29 Roadster Pup - Possible Light Switch Positions?

[RustyWiring]

Hi everyone.

Last weekend, we added a 2nd Model A to the family; a 29 roadster pickup. It will be a driver for my wife while I chug around sparingly in the AA.

The AA light switch on the steering wheel has four positions: 7 o'clock, 6 (off), 5 & 4 o'clock. The AA doesn't have front running lights, so position 7 does nothing but turn on the tail lamp. 5 is low beams and 4 is high beams. Seems straight forward.

The A, however, has only three positions: 7, 6 & 5. While it has front running lights, they don't work. 7 & 5 provide identical behavior - low beams & tail lamp. I have not opened the bail yet to see if it differs from the AA.

Is 3 positions normal in a 29 or is this switch broken (in that it should also swing to 4 o'clock, where I expect to find the high beams)?

Thank you.

 

[Tom Wesenberg]

The first two or three months of 29 still had fluted headlamps, which has a parking light position, off, and headlamp position. No hi-lo beams from the factory. The headlamps, conduit and switch are unique to this style.

After February 1929 the TWOLITE system was introduced, which had a different switch with an added position at 4 o'clock, for the high beam. The conduits were larger diameter to handle the third wire.

 

[RustyWiring]

Thanks Tom.

I'll have to trace the wiring and see why I get no front parking lights in any position.