VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 Proper Switch For Backup Light

With a number of accessories available for the my 38:
-fog lights
-backup lights
-parking lights(fender mounted)
*What were the original switches used for these different accessories?
Thank you
Michael

I have an NOS Guide fog light toggle switch still in the original box. If I remember right, the housing is black and the toggle is white with the word "FOG." I'm not sure what the box says for application, but I'll check in the garage tomorrow.

The fog light switch clamps on to the flange on the bottom of the dash. It matches the heater and defroster switches and point down on the bottom flange of the dash....there should be three rather large holes under there.
The back-up clamps to the bottom flange of the dash. There is a picture of it in "A Pictoral History of chevrolet" 1929-1939 page 222.
The fender lights are wired to go on when ever the head light switch is on. It is connected to the tail light terminal on the head light switch.

This is a scan Gene sent me a few years ago. According to it the correct '38 backup light switch is a push/pull switch.

Great info. I have some treasure hunting to do. I want my switches as close to original as possible. I don't mind using nos or repop as long as the quality is there.
Michael
I wish I had the Premium radio, but at least have a Chevrolet radio. I will be removing a Pontiac head unit from dash that was used as a filler by previous owner.

You can get almost identical switches today. Here's one.

What I mentioned above was possibly used in the 41 to 48 cars. The box ends of the Guide switch I have are damaged (what a coincidence!). The housing is black and the toggle is gray with the word FOG. The toggle comes straight out of the housing. I also have HEAT, DEF, FOG and BACK Delco Remy switches that are all NOS with brown housings and white toggles. The toggles are narrow coming out of the housing and then widen. It was my understanding the Delco Remy switches were retrofitted to cars from the late 30's when the appropriate accessories were installed - but I could be wrong, so I removed all mine for VCCA judging.

Oh, by the way - when I use NOS, I mean new old stock original GM, Delco, or Guide parts that was never installed or used.

The flipper type switches were first used in 1940. Prior to that a round rotating iluminated switch was used for heater, defroster, and fog lights. The back-up light is a freak of its own.

I have a fog light switch with a dark brown body and ivory flipper...What year??? or is it not Chevrolet???

Those switches were sold through many parts houses and stores like Sears. Made by at last two different companies.

Just for clarification and then I'll let the post die (or sleep): I have some Ebay links pasted below for the photos. If I understand correctly, these switches were never correct for Chevrolet? They were aftermarket?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Delco-Remy-Defrost-Heater-switches-1941-1942-1946-1947-1948-/281942228370?hash=item41a510fd92:g:HYcAAOSwL7VWnBhP&vxp=mtr

http://www.ebay.com/itm/vintage-heater-switch-delco-remy-/152005412368?hash=item23643a8610:g:uP0AAOSwYlJW23YI&vxp=mtr

The fourth switch in this listing above looks like the T/C horn switch I got from Gene many years ago.

The switches on 281942228370 are used and removed from a existing car. They look like they MAY have been removed from a 1947 or 1948 by the color.
Colors of the other three don't match and note the center flipper is different.