VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 1941 Chevrolet Trunk Light

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Anti...97Q2em7QQitemZ130565338302#ht_500wt_1182


A while way back, I asked if there were trunk lights from 1941-1948 with other than a round lens. I had no responses that I can think of other than Chevgene.

I though for sure that I had both seen and had had them from time to time. Well. the cite listed above shows one on eBay now.

I thought that many, other than Chevgene, may be interested in seeing one of these critters. You'll note that it has a "keystone" shape rather than the more common round one for the trunk light.
Charlie

BTW: I should have included this on the trivia post. Who do you think may have missed at least one. Grin.

Looks like I need to send you some reading glasses Charlie. That's a tail light.

Why would a trunk light be red?...grin Are you wearing sunglasses while looking at Ebay?


BTW..We still like you buddy.

I don't think that glasses would help Charlie if he doesn't know the difference between a tail light and a trunk light.

Even the seller has plastered all over his auction "tail light". I suppose that you could put this tail light in the trunk and call it a "trunk light" though but a parking light with a clear lens would work better as a trunk light however.

Yeah, but if you look at the second picture, you'll see another lens that directs light into the trunk.

Thanks Richard,
It seems there are those who don't know the difference between a trunk light and a tail light. Thanks for pointing the error of their knee-jerk ways. Grin.

For those of you who are unschooled in such finer points about old Chevrolets, let me point out there were small clear lenses built into the tail light housings on 1940-48s. This was to give a little light from the tail light bulb, when the parking or driving lights were on. The light from this source illuminated the trunk in order for one to see items therein and to get the spare tire and tools out.

If prior to 1940 one had a flat (Like, say, the ancient years of 1938-39, one had to rely on a flashlight, which was premitive but at the time a relatively new invention. Nonetheless, owing to technology at the time, one was likely to find that the flashlight was of no use because the batteries were, more likely than not, dead as a doornail. Without light one had to fumble around in the dark relying on feel alone in order to extract the desired items. Note: For people living in Tennessee having sufficient illumination posed was no problem. If they experienced a flat tire on a hill, they just ran the car on the rim until they got to a flat area or to another state, whichever came first. This was because, in general, hillbilly roads were too narrow to facilitate changing a tire anyway. If they had ventured down to the "flat land" found in the hollows, then they just harvested some wood from the car body and built a small fire. (That's why, back in those days, you couldn't find a Tennessee car that didn't carry some French's mustard, an onion, some wieners, a large bad of marshmallows and some flint in the trunk. Also, seat stuffing made good fire-starter kindling. There was a good supply of it on board. More grin.

Back to my main point. The tail light in the ebay item clearly shows a "keystone" shaped trunk lens in the tail light rather than the more common round one. Maybe these type were made in PA. Hmmm?
Charlie

Hi charlie, the tailight assembly with the lens in the top was a 41-42 production light, then they put the round lens in the side of the lamp housing in the later years, and then they came out with the accessory trunk light package that in the 48 parts book states this will work from 41 to 48. On page 8 of my 41 Chev Holden owners manual for right hand drive cars it states "trunk compartment lighting-- When the tail lamps are lighted, they also provide light in the trunk compartment through a lens in the top of the tail light body". Hope this helps. And you were right as to this being a trunk light as well as a tailight,stoplight. Dennis

Diz,
Thanks for the reply. You enlightened me (and I suspect many others, if they will admit it) on the subject.

I wonder how many 41-42's have slipped by inspection owing to the judges lack of knowledge on the subject. Wow! Of course, that may be too picky since they are similar. You know, round vs the "keystone" shape. Just look at the number who didn't know what I was talking about much less the shape of the trunk light lens.

It's like the edges of the tail light doors that you mentioned a few months ago; how many knew that the grooves trailed/traced/continued (pick one) on across the ends to complete a 90 degree angle on 41's. Another wow.

I definitely should have included these two items in the trivia post. The first (about the lens) because very few knew and the second because many wouldn't have paid attention in the first place or had forgotten your mentioning it.

Not too many know these things about old Chevrolets. You, BigRichie, Chevgene, and Ray, among a few others, continually surprise (astonish may be a better word) me by your deep knowledge about this stuff. Thanks to all who share their knowledge on obscure old Chevrolet trivia.

I wonder why Chevgene hasn't responded on this matter?
Thanks,
Charlie

BTW: Did both tail light assemblies come with trunk light windows or just one? Something else I don't know.

BTW2: Did 41 and 42 use the same design tail light doors (with the 90 degree groove)?

BTW3: Things have been a little quite from Chevgene lately. He usually lets us know if things aren't going well. I hope both he and his wife are doing well. Somebody let me and all the rest know if things aren't going well for either of them right now.

1950 still had this trunk light feature

So did 1951 and 1952. However this light was pretty worthless as far as lighting up the trunk. In 1951 a real trunk light was available as an accessory that actually illuminated the trunk.

Charlie...1
Wawuzit...0

Hi Charlie, in answer to your question yes the trunk light lens was on both taillight assemblys, if you kept them clean they worked quite well by the standards of the day, or better then nothing. Glad you are finally making progress with the convertible, hope it comes out the way you want it. Dennis

Charlie: Have been reading your information on '41 trunk lights and taillight doors. My '41 has a "keystone" shape (your description of the shape) on the left (driver)side of the trunk and a round lens on the right (passenger) side on the trunk. Also the taillight doors do not have 90 degree marks. There are 2 horizontal lines on either side of the door. This should confuse you even more than you are confused now. JIM

Nay, nay, Jim. You see DIZ has educated me on these points. According to him, and I have no reason to doubt his wisdom on the subject, the 41 doors had the 90 degree angles to the grooves on each side of the door. I don't know if this was applicable to the 41 only or carried over to the 42. The 1946-48 just had the straight grooves that did not curl around the sides.

Also, according to DIZ, the trunk lens for 41 and 42 were of the "keystone" shape. The round ones for 46-48.

I think I have the above correct.

Accordingly, you have a mixed bag. As you go to auto flea markets, I encourage you to seek the correct ones.
Good luck,
Charlie

It is probably because he is busy, trying to figure out a couple of postings I did about articles for the dadburned G&D.

Keeping me straightened out is a full time job for JYD and Gene.

Charlie---- Why do you believe DIZ when you don't believe very many other people. Very interesting. Just asking. JIM