albertachevy
Forum Newbie
Posts: 7
Age: 54
Loc: Alberta, Canada
Reg: 05-14-09
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03-06-12 06:18 PM - Post#2199360
any in on the semaphore signal lights used on the older big truck around the 1940's
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57_sedan_delivery
Old as Dirt Member
Posts: 6717
Loc: Hog Valley, Fla.
Reg: 02-19-01
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03-07-12 05:39 PM - Post#2199719
In response to albertachevy
I've seen them, why?
Mike W.
Founding father Desert Classic Chevys in Phoenix, Az.
1957 sedan delivery 454 TH400
1956 windowed sedan delivery US Dept of Ag car
1956 Chevy 3100 US Navy pickup
1959 rare GMC 100 fleet option 100 pickup |
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albertachevy
Forum Newbie
Posts: 7
Age: 54
Loc: Alberta, Canada
Reg: 05-14-09
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03-21-12 10:19 PM - Post#2205931
In response to 57_sedan_delivery
mike, looking for any info on the semaphore signal pictures etc. restoring a 1940 Chevy truck have the control lever and the bracket on the truck but missing the arm wondering if you can help thanks Gerard
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BottleJack
Forum Newbie
Posts: 42
Reg: 02-09-12
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03-22-12 12:23 PM - Post#2206133
In response to albertachevy
In the midwest USA , I have heard the semaphore signal referred to more commonly as "signal arms".
A Google search of "antique truck signal arms" may get you lots of image results; like this one --->
 and 
Sourceblog link
I see them in old movies. TCM had a Bogart trucker movie 1940, "They Drive By Night" and I spotted a few manually operated signal arms on the old trucks.
I find them a lot more on old COE's and big bed trucks, like old moving vans and garbage trucks.
By the mid 1950's you could get a 6 volt electric lighted one from the Volkswagen's that would actuate from a switch, and light up too. {Google 6 volt Volkswagen semaphores). I got one for a 2 ton grain truck.
The ones by late 1940's early 1950's Chevrolet trucks I have seen were all aftermarket offered. I haven't seen any from that period in US Chevy brochures as GM RPO, or Chevy truck accessories (but that may vary by region). {note: by 1949 Chevy promoted the electric "Truck Directional Signal" BUT that was an electric flashing arrow light of plastic mounted in a metal housing and placed on the fender, etc}
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57_sedan_delivery
Old as Dirt Member
Posts: 6717
Loc: Hog Valley, Fla.
Reg: 02-19-01
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03-22-12 05:55 PM - Post#2206253
In response to albertachevy
Bottlejack showed a good picture of one, sort of the standard design although there were others. You can find them on ebay under vintage parts, section lights.
Mike W.
Founding father Desert Classic Chevys in Phoenix, Az.
1957 sedan delivery 454 TH400
1956 windowed sedan delivery US Dept of Ag car
1956 Chevy 3100 US Navy pickup
1959 rare GMC 100 fleet option 100 pickup |
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az58cameo
Contributor
Posts: 504
Age: 52
Loc: Payson Az
Reg: 11-16-09
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03-23-12 10:08 AM - Post#2206484
In response to BottleJack
OK, I Got To Ask,
Ive Seen Them Before and kinda Understand,
But What Was The General Purpose Of Them?
Were They Used To Let Traffic Know You Were Say
Unloading Your Load and Stopped?
Just Curious!
Allen
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BottleJack
Forum Newbie
Posts: 42
Reg: 02-09-12
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03-23-12 12:56 PM - Post#2206527
In response to az58cameo
The "general purpose" of them?
Once upon a time --- the local, State, or Country laws had to catch up with an ever rapid and changing vehicle evolution.
Trucks by the late 20's and into the 30's often only had one brake/tail light (if any!). And they were getting more numerous, bigger, and faster on the narrow dusty roads. When they slowed down, a car driver had to guess if they were gearing down, or making a turn.
{note: passing big trucks made my old man cuss a lot, thus I learned how to speak like a sailor at an early age.}
So, laws were put on the books for drivers to stick their left hand out the window to "signal" an impending turn. Truckers, especially those with wide beds, were getting pretty hard to see their gloved hands jutting out a window. That fact, and a trucks natural one handed hard steering & constant gear shifting; combined with rolling down windows in cold weather made it better to use a signal arm to show which way the truck was turning.
Laws often dictated the amount and placement of the semaphores (much the same way DOT specifies a trucks light arrangement today).
The darn signal arms got pretty easily iced up, they grabbed tree limbs, kids broke them, and in general they were a cumbersome and fragile way to show which way a trucker was intending to turn.
Better day/night lights, and especially electric lighted turn signals pretty much made the semaphores obsolete.
EXCEPT: I remember a local JD (aka: juvenile delinquent) had an old set of signal arms (semaphores) rigged up to a 1934 chopped Plymouth? hotrod. He had made an artistic "pointing hand" like ---> 
to flip out on the passenger side ---- on the drivers side he made the hand look like it was "giving the finger" when activated. I used to see him get pulled over by the cops , a lot.
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az58cameo
Contributor
Posts: 504
Age: 52
Loc: Payson Az
Reg: 11-16-09
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03-23-12 04:04 PM - Post#2206605
In response to BottleJack
Thanks BottleJack,Appreciate You Sharing That,
Makes Seance Now!
Allen
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