just the old wire could be recovered--if the end connectors could be worked around.

To replace the entire wire, the problem is the amount of wire you have to order since no one I've found seems to be selling it by the foot. Without checking, not sure what size that is but suspect 16 or 18ga. 100ft is average small roll available from the suppliers and you're talking $3-500.00/roll on those sizes. Am wondering if something like that wire is still available as a generic distributor part.

That seems maybe a bit low unless all stop and go stop light to stop light type driving. There was a discussion awhile back with some averages.https://packardinfo.com/xoops/html/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?post_id=32593#forumpost32593

Now there's a siren! Single light maybe red or amber -- down low like that seems a little unusual -- but guess they didn't want to be tacking it on just anywhere. With that car, wouldn't think either would be needed but guess the local maharajah didn't want to take chances on not being noticed in case the car wasn't enough. Is that a spotlight on the passenger door as well or maybe another vehicle.

Good news and glad it was simple.