Interesting MOPAR option

[RobertKB]

Met a new club member today who has a 1948 Dodge D25 Club Coupe just like mine. He had as a genuine factory Mopar option a vacuum whistle for his handbrake. When you pull the brake on there is a whistle that runs off the same vacuum as the wipers. Obviously only works when the car is running. I asked him if it was an aftermarket option and he said that it definitely was a Mopar option, not aftermarket. Anyone else heard of this option? I would love to get one but they must be pretty rare.

[knuckleharley]

I don't know how rare they are,but I think you just cleared up a mystery I saw on a 48 Plymouth last week The guy had the hood open,and after seeing wires running to the wiper motor,I commented that it had the electric wiper. The owner wanted to argue with me and said it "is a vacuum wiper motor. See the hoses?"

He couldn't explain to me why the wires were going to the motor,though.

I think you just explained it to both of us.

[Don Coatney]

I don't know how rare they are,but I think you just cleared up a mystery I saw on a 48 Plymouth last week The guy had the hood open,and after seeing wires running to the wiper motor,I commented that it had the electric wiper. The owner wanted to argue with me and said it "is a vacuum wiper motor. See the hoses?"

He couldn't explain to me why the wires were going to the motor,though.

I think you just explained it to both of us.

I read this as being non electrical. I would think the way it works is that when the emergency brake handle was pulled a cable opens a vacuum valve bolwing (actually sucking) the whistle. Suppose there could have been an electric solonoid that fired when the emergency brake handle was pulled and sounded the whistle. Either way it really does not answer questions about the wires running to the P-15 wiper motor.

[knuckleharley]

I read this as being non electrical. I would think the way it works is that when the emergency brake handle was pulled a cable opens a vacuum valve bolwing (actually sucking) the whistle. Suppose there could have been an electric solonoid that fired when the emergency brake handle was pulled and sounded the whistle. Either way it really does not answer questions about the wires running to the P-15 wiper motor.

I'm sorry for not explaining it better. It looked to me like there might have been a vacuum pump that was ran by the wiper motor. I know the wiper motor had two wires running to the motor at the bottom,and then had vacuum lines running out of a cover at the top.

[Norm's Coupe]

I read this as being non electrical. I would think the way it works is that when the emergency brake handle was pulled a cable opens a vacuum valve bolwing (actually sucking) the whistle. Suppose there could have been an electric solonoid that fired when the emergency brake handle was pulled and sounded the whistle. Either way it really does not answer questions about the wires running to the P-15 wiper motor.

Another option for the emergency brake was a warning light that attached to the bottom of the dash. Did he also have that option too? If so, those wires could have been going to that light. You would have to trace the wires to confirm that.

[Don Coatney]

I'm sorry for not explaining it better. It looked to me like there might have been a vacuum pump that was ran by the wiper motor. I know the wiper motor had two wires running to the motor at the bottom,and then had vacuum lines running out of a cover at the top.

Did you have to look under the dash to see the wires? Wonder why there would have been two vacuum lines running to the wiper motor?

[BobT-47P15]

It looks as if there is only one vacuum line to the wiper motor. Nothing else including any wires......for the vacuum operated item. Don't know what that other car may have had.

I wonder if he had a vacuum operated "wolf whistle" under the hood......

[BobT-47P15]

How about this low gas warning device for Chrysler products....12 V so must be for later 50s cars.

Link to ad: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/N-O-S-1950s-CHRYSLER-ACCESSORY-FUEL-ALARM-PLY-DODGE_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ42606QQihZ006QQitemZ160151284732QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

Have you seen the Plymouth embossed floor mats??

Link: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/New-Plymouth-Accessory-Floor-Mats-All-Models_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ42606QQihZ009QQitemZ190027283483QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWD1V

[RobertKB]

There was nothing electrical about the handbrake warning whistle. I am assuming it runs from the same vacuum source that works the wipers. Probably a second vacuum line that operates the whistle. When you pull the handbrake handle up it started to whistle. Probably a mechanical valve is operated just like when you turn on your vacuum wipers. All I know is that it is the first one I have heard. I have seen the under dash warning light that is from the factory but it was on a '47 Chrysler and I believe they were standard on the Chryslers.

[Rodger S-11]

Hola Class

We have an 1947 De Soto. This car has the "Brake Handle" Light, and full electric wipers.

Rodger & Gabby

COS

[knuckleharley]

Did you have to look under the dash to see the wires? Wonder why there would have been two vacuum lines running to the wiper motor?

No. The wires I saw where connected to the wiper motor under the hood. I never bothered to look under the dash.

[Don Coatney]

No. The wires I saw where connected to the wiper motor under the hood. I never bothered to look under the dash.

Interesting, on a P-15 the wiper motor is under the dash. Are you sure it was a wiper motor?

[anthonyb]

Might have been an auxiliary vacuum pump that ran the wiper motor. I have one mounted in my 41 but don't have it hooked up.