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Hello,
I need some help. Does any info exist concerning the engraving on the 1938 plastic heater plate behind the knob.
I have a broken one that says HEATER. I have a photo of one that has FRONT OFF FLOOR. The rotation arrow leads me to believe that there should be one that says Heater OFF DEFROST and another one that says DEFROST. Any info would be appreciated.

Jerry

I don't know what year this is other than prewar. Since the left side is broken, it may be the same Front-Off-Floor plate you have... or it might be Defrost off Floor. That would be more logical with the heater/defroster combo but not when used with the arrow on the knob.

As you see, this switch had an illuminated knob that says Heat and Defrost. The Deluxe heater/defroster it was used with works as several of them do by turning the knob one way for heat or other way reversing the motor for defrost. Whether that knob was correct with that plate on the switch might be a question though.

If it is the correct combination, since the knob itself has a heater/defroster label I am wondering if the plate label really means one way for front or defrost and other way for floor or was it just labeling the entire switch as Front Floor unit. There might also be a plate that says something like Rear Floor. There is a service bulletin on proper placement of a rear under floor heater in late 30's cars but no info on the switch.

There was a photo of a prewar dash some time back where I believe I counted 4 hang on underdash switches lined up. Couldn't read any labels but sure hope there was some kind of ID.

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Thanks,

That is the plate that I need info for. The plate shown is for the front firewall mounted heater and the floor mounted heater. The knob defrost arrow shows clockwise rotation which would point to floor. This leads me to think that there was a plate that was marked front off defrost.

Jerry