Package shelf mystery

[Tired iron]

I'm currently doing the upholstery in my 1950 dodge meadowbrook.  It's quite the puzzle because everything is gone or rotted... door cards, headliner, kick panels and rear package shelf (I think that's the correct term?).

Anyways, in the middle of the most-rear frame, immediately under the rear window, there's a big hole that looks like it was for mounting something.  And that's my question: was there something that was supposed to go there?

 

If there were two of these,  I'd guess small rear speakers.

[JerryinTx]

My guess is it was for a speaker.  In those days there was no stereo, so no need for two.

[JohnTeee]

I have a convertible, so no rear package shelf. ? However, you're thinking modern autos with stereo systems and these were a monaural system, so could have had single speaker.

 

John

[vintage6t]

The idea that you need stereo to have more than one speaker is not exactly correct. I'm 99% sure there were "pre-stereo" cars with a front and rear mounted speakers. Early 60s Impalas come to mind with one mounted in the center cutout of the rear seat. 

 

Rear speaker was probably an upscale option. Might have even included a front/rear fader.

[Plymouthy Adams]

non stereo.....like watching a black and white TV.....but yeah...many cars had rear speakers and fader controls (some factory installed and reverbs) before stereo became the norm.....and the new wave quadrophonic stereo....what ditch did that fall into....?

[MarcDeSoto]

No way that hole is for a speaker.  The speakers were placed on the middle of the dash in 1950.  Nothing goes there except the cardboard or leatherette package shelf.  Those bolts holes are probably for the mounting of the very optional AC vent.  That's where the cold air comes out, not the front area.  I'm not sure if AC was really availible in 50 on Dodges, but Chrysler had been planning on offering it as early as 1942.  My 48 has holes on the package shelf, but not that middle hole like yours.  I think Chrysler started to offer AC in '51.  

[P15-D24]

Most likely an optional rear window defogger.

[Bryan G]

Could even be it was put there for an optional speaker and they never bothered to offer it, but decided to add the punch-out just in case. It didn't cost them anything in the long run to punch it out that way. It shouldn't be too hard to find a list of all the factory options.

[MarcDeSoto]

Chrysler put their first AC in the 53 Imperial, then offered on more makes in 54.  They had been planning this since pre-war, so it could be a punch out hole for AC or heated air even if it wasn't offered that year.  Packard was the first to offer AC in 41.  I read that several 42 DeSotos had AC.  Chrysler was really big on pushing AC as Chrysler himself had his engineers produce a superior AC system for his Chrysler building in 1930.  Those engineers created the Air Temp Corp.  It could also be for a rear window defogger, but I'm not familar with that accessory.  

[Tired iron]

Thanks, everyone.  I'm not going to do anything with it, but was just wanting to know what it was before i covered it up!