Flathed52

Yes I feel the same way about certain accessories as a car was in use during a time period. The day one factory correct route is interesting and disciplined but a day two approach I find to be more creative and fun. Allows for a lot more variety and flexibility. you might try getting a few of these to cull together one good one. The compass skirt or dial is probably the hardest part to fix and you should try to start with that as a good piece the rest excluding the thin brass seal if it’s corroded at the edges also another delicate piece that’s hard to repair so start with those two pieces and build from there. Anything brass is probably best soldered. It’s funny in one compass we found multiple correspondences listed in writing between the owner of the compass and the Hull company. It went back for repairs every year or two in a short period of time. So they must have known it was a design problem. The ones that came after ; the all plastic model 800 beaconlite I have several absolutely nothing wrong with them. Not as cool looking as the metal and Bakelite ones though. Fluid is full compass swings to all points 65 years later.

I’m having a bunch of these restored by a retired gentleman that does this in his spare time. He and I were just discussing using compass fluid . Marine and aviation sources will supply this. Also this compass although a terrific looking design is one that is very poorly engineered. They’re notorious leakers. And most of the critical parts like the bowl, the backing plate and dial are all subject to cracking. He repairs them with JB weld. However the problem sometimes comes back. Also he fills them inside an another container of fluid and is thus able to fill the bowls all the way to the top without much air inside. also don’t know if it matters or not , but just as s as n interest in discussing I believe these beaconlite models were made a little later than the 1936 timeframe of your car. I could be wrong but the earlier ones - streamline were patent dates of 1934-1936. They were famously used in ww2 tanks jeeps etc. That body design also came in a lighted model, probably called beaconlite as well. I’ve seen 1939 ads showing them. The earliest I believe the elongated beacon lite like you have, would be around 1948? I’m just going by info I’ve gathered so far. Then there’s the all plastic egg shaped ones that work really well but are a late 1957 patent date. Good luck!

So there are no real Ford Security badges that are genuine?

Thanks 55er Everyone and Zeke I enjoyed hearing the explanation and Im happy that a small part of a great car is in this truck! 😂

Hi Zeke, Thanks for all the info. Its really very interesting! I don't know anything about Hudson's and Im pretty new to Antique vehicles, my Ford truck is my first one and Ive already learned a lot about them. Why did they call the Hudson's Step Down models? Was it popular to use the shifter knobs from Hudson's ? Or its just something that happens to be on my truck cause someone thought it looked cool. John

This is From the repros Site...

No, thank you for all the help! I never would’ve known it’s a Hudson. I just knew it wasn’t the correct type for the ford truck.

Apparently they’re called ship and castle knobs. A lot of details in these things huh!

http://partsbyemc.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=170 wow someone still makes these new in custom colors too!

These are the symbols ..

Wow!! Thanks!! I just found this Pic from eBay when you guys kept saying Hudson. Now I have to go find out about them. I know my mom had one. what are the symbols on the sides? I have that too. Thanks!

Mine is kind of tear drop shaped - it’s not round. The stock knob is a plain round black knob. I think this one looks good on the truck somehow but was curious about where it’s from, thanks for the replies so far!

What’s a step down knob?

I don’t know why but it looks like it was out of an old Plymouth or Dodge? It’s a four pointed star burst design. Maybe it’s from a Ford main line?

You mean somebody had this made up custom One - off back in day? They had that then? Or you mean it was a aftermarket thing Made in multiples that fit universally on a lot of cars? Thanks!