Prewar heater switches.

Posted by HH56 On 2012/12/4 13:35:21

Anyone know how many styles of reversible or deluxe heater switches there were? Believe all mounted under the dash but seems there were several types. Were there particular years only one type was available?

Electrically, I think the reversibles are all the same but obviously different than just the single motor or simple on/off low/high heater switches. That type also seemed to come in various styles but those are for another discussion.

I have a round knob type with internal lamp and printing on knob. Knob faces the passengers. Center off with a small name plate encircling the knob with the function identification printed above the knob.

There is the style with the bi directional lever under the wide name plate as shown in Yesterdays radio catalog and also a post or two on site here. Not sure how or if that is illuminated but I suspect the switch may be the same one -- just positioned vertically instead of horizontally.

I seem to recall a third type -- a fairly thin vertical rectangle with a sort of sliding toggle switch lever. Center off with on by moving the lever off center. Could go up or down to change direction. Believe up was defrost and down was heater with the functions printed on plastic that was part of and moved in a slot with the lever.

Was that last a Packard switch or am I hallucinating on details of the operation? Any others I have missed?