Small toggle under the starter button

[bugsiegel]

1949 F1 on the road two days. Fiddling with the speedo cable I found a small toggle under the starter button. Looks to be original to the truck. The wire from the switch seems to loop into the pull light switch (best I can see) but the toggle has no effect on the outside lights. It's daytime but could this switch be an instrument light on/off switch?

 

[Seth Swoboda]

Someone may have replaced the instrument dimmer switch with a toggle switch. Turn your headlights on and see if it turns the dash lights on and off.

 

[makemc]

thats a switch to turn on and off the instrument lights, it's a factory switch..my 48 f-1 has the same type

 

[V12Bill]

So does my 39.

 

[Tinker]

and my 38

 

[4dFord/SC]

thats a switch to turn on and off the instrument lights, it's a factory switch..my 48 f-1 has the same type

Probably makes a lot more sense than the rheostat provided in passenger cars. The gauges in my '40 are distinctly visible to the naked eye with the dimmer switch turned to the "bright" position.

 

[Fibber Mcgee]

I think it was done to keep cost down just like the single windshield wiper and sun visor. These were work vehicles and they wanted to keep them cheap and simple ,my 49 F1 is alot more simple than my 41 Tudor.

 

[Barry-ct]

They used that setup until 1950. In 51, they went to a rheostat type switch in trucks.