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Cadillac & LaSalle Club Forums => Technical / Authenticity => Topic started by: 49caddyman on April 28, 2014, 04:42:18 PM

Title: NOS 1948-49 Cadillac washer bottle, lid & pump. Interesting observations
Post by: 49caddyman on April 28, 2014, 04:42:18 PM
I bought a NOS 1948-49 Cadillac windshield washer bottle, complete with lid, pump, mounting bracket, and large installation/instruction sheet, all in the original Cadillac box, some time ago.
   I find a couple of things interesting when looking at this NOS unit.  #1, there is NO decal on the pump whatsoever.  I've seen many "restored" units that have had a semi-circular decal applied to the face of the pump.  This may be incorrect, judging from the NOS original unit.
   #2:  The original decal on the NOS unit is a much darker blue, and has dark orange..almost red, lettering, whereas the repro decals are a brighter blue & have white lettering.  Any comments on this?  The 1st  photo show the NOS unit.  The 2nd photo shows the "restored" unit .  The 3rd photo shows the "restored" unit on the left, the NOS on the right, for comparison purposes. 
   Any comments/observations on this from anyone?  Joe Cutler
Title: Re: NOS 1948-49 Cadillac washer bottle, lid & pump. Interesting observations
Post by: Bill Ingler #7799 on April 28, 2014, 05:34:38 PM
Hi Joe: According to the 42-47 Authenticity Manual the decal on your NOS bottle was used on the 46-47 bottles and the decal on the restored bottle was used on the 42 bottle. I can`t find my 41 Authenticity Manual but I believe the decal on the restored bottle was also used on the 41 bottle. Someone with a Authenticity Manual past 47 can answer if the decal on the 46-47 bottle continued on through the following years. The 42-47 Authenticity Manual shows nothing on any decal used on the pump. I have seen that small decal on pumps but never have seen any Cadillac material showing that decal as original to Cadillac.  Bill
Title: Re: NOS 1948-49 Cadillac washer bottle, lid & pump. Interesting observations
Post by: Jay Friedman on April 28, 2014, 06:50:58 PM
Joe, the windshield washer bottle (and bracket) in the current photo on page 24 of the 48-49 Authenticity Manual has an orange and blue decal on the bottle and not a blue and white decal as does your restored bottle.  I don't know if it is exactly the same color as the decal on your NOS bottle.

I suggest you send the photo of the NOS bottle and decal to Bill Anderson, CLC Director of Technical Services, as he may want to incorporate it into the latest printing of the 48-49 Authenticity Manual.  He could substitute your photo for the photo on page 24.  If you have a bracket in good shape I suggest you take a new photo with the bottle in the bracket
Title: Re: NOS 1948-49 Cadillac washer bottle, lid & pump. Interesting observations
Post by: 49caddyman on April 29, 2014, 06:34:28 AM
Jay:  The mounting bracket shown with the NOS bottle on the riht in the "comparison photo" IS a NOS mounting bracket.  To further expound/clarify things, inside the NOS box with the bottle, lid, pump, & bracket is a large instruction/installation sheet (which is quite interesting in itself!), measuring 14" x 21".  At the top of this sheet is a large "Cadillac" script, under this, the heading, in block letters, that says: "INSTRUCTIONS FOR INSTALLING WINDSHIELD WASHER"  Under this is printed: "All 1949 Series Cadillac Cars".  The sheet is full of detailed drawings & diagrams, & has a chart showing all the various hoses needed, with I.D. & length.  One column lists the hoses needed for series 60,61, & 62.  Another column lists hoses needed for model 75.  At the bottom of this sheet is printed: "Manufactured by Trico Products Corp., Buffalo 3, N.Y."
   I feel that this sheet helps substantiate the "claim" that this NOS unit, as pictured, is exactly what these units looked like, at least for the 1949 model cars.  Joe     I'll take a photo of this sheet & post it.
Title: Re: NOS 1948-49 Cadillac washer bottle, lid & pump. Interesting observations
Post by: Brad Ipsen CLC #737 on April 29, 2014, 09:47:24 PM
I don't know anything about these 1949 washer fluid bottles but from my experience in 1938, 1939 and 40 authenticity questions I would not jump to any conclusion on an item supplied as a part from the dealer.  If it fit and worked numerous replacement parts from the factory were not the same as were put on the car at the time of manufacturer.  Colors of decals would not be a worry for the parts dept. at Cadillac in 1950 if it did not match the one in 1949.
Title: Re: NOS 1948-49 Cadillac washer bottle, lid & pump. Interesting observations
Post by: Jay Friedman on April 29, 2014, 10:51:43 PM
Brad, I think you are right that "authenticity" was not a concern back when our cars were new, so no telling what any part will look like 60+ years later.  However, I think it's reasonable to say that it is "likely", though not "absolutely positive", that the factory example would be the same as an NOS example found at a dealership. 

(I can imagine the scene at the Cad factory if a supplier's shipment was late and they ran low on some nut or bolt as the assembly line was going by: "Hey Mike, run to the hardware store down the street and get a few of them quick or we'll have to stop the line".)

In any case, as far as this specific example is concerned, the orange and blue decal "seems" to be the one used in '49 as Joe found.  Also, Bill Ingler backs this up too by saying it was used 42-47 and that the blue and white decal was used in 42 and maybe 41.  This is how many decisions of this type are made for the authenticity manuals. 

Joe and I are both on the 49 authenticity committee and this is the sort of thing we sometimes spend lots of time debating.  It's a good thing we are both retired and don't have day jobs to go to. 
Title: Re: NOS 1948-49 Cadillac washer bottle, lid & pump. Interesting observations
Post by: Jeff Maltby 4194 on May 12, 2014, 11:18:00 PM
Joe's Nos unit is 100% correct and matches my Nos pump-bottle and bracket, which took me years to find it all less a lid, having purchased them separately, including the brass p/u tube.

The decal on page 24 is totally incorrect being 4" x 2.6", as are all the others on the market least for 48-9. The only "correct transparent decal" made to date was by the New England chapter that they offered in the early 90's in the SS that matches this one.

Great find here Joe and please post the instructions ASAP :<)
Title: Re: NOS 1948-49 Cadillac washer bottle, lid & pump. Interesting observations
Post by: Jeff Maltby 4194 on May 31, 2014, 05:14:17 PM
Don't ask me how much I paid back in the day :<(