Period Correct Accessory Switches

[AJC]

What are some accessory switches that wound look the era? I'm guessing some sort of toggle switches. Factory looking would also work. I just can't seem to find one that doesn't look out of place. I know there are thousands of switch options out there. So what are you guys using?

AJC

[70STOVEBOLT]

Switches for what? Power windows and locks?

[Mike_The_Grad]

My '72 c10 LWB was setup to tow a 5th wheel in it's past life, so the PO added an auxiliary fuel tank under the bed with a diverter switch mounted just under the front driver side of the bench seat. He also had a standard toggle switch mounted to the left of the gauge bezel in the sheet metal of the dash to switch the fuel level gauge between the two tanks. It had a standard jam nut to secure it. And a couple of "label maker" strips for "front" and "rear". Simple and functional.

[AJC]

To run auxiliary lights, CB and so on. Basically anything you add that has switch power.

[cdowns]

I've always found cool stuff in the speedway motors catalogue

[wbc409]

A lot of the kit car guys get there stuff from McMaster's or dell city. I found them when checking out the factory five forums.

[special-K]

Metal toggle switches. My '72 has a 3 position one in the dash for the multi-tank fuel gauge... right, left, and main.

[HO455]

The basic toggle switch shown was what was available back in the day. Every truck my dad owned had one in the dash to turn off the CB radio.

[Robznob11]

Here is a link to the switches i just bought to install into my 61 dash. This guy makes all sorts of period correct switches at a great price. Not to mention they are good switches not cheap china knock offs
Look at this on eBay http://www.ebay.com/itm/122115533850

[El Dorado Jim]

Originally Posted by special-K

Metal toggle switches. My '72 has a 3 position one in the dash for the multi-tank fuel gauge... right, left, and main.

True value hardware has the metal toggle switches, I have installed some in my 72, they are what was used back in the day...I won't buy the ones at autozone or O'reillys....they are junk

[special-K]

Originally Posted by HO455

The basic toggle switch shown was what was available back in the day. Every truck my dad owned had one in the dash to turn off the CB radio.

That's the kind. I don't know of any other type used back then. I have pulled dozens of those from trucks. Probably had more trucks with at least one in the dash then trucks with none.

Originally Posted by Robznob11

Here is a link to the switches i just bought to install into my 61 dash. This guy makes all sorts of period correct switches at a great price. Not to mention they are good switches not cheap china knock offs
Look at this on eBay http://www.ebay.com/itm/122115533850

Those are nice but the thing is they aren't at all period correct for these trucks. The billet look takes me straight to the late-80s/early-90s when fiberglass & billet hot rods were big. I check their store and see they do sell the ones we are talking about.

I don't know how far back they go because I didn't discover them till late-70s, but big trucks had lighted color plastic ones with longer toggles. That's what I was using since back then. I'm pretty sure those were available then...or within a few years of when these were new. But many accessories were not added till a vehicle was a few years old.

I've been building period correct ever since the '80s when I didn't like where styles were going. It doesn't have to be the year the truck was new, just pick a time after they were built and capture that. Now, a person could build an '80s style 67-72 but why??? My '80s style truck would be '70s styled

[Robznob11]

Look at this on eBay http://www.ebay.com/itm/122361675771
Look at this on eBay http://www.ebay.com/itm/172329730862
Look at this on eBay http://www.ebay.com/itm/122360340468

I agree the ones i bought are a little blingy! But this fellow has a variety to offer. If it were me i wouldn't worry a great deal if you were off by 10 or so years one way or the other. Most people will just see a cool looking old switch that is not like anything you see today! Leave the exact period dating to the Concord judges....

[Mike_The_Grad]

Or this:
http://m.ebay.com/itm/8-DPST-ON-OFF-...293?nav=SEARCH

[AJC]

GM seemed to use pull switches or knobs. Radio shack used to be where I got my toggle switches. Since there all most all gone, finding good toggle switches local is harder. Thanks to the Internet choices are a lot grater. What did the big rigs of the day use? They had lots of switches.