I am seeking information on the original AD wiper blade. Major after-market suppliers list it as a 10" straight blade. I am currently using a set of those on my truck. I hope to be able to track down an original pair with pliable rubber to use on my 1948 Chevy 1/2 ton truck. Thanks!
Hope you find the original pair, Luke. Here's what I've learned about that, however: There is a strong spring which holds the blade against the glass at the spot where the arm connects to the shaft (on the cowl). That spring over time rusts and will break. If it is gone, the wiper blade no longer works at all and replacing it will be tricky at best. You'll probably be better advised to buy a pair of replacement arms with new springs. The blade on the 1952 is an 11 inch blade, by the way and an original pair won't have pliable rubber any longer (unless somebody replaced that with new). Good luck.
~ Jon 1952 1/2 ton with 1959 235 | T5 with 3.07 rear end
I recently gleaned some information from a member of the VCCA who is a collector of NOS Trico wiper blades and arms. The OEM blade for 1947-1953 Chevy ½ ton trucks is the Trico 5-ply blade part # U-778/10”. This is better known as the “Polar Bear”, which is what Trico used in its marketing (note the polar bear profile of the clip). The blade has a hook at the top and works with the slotted saddle upper arm. I picked up a pair of these blades from him; the rubber was surprisingly pliable. I also was able to obtain a pair of the OEM Trico wiper arms as pictured. There is nothing like using OEM parts on our classic vehicles!
Does that say 1936 on the polar bear? What does it say above the date?
1950 Chevrolet 3100 (Ol' Roy)
1939 Packard Standard Eight Coupe (The Phantom) | 1956 Cadillac Coupe de Ville (The Bismarck) | 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 coupe |1966 Ford Mustang (Little Red) | 1969 Pontiac GTO (The Dishpit) I 1979 Ford F-100 | 1976 Ford F-150 (Big Red) | 1995 Ford F-150 (Newt)
