The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts Clearance light.

I just found a truck and it has this clearance light ,is this original it appears to be glass and thick. You can see on photo bucket. Thanks

I'm not sure any clearance lights are "original " in that the GM truck rolled off the assembly line with them? Were they dealer installed? At some point/year GM did install lights new, but I'm thinking this was after the 50's?

The light you pictured is a KD 517, it is old enough to be on the truck from about new. That's my favorite model clearance light, nice heavy glass lens and good style. I've collects couple sets of NOS ones for my trucks and some spare lenses, which came red, amber, and clear. I might still need one more clear.

Grigg

They were likely dealer installed as Gregg said, as were the fender mounted directionals. A dealer option package.

I think I'm going to see if I can savage and rechrome them turn into fender mount turn signals

I haven't looked lately but I was finding them on eBay and at swap meets new for far less than restoring old rusty ones would cost. The bottom housings where the socket is are usually pretty rusty and disappearing. Might look around before spending serious money on new chrome.

Kd 517, Do Ray 410, & Electroline N4 clearance lamps were indeed the most commonly used Clearance lights installed on '47-'54 GM trucks. They were pictured in the Chevrolet, & GMC Truck Accessoriy Catalogs. They were mainly installed at the Dealership, after delivery, but I have actually seen Factory photos with them already on the truck.

Good to know, thanks Spanky!

Oh, I have 6 old trucks all them just newer plastic. And I never really paid attention till Sunday. I'll shop for them. Buying is cheaper than chroming. Here in KC it a chromed anymore that I know of.

I've noticed here lately an increase in the pricing of vintage glass lens clearance lights. You used to be able to snare them off ebay, for little to nothing, now a nice NOS set will run you $100 easy. There's one guy I know of that advertises lots of vintage lights on ebay,at high prices, but doesn't seem to actually sell that much. i believe others are taking his lead, on pricing now. I sold a nice pair of Electroline N4s (which were the Cadillac of lights back then) not long ago for $50. I'm seeing them sell for over $100 a pair now.

Unless a truck was engaged in interstate commerce, each state had their own regulations as to the number and placement and number of lights required. For that reason, I doubt that many two tons left the factory with lights.
Back in 2003 I found boxes of lights we had in Stock since 50's. I considered them obsolete and put them in the dumpster. I never dreamed they would bring big bucks on eBay.

The few times I've seen Factory photos with clearance lights, they always had just two lights. I guess that could have been a standard application.