I am pretty sure that turn signals became mandatory in the US for cars on January 1, 1953. But when were they mandatory on personal pickup trucks? I believe my 1953 F100 was built in November of 1952 and it does have turn signals. Were these factory equipment or were they dealer installed at that time? When did Ford first offer factory installed turn signals? When did they become standard equipment?

 

It all depends on the state, in California CVC 24951 says:

(a) Any vehicle may be equipped with a lamp-type turn signal system capable of clearly indicating any intention to turn either to the right or to the left.



(b) The following vehicles shall be equipped with a lamp-type turn signal system meeting the requirements of this chapter.



(1) Motortrucks, truck tractors, buses and passenger vehicles, other than motorcycles, manufactured and first registered on or after January 1, 1958.



(2) Trailers and semitrailers manufactured and first registered between December 31, 1957, and January 1, 1969, having a gross weight of 6,000 pounds or more.



(3) Trailers and semitrailers 80 or more inches in width manufactured on or after January 1, 1969.



(4) Motorcycles manufactured and first registered on or after January 1, 1973, except motor-driven cycles whose speed attainable in one mile is 30 miles per hour or less.



The requirements of this subdivision shall not apply to special mobile equipment, or auxiliary dollies.



(c) Turn signal lamps on vehicles manufactured on or after January 1, 1969, shall be mounted not lower than 15 inches.


So in California my '55 would not need turn signals. Like I said state dependent.

 

Here is probably more information than you want on the subject. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108 (FMVSS 108)

https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/...sec571-108.xml

 

My 52 F1 didn’t have them so I put in an aftermarket on the column switch and wired all accordingly. Now I have turn signals front and rear, park lights on at first detent and all working as they should. Painted the inside of the park/taillight housings white and they are very bright now. Used standard halogen headlight bulbs and all except the wiper motor (volt a drop) is 12v.

 

When I got my '53 it appeared to have had original turn signals from the factory.. Most telling, was the switch "in" the steering column that looked as if it had been there since the truck was built and it was wired for positive ground...
I've since replaced the switch with new style, 12 volt, NEG ground..

 

This I know. In 1953 through 1956, factory turn signals in the steering column that were self cancelling were optional. They had a turn signal switch lever that resembled the remote shifter lever with a round ****.

My 55 has the factory turn signals as described above.

My 54 have the added Signal Stat turnsignal switch strapped onto the steering column. My 54 had the TS lights mounted on top of the front fenders. I am not when these were added .... Was it done at the dealer before Grandpa bought the truck or was it done later to comply with PennDOT laws.

 

I have a question on the wiring of the rear lights. My tail light housings use a socket for bulbs with only two filaments, one for parking lights and one for brake lights. Do you simply splice the turn signal wire into the brake light wire for each side? Or does the addition of turn signals require a different socket and bulb?

 

Turn signals were an accessory option for the 48-52 trucks. They are self cancelling and the signal housing is a black matte body instead of the chrome finish. I think the chrome finish is for cars.

JB

 

It depends on the turn signal switch you have. Some are designed to integrate with the brake lights, some are made to operate totally separate with their own lamp assemblies.

 

Thanks for the info. When I bought the truck it had obviously old turn signals and two filament tail lights. They didn't work at that time, but if I assume they did at one point I guess that they integrate with the brake lights.

 

Two filament tail lights does not mean you have turn signals built in. Any normal tail lamp will have a two filamant bulb for park and brake light circuits.

 

Yes, I understand. But I am assuming the turn signals on the truck once worked with a 2 filament bulb, so they must have been wired with turn signals and brake lights on the same filament.

 

They are. I bought an aftermarket unit from jegs or summit can’t remember but it was $25 has the wiring diagram and the taillight bulbs have to be changed to 12v. Look carefully and I think your stock sockets have the pins straight across so you’ll have to get new bulbs with the same alignment.

 

Nope. The bulbs with pins straight across are single filament bulbs. You will need #1154 6 volt or #1157 12 volt.