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Don't know why I never noticed this before. There is what appears to be a momentary switch underneath the ignition key on my dash. It isn't marked and there is nothing about it in the 1953 26th series operators manual. It does appear to be stock. Any ideas? It is chromed and about the same diameter as a golf ball.

Ok, its not a momentary, it turns left and right but doesn't seem to do anything. I just started her up and tried turning the switch but nothing happened. Just wondering what it is supposed to do!

A picture is worth a thousand words!

The switch that I'm referring to is right underneath the ignition (key) switch.

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Even thought it's not in the exact stock location, I think that is a rear-speaker switch. Do you have a rear-speaker in the package tray behind the rear seat?

My diagram above is based on the template in the 1951-54 Service Manual. Now there is some ambiguity when it comes to the 1953-54 years, and if it was added by the dealer, then the person installing could have put it anywhere.

Upon looking through all the brochures, service manuals and fact books, I know that the locations are correct for all the years. But the 1953 Speaker switch could have been in either location. The service manual template shows it to the far left, but then again that template was never updated. If we can find some information that shows it in the same location as the '54 switch, then I can update the diagram.

Looking at the 1953 Brochure, it seams to jive with the both the factory template, and my template above. This illustration from the diagram shows the rear-speaker switch to the far-left of the dash and not directly under the ignition switch.

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I bet this was dealer installed so they might have put it in anywhere in this region

by the way, GREAT reserach and info on this!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think you might find that the button in question will be the reset for the trip odometer. You will find that if push the button up it will reset the odometer.

When I have time today let me go to the garage and check to make sure. My 53 has the same thing and it took me a period of time to figure out what the button was for.