VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1946-1948 What is it picture added to VCCA Member's Photos

What is it ? Take a guess....I picked this up over the weekend. I first saw this about a year ago in a collection. I asked if it was for sale and it was not. I just mentioned when your ready let me know. Well, this weekend it was available. It will be a great story when I complete the story. Stay tuned !

It looks like a Chevy horn button. Is it plastic? The color though has me stumped. When you photographed it, did the flash on your camera change the color that you have posted here on Chevy Chatter? Or is it really a medium red or is it an orange/red mixed color?

dtm

Wheel cover insert for a 50,s era accesory cover?????

Looks like a ca '54 wire wheel cover center emblem to me. Can't be sure because of detail in photo and ??? size.

Toolman - The color was distorted with the flash. It is a bright red plastic. I took the pic in high res., but the site would not load it due to the mb size. I reduced to be able to load.

Chipper - This is about 2-7/8 dia. approx 1/2" high at the dome.

Among other things, Ken lists his hobbies as 1948 Chevrolet Sportmaster Fleetline. So lets figure it's for a 48.

Gene says its a 1947-1948 Fleetmaster horn cap.

I'm going with 1948 (47-48) Fleetmaster horn cap.

Yes, Dr. Watson. I know, I know!!!!

42sherlock

Definitely a 47-48 horncap........I can hardly wait for the story about why it's red and not brown like mine.

If it really is red than its an insert for 1957 spinner accy. for wheel cover

OK, here is the answer. This is a 1948 Passanger Car Prototype Horn Button.

A couple of years ago there was an Inland plant in Dayton that was torn down. In the process of demolishing this plant the crew was to check every room of the building. In this check they came across a room in the office section. This was the archive room. They left boxes, files and displays behind. Among the items were several horn buttons. The buttons changed hands a few times before I acquired this sample. I wish I could have acquired the whole collection. At the time this building was being torn down I drove by it on a regular basis. Alway wondering : I wonder if ? I guess from now on I'll check it out when that little bird says : I wonder if ? This will certainly make an interesting conversation piece among Chevrolet people.

Very interesting story.........but I'm glad they didn't decide to make'em all red in production. I've grown accustomed to my brown one.

Thanks for sharing

I accept that it is a prototype horn button for a 1948.

It does look, however, as being just what Chevgene said. A 57 spinner hubcap insert. Could be a 54 insert for the hubcap also. In any case the groves suggest that it would fit a hubcap/spinner rather than a steering wheel center.

I wonder. What was the source of the ID that it was a horn button?
Charlie

It has been suggested in the photo gallery to take a pic of the standard horn button along side the red horn button.

my reply
That is a great idea. I do not have a standard horn button. Sorry. I think the standard horn button is attached to the chrome ring with the "tabs" on the plastic piece. Anyone have a standard brown button, that could take a pic similar placed as the red button?
The word of the person that salvaged these from the archive room is my only verification of what this is: A prototype. The person salvaging these also found several other one off horn buttons from other "newer" years. From 1948 to 1970. When I acquired this there was a standard brown button in the same display case. Other than the colors they were the same.

Here are some pictures of a standard brown button that came off my 48.......

a similar view as the red one

a straight ahead view

a view with a ruler for scale

mounted in the chrome ring

backside as mounted in the chrome ring

The crest in the horn button is different than the one in the 57 spinner center. I'll try to find a picture of the spinner to post so you can see the difference. And it looks like the spinner center only has 4 tabs.

I agree with Sonny.....he's got a rare bird there.

Here's a picture of a spinner center for a 54 and 57 hubcap.....courtesy of the Filling Station online catalog #FS-200


See the difference?

Hello everyone: This is what I love about Chevy Chatter. Someone posts an idea and within days we usually have a definitive answer.
VCCA Son - I am willing to trade you a Brand New $5 Bill for that red "wrong color" horn cap. Just remember that with the $5 you can buy almost 2 gallons of gas. I also have some swamp land that I will trade for it.

dtm

Thanks Ken48 for posting the pics of the standard brown button.

Toolman - While I appreciate the offer, I'll have to turn down the two gallons of gas. This is a keeper ! And yes, you are correct about chat. Something can be posted and and within hours a problem can be solved - questions answered - answers questioned - items identified from fellow Chevrolet Nuts from all over the globe.