Re: Help Identifying a part

Posted by HH56 On 2014/8/7 17:06:32

The washer was an option so may not be on the car but starting late 53 the washer option started going electric so switch to operate it was generally present. Switch was built into the wiper control casting and wire tucked inside the shroud. The knob may not have had the hole for the button though. In 54 they used the same control with switch, different knob, and also changed the motor so the added coordinator package on the electric washer option could mount.

On earlier cars before the transition the switch was not present and the washer was entirely vacuum. Those controls had a rounded shaft with a slot thru the middle for the knob to press onto. On the chance the late 53 electric washer (without coordinator) was to be installed on those earlier cars the entire wiper control assy had to change.

On controls with the switch present -- IIRC, ID'd by a hexagonal shaft on the control with a hole in the center -- the button and long stem to activate switch was usually part of the option kit as the illustration shows. Generally on non optioned cars there was just a black dummy plug which didn't move. To use the switch, the plug was removed and push button and stem installed in its place and wire was dug out of the shroud and connected.