VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1912-1928 What color?

Hi, To all our good friends north of the US border,

I am the proud owner of a triangle marker: "Four, Wheel, Brakes". It is my understanding that this triangle was mounted on the left rear fender of the 28 Chevrolets produced in Canada. Having seen this item before, I know that it is painted red. Question: was the words painted a contrasting color or was the entire triangle painted red?

I have seen the triangle.
The letter was painted red, and the background was white.
Arvid

Ray,
Check with Walt Davenport in Michigan. He had the Canadian touring on the Durango 4 cyl. tour. It is the only one that I have seen.

Interesting question. I have in my collection two of the Canadian "Four Wheel Brakes" triangles that I've picked up at swap meets over the years. One is a stamping and the second is die cast. The mounting hole layout of the two items are identical. Two years ago, in Hershey, I purchased two left rear '28 fenders. Both fenders have the the trangle attaching holes pre- drilled, however the two triangles do not match the fender holes by about 1/4 at two corners.

Back to the original question. I once saw an original Canadian vehicle with the triangle that was painted red with the raised letters painted black. The one stamped triangle I have was restored by someone in that color scheme. The other unit is unpainted.

WaltD is out of town this weekend and he no longer owns the '28 touring ChevyChip is refering to. I don't remember that vehicle having the Triangle we're discussing. I do believe WaltD has one of the triangles in his collection. Maybe he'll respond in a day or two.

AntiqueMechanic
I have 3 of these in my Chevrolet accessories collection, all are original
One is made of pressed steel with the words embossed into the steel, unfortunately no paint is left to identify colours
Second is cast alloy, with the area around the words recessed, also has raised edges on the inside and outside of the triangle. All raised surfaces are alloy colour with red paint filling the recessed areas
Third is baked enamel (Aust. description) or porcelain (possibly US description). The whole triangle is red with the wording in white. It also had a small circular red plastic lens of about 1" dia and 1.5" lenght in the middle of the triangle, acting as an extra tail light
Chris

Thanks,

Thanks for all the response to my question. There was some red paint on my triangle when I got it. As usual, not enough to really decide what the total paint scheme was.

I had the pleasure of riding in the 28 Touring that made the East to West coast journey on the Trans Canadian Highway several years ago which was reported in the G&D in a series of articles. This was when I made a trip to Fredericton, New Brunswick to visit a VCCA member who was injured in a car accident. Anyway, the owner of the 28 Touring brought the car over and I rode in it. That was the first time I had ever seen the triangle device and as I remember, it was all red. It was mounted on the left rear fender with rivets.

Again, thanks for the replies.

RAY:

RAY: I did have a 28 Canadian (Built in Oshawa,Ont,Canada) Touring with the TRIANGLE FOUR WHEEL BRAKES on the left rear fender and it was riveted on. (It also was stamped steel). From all appearances it was attached back in 28 as the fender was repainted around the triangle and that restoration was about 25 years ago. The car was very original with original wood etc. The triangle was red and I forget if the wording was highlighted with white. The car went to Pittsburgh, PA Oct. 2000. For your information I had another Triangle and I passed that on to JERRY GRAY in Texas. There is a gentleman in Ontario, CANANDA that repops the triangle in aluminun with red background plain letters. If your interested in his name, I can probably come up with it. Further it should be noted that the TRIANGLE was for all vehicles with four wheel brakes, not just Chevys.
Walt D.

Hi Walt D,

Thanks for your input. My triangle is exactly as you describe. I had always thought that it was a Chevrolet item. Have never seen one on any other car.

Can't consider making three holes in my left rear fender, so I have made a bracket and have attached it to my spare tire carrier.

Ray
One of the triangles in my collection came off a late 1920's Morris Cowely. I don't think they were exclusive to Chevrolet, at least not here in Ozz.
The one from my 28 tourer was attached with brass screw head bolts.
The triangles were to let people know that you could stop quicker than them, is that why they put an ABS sign on the back of moderns?
Chris

Hi Guys the triangle is always fitted to the same side of the car that the battery was mounted in case of an accident I have seen these triangles with and without the 4 wheel brakes wording I was told that it was a British Empire safety warning the 4 wheel brakes was proberly to warn the car behind that the car in front can pull up .I beleive fitted to all makes and models.Jim