1959 Fleetwood Trunk light

[curly]

I was working on this lamp today and I fixed it. (Yay me!) The spring in the bulb socket had failed, so the terminal had no contact with the base of the bulb.  Now that it is fixed, it won't turn off.  I see no mercury switch in the trunk lid, the wiring looks to be factory.  How were these lights turned on and off? Am I missing a switch somewhere?  I did climb in the trunk and close to the point just short of latching, and the light stayed on.

Thanks
T Lewis

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

The "switch" is a Mercury type, in the rear of the light socket.

Bruce.

[curly]

Not on this one???  I am familiar with mercury switches and found no evidence of one.  The bulb socket and wiring looked factory, at least to me. No signs that someone was cutting and splicing wires.
I'll post up a picture of the socket soon. I am going to guess that somewhere along the way, some one changed the bulb socket to a non- mercury switch type.
Funny thing about this is, I've owned the car since 1987, I never knew it had a trunk light.

Thanks
T Lewis

[57flw]

Here is a picture of mine from my 1957.

As you can see by the photo you would not even think there was a mercury switch in there!
I do not know if yours is supposed to be the same.

Ken

[n2caddies]

The mercury switch slips into the light socket between the bulb and the socket contact. They have a tendency to fall out and get lost. I'm sure they can be found at a local Wrecking yard.
Randy

[curly]

The picture Ken posted is the same as mine. That explains all the slop between the wire end and the bulb.  I'm not going to find any in a wrecking yard around me.  Does anyone remanufacture them?

T Lewis

[n2caddies]

I have an extra if you still need one.
Randy
ranlininc@aol.com

[curly]

email Sent
Tim