Gadget for the Day

["Jan Harmonson" <jharmonson@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi

My 1955, which is pretty much an original car has no such device. If there
is no 12 volt equipment, ie battery, maybe it was used to allow jumping from
a 12 volt without frying the car, God knows they needed planty of jumping.

Jan in Ojai,  CA

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "roger crabtree" <rcrabshish@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, January 02, 2004 2:21 PM
Subject: Re: IML: Gadget for the Day


> Speaking of 55 Imperials and gadgets, I would like
> information on the gadget on my 55.  It is an
> electrical device that is boxed shaped and is bolted
> to the cowl between the horns and radiator.  It has
> three wires going to it.  It states that it is a 6 to
> 12 volt converter of some type.  It has a red push
> button mounted under the dash. The wiring that goes to
> the box returns to the button and to the power side of
> the switch.  The car has no 12 volt equipment in it.
> All wiring is the same type as the factory wiring and
> the box looks like is original equipment. Do you think
> is is a dealer option?  When you push the button
> nothing happens. Do any of the owners of 6 volt
> Imperials have this in their cars?  RC Billings
> Montanaaaaaa
>  --- RandalPark@xxxxxxx wrote: > Becoming the owner of
> a '55 Imperial rather late in
> > my collecting history (1997) I am finally enjoying
> > the delightful use of the FLIGHT LEVER! I think it
> > may actually have been spelled Flite Lever since, as
> > with most gadgets, it had to have a special name.
> >
> > This little feature was a one year only phenomenon,
> > replacing the column shift of previous years and
> > being replaced itself by push buttons in 1956.  As
> > most on the IML know, the lever protruded from the
> > dash board just to the left of the radio and is used
> > to operate the Power Flite two speed automatic
> > transmission.
> >
> > I find it to be quite satisfying to operate,
> > probably because it is so unique. Everytime I drive
> > that car and reach for that lever I crack a smile
> > that lasts for hours! Practically speaking, it has
> > its share of issues, not the least of which is its
> > easy access by anyone of two other adults or as many
> > as four misbehaving children sitting in the front
> > seat of the car.
> >
> > Chrysler stated that it was designed to break off
> > easily in the event of a collision, but I wouldn't
> > want to see my nose  after it won a battle with the
> > Flite Lever during an unwanted incident on the
> > highway! In my years of spotting wrecked '55
> > Chryslers in salvage yards, I never saw one with a
> > broken Flite Lever.
> >
> > The Flite Lever: Strange, Gimmicky, Unique! What
> > more could you ask for?
> >
> > Paul
> >
> > In a message dated 12/31/2003 6:42:58 AM Eastern
> > Standard Time, 65luxuryliner@xxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:
> >
> > >
> > >
> > > Paul,
> > >
> > > The Panelescent Lighting was definitely on my
> > 'gadget' list!  Great story!
> > > With all the posts about swivel seats, I started
> > thinking about how gimmicky
> > > '50s and '60s cars were and Imperials and
> > Chryslers were no exception.  Push
> > > button transmission selectors, rear view mirrors
> > on the dash board, remote
> > > buttons on the floor to change the radio stations
> > (my '65 Imperial has that
> > > feature), hi-way hi-fi, tissue dispensers tempered
> > glass headlight covers to
> > > keep rocks from cracking the headlights. And of
> > course the unusual
> > > fin/taillight shapes.  The list goes on and on.
> > >
> > > Thanks for sharing your story.  I enjoyed it!
> > >
> > > Greg
> > > ----- Original Message ----- 
> > > From: <RandalPark@xxxxxxx>
> > > To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > > Sent: Tuesday, December 30, 2003 11:01 PM
> > > Subject: Re: IML: Gimmickry and Gadgetry
> > >
> > >
> > > > Greg,
> > > >
> > > > I think that you have a great idea, and I
> > wouldn't mind starting with my
> > > one of my favorite Imperial Gimmick/Gadget's being
> > the Panelescent Lighting.
> > > What a beautiful set up, but imagine owning the
> > car when it was 10 years
> > > old, with no dash lights, and no one readily able
> > to fix it. Here is a sad
> > > little story to go with it.
> > > >
> > > > I once knew an elderly man who was still driving
> > his 1962 Imperial Crown
> > > when it was 15 years old. It had not been taken
> > care of and among the many
> > > things that were not right was the Panalescent
> > Lighting. Never fear, because
> > > my old friend was nothing if he wasn't ingenious!
> > He had purchased a small
> > > light that plugged into the cigarette lighter
> > socket that he mounted over
> > > the speedometer, wire and all. He turned it on at
> > night so that he could see
> > > the instrument cluster.
> > > >
> > > > The same gentleman screwed a door bell button
> > from the hardware store into
> > > the padded portion of the steering wheel. This was
> > used to activate the horn
> > > after the horn ring was broken off. He also had a
> > very durable replacement
> > > for his long since sheered off turn signal lever,
> > a bright green tooth brush
> > > sticking out the side of the steering column.
> > > >
> > > > Paul
> > > >
> > > > In a message dated 12/30/2003 7:17:33 PM Eastern
> > Standard Time,
> > > 65luxuryliner@xxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:
> > > >
> > > > > Hello List!
> > > > >
> > > > > There have been a number of posts on the List
> > lately regarding swivel
> > > seats.  This morning I mentioned my experience
> > with swivel seats and in
> > > another post I wrote about a very useful gadget in
> > another make of car I
> > > own.  My apologies to the List for mentioning
> > another make!  Had I not been
> > > pressed for time this morning, I would have added
> > to that (other make) post
> > > with an idea I got while reading about the swivel
> > seats.  The idea is this:
> > > In the last day and a half of 2003, I thought it
> > might be kind of fun for
> > > the members of the List to write with their
> > experiences and or knowledge of
> > > gimmicks and gadgets down thru the 20th century
> > that helped sell (kill sales
> > > of) our Imperials.  I guess it would be out of the
> > question for the IML
> > > moderators to allow mention of gadgets and
> > gimmicks from other makes.  But
> > > the gadgetry of Imperials and Chryslers alone
> > could certainly generate some
> > > interesting emails.  How about it List?  Does
> > anybody have any interesting
> > > stories to share or just want to mention some of
> > the gadgets that have lured
> > > us into the showrooms and helped get us to sign on
> > > > > the dotted line!
> > > > >
> > > > > Greg McDonnell
> > > > > '65 Imperial convertible
> > > > > Other makes
> > > >
> >
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> > >
> > >
> > >
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