OK, it's not a vacuum advance....

[Andy69]

Having a hard time identifying this. Part number on the tag is 8A-17604 and it says 49-53. Looks like a vacuum something but is not a vacuum advance.

Any ideas?

 

[Bob C]

Looked in Ford parts book, it's a windshield washer foot control.

Bob

 

[BUBBAS IGNITION]

Auto transmission modulator ?????????

 

[Barry-ct]

Foot controlled windshield washer pump. Bob C is correct. Mounts on the floor.

 

[FL&WVMIKE]

I like those ole fashioned foot controled devices.
I guess that most of us remember the foot controled dimmer switches. That still seems like a good idea to me. I don't know why they have all gone.
I had an Oldsmobile that had a foot controled signaal chaser that you operated with your foot.
I bet that they will come back,sometime, and advertised as "new" !
MIKE (mikeburch)

 

[B-O-B]

Mike I still use a foot controlled dimmer switch in my 3 fords

 

[Jay in Mass]

I like those ole fashioned foot controled devices.
I bet that they will come back,sometime, and advertised as "new" !
MIKE (mikeburch)

I like that about when they come back, they will be a new thing.
That's the way things happen

 

[FordCustom]

I like that about when they come back, they will be a new thing.
That's the way things happen

The latest new gadget seems to be the "start button", lol!

 

[Andy69]

A foot controlled windshield washer. I NEVER would have come up with that.

I grew up with a foot operated dimmer though, so I'm old, just not THAT old

 

[Kube]

I guess that most of us remember the foot controled dimmer switches. That still seems like a good idea to me. I don't know why they have all gone.
Much more economical to build it in to a multi use plastic switch than a separate foot controlled switch. And really, the mast mounted switches do tend to last much longer than the foot switches did.

 

[HCO41]

How 'bout the foot control to change stations on 46-48 (?) Fords and Mercs?
My '54 Olds 98 had 3 floor buttons, one to change stations on wonderbar radio, one to manually dim/raise head lights and one to over ride autronic eye to high beam if oncoming car refuses to dim. If it had a foot starter I wouldn't have had any room for my foot! I would still prefer to have those driving experiences than have a car that talks to me!
Howard

 

[George49Ford]

My '48 Pontiac had a large pedal for the starter placed right above the gas pedal. You stepped on the pedal to push the starter gear onto the flywheel and get the electrical connection at the same time. You would use your heel to give it a little gas.

 

[Mike51Merc]

My '48 Pontiac had a large pedal for the starter placed right above the gas pedal. You stepped on the pedal to push the starter gear onto the flywheel and get the electrical connection at the same time. You would use your heel to give it a little gas.

Didn't some GMs (Buick maybe) from that era have the starter switch under the gas pedal? You basically floored the car to start it. I imagine there were a lot of flooded cars with that system.