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I decided to treat myself to a new rear license plate bracket w/light for my 56 pickup. I procured it from a local supplier here in Orange County, CA. I won't name the supplier as they all get their stuff from the same place. It is a nice piece, sturdy, powder coated, and it bolted on in good order. I hooked up the light, turned on the switch and --- nothing! I got out my test light, got power to connector, pulled the bulb, tested it, OK. Subsequently checked the bulb contact terminal, OK. What I discovered is that the idiots powder coated the entire unit including inside the light socket. I got out my Dremmel tool and ice pick and cleaned out the contact areas. And it works, Wow! So much for quality control, quite clearly no one checked the light operation on this one or the likely hundreds that they produced. Also, the original may have had a brass sleeve or at least been anodized for the bulb contact area. So now I have a bare steel socket and even with some electrical grease it will likely rust. This appears to be another indicator of what the future of the parts supply looks like!
Fred

Fred,

Did you get it from Brothers? If so, they would probably appreciate hearing about your experience so they can correct the problem. If it were mine I would exchange it for one that was made properly to avoid having to worry about rust later that you mention.

I’m surprised it actually bolted on without incident... that happens very frequently in my experience.

Fred I had the same problem with mine also, a few years back.

I have taken parts back to my local supplier that were of poor quality or needed to be modified to be able to use. What I got was a "deer in headlights" stare or a comment that they had sold many of them and no one else has had a problem. (It must be me). I'm sure they put them back on the shelf with no further action taken. That's about as good as it gets.
Fred

hi Fred, and all,
i have had similar issues with some reproduction parts
the latest insult was the chrome rear tail lamp bezels for AD 47-53 trucks
most of the ones online all come from some common source and are all terrible.
thinner than originals, poor quality plating, will not fit original tail light housings or lenses.

and if you massage them to fit chrome plating cracks and flakes covering you in chrome glitter.
i have resorted to finding original lamps in the wreaking yard and fixing those.
i tossed my new tail lamp chromes in my scrap metal pile
-s

I just received a pair of stainless steel tail lights for my '49. They are LED. I got them from Classicparts.com

My ign. switch turns on & off with any key, screwdriver, or coin. I bought a new switch & tumbler from one of the major specialty parts place near me. I put them in & it was the same way. I took them back & got the curiosity going on everyone in there. They started bringing more of them out of stock & they all are the same way. It was a popular brand of reproduction parts. I don't know what came out of it but I'm not going to tell were I park my truck.

George

hi George,
in my local city near my truck, there is a key place that can still cut keys for the original ignition locks even if you don't have an original key
they find the small 4 digit number in the lock, then they call some play they know who can cross reference that code to the cut depth numbers to load into the key making machine
then it cuts a key that is perfect and better than a copy
they found the number on my glove box lock and made me a new key for it this way
so if you want a actual ignition key, find one in a wrecking yard, and bring it to a good lock shop and they should be able to help you out
the place i am speaking of charge about $20 CAD for this task, including a $4.50 key blank.
the glove box lock in question came from a 53 1 ton in my junk pile.

hi Carl,
i didn't try the LEDs as i was gonna stick to original technology for my current most beloved 1 ton that i spend most of my time on.
i'm happy for everyone who finds joy in their versions of caring for these old trucks and we all have different preferences.
i love looking at what the various modifications and choices people make on their vehicles, it means no two are alike and i love that.

i would be curious to see the results of a test fit of any parts from that LED lamp that could be swapped onto original parts like housing and lenses.
i found that the modern bezel would not stretch onto my original tail lamp housing,
and it's not that the housing was expanded, the original lens won't fit inside the modern bezel either.
the old stuff is all a bit larger in some critical areas which makes fitting it together a challenge.
upon close inspection the same lamp bezel is for sale at most places online, the stamping marks on the inside and the wrong drain hold position are a give away that they are all common sourced.
-s