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The style of switch probably depended on the year and model. Here are a couple of more switches. I think the first switch photo is from West Petersen's 40 and the illustration is from the 40 AC introductory brochure The other photo is the Clipper style switch as shown in the 42-6 Clipper accessory manual. I believe the switch that is part of the ebay unit is the typical 41 under dash version. Lavine has other repro brackets -- Heater, Defroster and the Cooling -- in that same style listed as 41-2. Somewhere I have a photo of one well optioned car with a whole slew of switches in that 41 housing lined up under the dash starting from the OD knob going toward the center.

From the placement of West's switch and the brochure illustration it would appear the switch was mounted near the driver to the side of an OD knob if the car was so equipped. Possibly "controlled by the passenger" meant anyone in the front seat. While I understand the 40 aor vents were fixed, the 41-42 vents had a passenger adjusted knob on the side to direct the air flow out of the vent on the package shelf.

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Was this the end of prewar car A/C?



source: 1942-02-15 The Courier-Journal
Click to enlarge!

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Quote:Gerd,

I think that car production as a whole was halted around January/February 1942.

I read in Automotive Industries, that it was the Freon the Government pulled off the market so they had to switch to using Ammonia.
Wes

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Mal, yes, that clinched the matter. Thanks.

Wonder why Packard didn't offer AC after the war?? Till '53 anyway.....

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I don't think Packard ever used Ammonia although it was commonly used in large commercial refrigeration systems almost exclusively. Perhaps Cadillac or other systems might have tried it but Packard switched to Methyl Chloride. Either one is not the safest substitution to have to try and service around.

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One of the questions that may never be completely answered. Packard and Cadillac both had proven prewar units that would have bolted right back into their immediate postwar offerings. I wonder if Packard had considered offering it postwar since the AC on/off switch did appear in the Clipper dash photo that is in the 46 accessory brochure.

Maybe it had to do with restrictions or availability of needed components due to all the supplier strikes that were happening postwar. After not offering the option and seeing the pent up demand and sellers market where mfgs could sell anything they could produce no matter how it was equipped, they no longer had any incentive. The fact that no auto mfg offered AC again until 53 is the real question because the sellers market disappeared long before then. Too bad Packard didn't offer it a bit sooner. Maybe if they had some of the unsold 22-23 series cars they had such high hopes for might have moved a bit easier. The prewar unit would have still bolted in and even though it might not be exactly new it would still be better than nothing.

It appears that aftermarket systems were available earlier than 53. Photos exist of a couple of custom built or rather, modified 51 models with aftermarket systems and as I recall there is a brochure where Henney offered optional AC in their 48-50 models. Perhaps archiveman's upcoming book will have some new information on the subject.

8-17-20

Hi Howard,

According to the late Rod Barclay, author of Boy! That Air Feels Good!, Texas entrepreneurs, who remembered the prewar 1940-1942 Packard and 1941 Cadillac AC units supplied by Bishop & Babcock Mfg. Co., met and cobbled similar units for sale in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area in 1948-1949.

Such "hang-on" units from A.R.A., Frigikar, and Mark IV companies sold about 10K units by 1953, literally dragging reluctant Big Three Detroit automakers, plus Packard, into AC production.

Mr. Barclay's photo-filled story captivates the reader in a metaphor similar to one about David and Goliath.


Allen
archiveman2977

"After not offering the option and seeing the pent up demand and sellers market where mfgs could sell anything they could produce no matter how it was equipped, they no longer had any incentive. "

Howard succinctly described what the situation was in those immediate postwar years. Material and supplier difficulties too discouraged offering such comfort options. There may have also been the knowledge gained from the pre-war A/C sales that suggested it wouldn't have a great take rate at that time.

During the 22nd-23rd Series production, anything that slowed production while George Christopher was in charge was to be avoided. But, by 1952. it was common knowledge in the industry that GM makes would be offering A/C for 1953, Packard had to do so to remain competitive, much as they did with power steering and power brakes.

Steve