Re: Clipper defroster/footwarmer vs underseat heater

Posted by HH56 On 2015/2/20 14:02:51

John, you are correct in that there are two independent units and switches -- labeled Defroster and Heater. The defrost is basically just that except there is an additional tiny door at the bottom passenger side corner which can open to direct a small bit of heated air to the passengers floor. Packard called that function the footwarmer and might be good for the passenger but driver is left in the cold. There is no lever -- the unit is either on or off via the switch.

The underseat heater is the other switch and is what I believe they intended as the main car heater. It directs air in both directions under the drivers side seat. While it might help the rear passengers it really doesn't do much if someone has cold feet in the front seat. As the others have mentioned it is actually a small bladed fan so not really very powerful.

I would assume they did something under the dash for a fully optioned car. Out of the 8 positions there are 4 must have items-- Head light, instrument light, map light and cigar lighter. The other 4 standard knobs would be the heater, defroster, electromatic and fog lights. Assuming it was a high end model Electromatic would most likely be there so fog light is probably where anything extra like the AC or the fresh air option would go. If they had more than one option something would have to be moved or shared. My guess would be the fog lights would go under. If they also had AC then it gets questionable. Maybe there is documentation somewhere that said if you had this option you couldn't have that etc etc.

Mine is a bit over the top needing two slots but have it planned. My vent control is an addition so it and the Cooling switch will be the top two on the right. Heater and defroster will now share another modern switch under those. First position will work the defroster and second and third the heater.

I'm curious how many Clippers might have had the deluxe heater/defroster with reversible motor instead of the two separate units. I have one of those and the special Clipper switch for it. Actually thought of using the heater but it is huge in comparison to the standard Clipper defroster unit. Takes up a considerable amount of the passenger floor and leg area.