Need pair of 1941-47 Clipper 11-inch wiper blades

Posted by su8overdrive On 2013/4/27 18:16:22

Tho' i never drive in the rain, noticed one of my wiper blades incorrect, jerry-rigged in place, so wanted to replace them. Called my local NAPA store, figured i was a-ok even though their wiper books go back only to 1948 or '49 Packard, since the tubs retained the Clipper's windshield, roof, decklid.
I get there today, the fellow shows his replacement 11-inch wiper blades in the "Vintage" carton, remarking they look just like the ones i brought in with my wiper arms which were off the car as i wanted to have one of their rivets repaired, and oil the wiper mounts while they were off the car.

However, when we tried to attach the replacement blades,
no soap. I've since learnt that there was a change in the wiper arm attachment beginning with the '48 tubs. Any mainstream source for 1941-47 Clipper 11-inch wiper blades, or popular interchange? Or is the late David Ficken's family still running his wiper business in Long Island?

Almost forget the blistering question du jour.
W H Y were the wiper arms and blade attachment changed on the 1948 tubs and sorry, but the 1948-50 pregnant elephants have been called that and bathtubs since they were new, late model. The Bugatti Type 32 campaigned at the '23 Lyon Grand Prix was called "The Tank."
If you build it, they will christen it.

So why the wiper arm/blade attachment change for '48? Was
it at the behest of a larger Trico customer, so Packard and the other independents were forced to go along? Seems like a lotta bother, otherwise, for all those guys working in service stations, parts depts., et al. Don't think the 1941-47 Clippers were throwing wiper blades.

Any wiper blade mavens here?

Thanks.