column switches 73 Tii

[Mike A]

I bought these column switches in the first 3 photos as being represented for a 73. Looking for expert advice that always seems to be available here. Are they in fact from a from 73?  or would they be interchangeable,  as I don't see any provision for the washer?

The next 4 photos are switches that presumably came from a 73 and you can see the differences in casting numbers

Edited January 4, 2020 by Mike A

[Mike Self]

From your pictures they look like the correct ones.  '72 and '73 (at least US spec) cars--both carbureted and tii--used the same column stalks.  The left side one has a two position up-down (low & high beams); pull towards you for high beam flash.  They're identical to the ones used on earlier cars except for the knob, and that the later ones have multi-prong plugs per your illustrations.  Earlier ones had individual wires that plugged into separate terminals on the back of the stalk base.  

 

The right side stalk has several functions:  up and down are your turn signals (and with the ignition off, right and left on-street parking lights).  The little copper finger at the base of the housing confirms that's a turn signal.  Push the knob on the end towards the column base and that turns the wipers on and off; wiper speed is controlled by the lower left dashboard knob.  Pull the lever towards you and that engages the wash/wipe feature.  

 

'74-76 cars moved the turn signals to the left stalk, so those two stalks are completely different, and earlier cars didn't have the wiper on/off switch on the right side stalk, so they're different too.

 

So...it looks like you have the correct ones.  Good score.  They're very expensive new, so it's a good idea to have a spare, especially for the turn signal/wiper/wash-wipe switch.  They break/wear out--but can usually be repaired.

 

mike

Edited January 4, 2020 by mike

[jimk]

26 minutes ago, mike said:

'74-76 cars moved the turn signals to the left stalk

Some people just couldn't deal with the turn signal lever on the right, so the government dictate a change to suit the dumb ones.

 

Way back the high/low beam headlight switch was on the floorboard to the left of the clutch pedal.  When the function was moved to the steering column there were lots of accidents where drivers got their left foot tangled in the steering wheel!   

Edited January 4, 2020 by jimk

[ray_]

53 minutes ago, jimk said:

Some people just couldn't deal with the turn signal lever on the right, so the government dictate a change to suit the dumb ones.

 

Way back the high/low beam headlight switch was on the floorboard to the left of the clutch pedal.  When the function was moved to the steering column there were lots of accidents where drivers got their left foot tangled in the steering wheel!   

 

 

I heard the UK is going to phase in driving on the right, first applying it to buses and taxis.

 

[Mike A]

6 hours ago, mike said:

From your pictures they look like the correct ones.  '72 and '73 (at least US spec) cars--both carbureted and tii--used the same column stalks.  The left side one has a two position up-down (low & high beams); pull towards you for high beam flash.  They're identical to the ones used on earlier cars except for the knob, and that the later ones have multi-prong plugs per your illustrations.  Earlier ones had individual wires that plugged into separate terminals on the back of the stalk base.  

 

The right side stalk has several functions:  up and down are your turn signals (and with the ignition off, right and left on-street parking lights).  The little copper finger at the base of the housing confirms that's a turn signal.  Push the knob on the end towards the column base and that turns the wipers on and off; wiper speed is controlled by the lower left dashboard knob.  Pull the lever towards you and that engages the wash/wipe feature.  

 

'74-76 cars moved the turn signals to the left stalk, so those two stalks are completely different, and earlier cars didn't have the wiper on/off switch on the right side stalk, so they're different too.

 

So...it looks like you have the correct ones.  Good score.  They're very expensive new, so it's a good idea to have a spare, especially for the turn signal/wiper/wash-wipe switch.  They break/wear out--but can usually be repaired.

 

mike

...so the right side switch in the first photo has the wash control , it just doesn't have the wash arrow as that of the 6th photo...Thanks Mike, appreciate the help.. 

[PaulTWinterton]

6 hours ago, ray_ said:

heard the UK is going to phase in driving on the right, first applying it to buses and taxis.

 

LOL!

[Mike Self]

On 1/4/2020 at 11:39 AM, jimk said:

Some people just couldn't deal with the turn signal lever on the right, so the government dictate a change to suit the dumb ones.

Actually, car manufacturers worldwide standardized certain column-mounted controls, beginning with the 1974 model year, and one of the standardizations was to move the turn signal lever to the left side--primarily due to the prevalence of column-mounted shift levers, both manual and automatic, that were on the right side.  

 

22 hours ago, Mike A said:

...so the right side switch in the first photo has the wash control , it just doesn't have the wash arrow as that of the 6th photo...

Correct.  My '73 doesn't have the wash/wipe marking on the knob either, but it's there...

 

mike