1939 Pickup door lock question

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kehughes

Senior Member
Can someone explain why the passenger side has a keyhole that I assume will lock the door but the driver's side does not?
#2 is how do you take that keyhole deal out for paint?
 
kehughes said:
Can someone explain why the passenger side has a keyhole that I assume will lock the door but the driver's side does not?
#2 is how do you take that keyhole deal out for paint?
Click to expand...

Ha....To remain politically correct back in the day, Ford wanted you to enter and exit the vehicles (including cars) on the "SAFE" curbside. Hence, Henry put the locking mechanism on the passenger side doors only! DD
 
On the side of the door there will be a hole. Inside the hole you will find a rusty set screw that holds the lock cylinder in place. If you are lucky that screw will be easy to remove, if not soak it with penetrant. Good luck.
 

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Yep, you lock the street side door from the inside, slide across the seat, exit the car and lock the curb side door with a key.
 
Okay??..!? Doesn't make alot of since to me but it is what it is.

Thanks for the explanation. You too Gary
 
Ok Jseery that helps it make more sense. So how does the drivers side lock?

Sorry if these are stupid questions..I got my pickup mostly apart. I am a novice on these vehicles.
 
The same handle that opens the door, turn it the other way and it locks. Many stories of folks locking the handle and then shutting the door (with the other door locked). Bang, your locked out. Seems to be a common problem on pickups!
 
From the inside, the driver pulls up on the door handle to lock - just as Jseery indicated. The passenger side can also be locked in the same way. It isn't always possible to unlock a passenger door from the outside if locked from the inside.

Keep in mind that traffic deaths were a real issue during the first few decades of the automobile age. Designing ways to keep people off the streets, literally, was a worthy goal.
 
I learn something everyday about this pickup. But I guess all these little things that seem quirky to us nowadays, are what draws me to these vehicles.
 
kehughes said:
I learn something everyday about this pickup. But I guess all these little things that seem quirky to us nowadays, are what draws me to these vehicles.
Click to expand...

Good to figure out the door handle lock is setup, it can cause some real issues (locking yourself out) if you or a passenger don't understand how it works.
 
JSeery is the guy that answered this 100% correct.

This was not a "Henry" thing but rather the law in most states back then. You were required by law to exit the vehicle on the curb side - NEVER in traffic.

Many states have this law on the "books" to this day and if you do exit on the street side and an accident occurs, you are held responsible.
 
My 51 F2 5 star cab pickup has the optional drivers door outside lock.

Not sure what the first year was that it was available
 
The Model T and Model A had their locks on the passenger side. Why? In those days most roads were mud and horse flop. Nobody wanted that mess in the truck. Also sidewalks were sometimes wooden and above the mud. Get out on the right side kept mylady happy.
 
They had a special celebration of the forties at my grandsons school a few years ago and I took my '40 pickup and put it in the gym, along with some other old cars and they decided to move it to another location in the gym and after getting it where they wanted it, they locked both doors with the inside handles and I had to remove the rear glass and my grandson crawled in to open the door.
 
GaryU. said:
On the side of the door there will be a hole. Inside the hole you will find a rusty set screw that holds the lock cylinder in place. If you are lucky that screw will be easy to remove, if not soak it with penetrant. Good luck.
Click to expand...

I've soaked mine for weeks...still no go, so may have to drill!
 
This was a good explanation
V8COOPMAN said:
Ha....To remain politically correct back in the day, Ford wanted you to enter and exit the vehicles (including cars) on the "SAFE" curbside. Hence, Henry put the locking mechanism on the passenger side doors only! DD
Click to expand...
 
Holden in Australia did this right up to 1967 [maybe beyond] in their utes. nothing on the drivers door...
 
I remember if you got locked out sometimes you could hammer on the out side drivers with your fist beside the handle and it would drop down, Ted
 
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