The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts Look at these blinkers

are these the right blinkers for a 1949 COE Chevy truck? Looks as tho it originally had tear drop style lights on top of the fenders. Thanks in advance for chiming in.

http://sdrv.ms/146PVkI

Wait to hear from a bog truck guy, like Spanky.

I think the lamps that were used (GM option or accessory) are like the style like the one you have - two-sided "can".

The tear-drop markings are from a non-GM lamp.

While they are vintage to the period none of those lights are "originals." Here is a dealer example of the add-on lights other versions were available at Sears, Montogomery-Wards and others.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/advance-design_parts_co/8257444887/in/set-72157632208362076
Here is a view of how a COE would have come from the factory other then the required lamps everything else was a dealer add-on.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/advance-design_parts_co/8131106977/in/set-72157631872034068
You will notice there are no lights above the headlights.

Those are indeed double side Guide glass lens D68 Turnsignals. Brad the ones you have pictured are the single sided Guide D68's,like the ones on my '52 GMC COE. Both were available from GM Dealers, as optional accessories. I have a page in my GMC accessories catalog of both styles. I used to have 8-10 sets of those, some NOS, some I restored. Had no trouble selling them. Those tear drop looking lights that were on there, were cab clearance lights someone probably had there at one time. Never seen anyone put them there before. I've owned close to thirty GM COE's through the years, & the Guide Lamps were on most of them. If you click into the link below of my '50 GMC 1 ton, you'll see a set of the single sided D68's on it.

Goob, Is that your Chevy COE 5400 series truck? I'd like to see more photos of it, if possible.

Hi Spanky. I was hoping to catch up with you, or you catch up with me. I figured a COE with a Holmes wrecker would be good bait. I'm going to need some 515 wrecker parts. Here are some pics...

Goob

http://sdrv.ms/19ULDEW

Wow, that is just plain cool!
What are your plans?

WOW !, Now that really turns my crank. That's my kinda truck sho nuff ! What do you need ? I know right off the bat, I have an original crank handle for it. Got a few other odds, & ends laying around for a 515, & 525. I've got more W35, & W45 stuff at the moment. I'm trying to talk a friend of mine into buying the '53 Chevy COE Holmes 525, that I used to own (now near New Orleans). If that happens his Holmes 515, will be available, for parts, if needed. Yours would look good with doubled front bumpers, like they used to do Wreckers back inthe day, before Wrecker manufacturers came out with their own push bumpers. That's a neat truck, you have. Do you know any of it's History ?

I do know it's history. It first lived in Ysleta Texas and the people I got it from bought it in 1956 !

Mr Shellhorn has passed but I have been dealing with his wife and son for the past 5 years trying to buy this truck. Here is my introduction to the site...

"I recently purchased a 1949 Chevrolet COE 5 window with a Holmes 515E Wrecker. I have been trying to purchase this
truck for about 5 years and finally got it. It is a bone stock, well used truck that worked every road in-between Silver City and Quemado, NM
from 1956, when they purchased it, until the mid 90's. It then sat beside their Garage until two weeks ago when I bought it."

I've always wanted a COE. Didn't think I would ever have a chance to own one. It really turns my crank TOO !

They promised me this winter they would find pictures of it working back in the day

Texas !, That explains that oil field rigging front bumper, that was on the front. I was scratching my head on that one. What do you think you're going to need for it. Looks like you're well on your way to restoring it. Do you plan to keep it as original, & period correct as possible? I found a couple of NOS rounded amber beacon light lenes on ebay. Sirenman.com ,also has them, if i'm not mistaken. How bad are your rear fenders? Have you seen photos of the '53 Chevy COE Holmes 525 I had, & the '52 GMC COE Holmes W35, I'm putting together ?

They told me the front bumper was for ballast. The son told me his Dad put those bumpers ( full of concrete ) on because when pulling cars out of the canyon they couldn't keep the front end on the ground.

I have a gear missing a couple of teeth and a poor spoke repair. The rear bed rails are both torn up at that back. Both rear fenders are real beat up but it's such good steel I think I can repair them.

I really want to try to keep as original as I can. BUT I suspect after less than 100 miles of getting it on the road I'm going to be frustrated with how little power it has. I live at 8600 feet elevation and very steep roads in every direction. Not a lot of options, I know. I'll cross that bridge when I get there.

When I get to the serious part of going back together i'll either PM you or give you a call with a list.

Nice to meet you, glad you like it.

I have several Holmes Catalogs from that era, that if, you're interested, I can part with one of your choice. The "E", in 515E means it was ordered with a Holmes Hi-Speed Towing Cradle.

Thanks Spanky, that would be great. Any type of service/repair or shop manual will help. Didn't get a towing cradle or any goodies with the deal.

Go back to the seller and see if they still have it...it might be laying around and they think it's scrap steel not knowing what it is.

Check out Spanky's pictures to see what it looks like...don't let it get away if you can help it, they are very hard to find.

Mike B

Spanky,

What happened to your webshot pictures?

Mike B

Webshots changed their format. Unfortunately, all those pictures are lost.

... I hope you have copies somewhere...

Mike B

We'll see if we can get some of Spanky's stuff in the Bolt Bucket.

A lot of people lost their stuff when Webshots did ... whatever it was they did.

Peg

The webshots deal messed up a lot of us. I need to do a lot more toward backing up all files I lost a lot of great photos and still haven't learned how to use photo bucket having trouble sharing my new photos with all of you.
BTW Peggy great new avatar wow!!! Oh sorry John LOL

Are you worried about going fast or getting the job done? I just moved to NY from GA. One trip probably 60K gross with a '60 International R190 semi with a 501 straight 6 and another trip probably 25-30K gross with my '51 International wrecker with a 450 straight 6. Both made it fine, but going up hills was slow especially with the semi. Get some good bright lights on the back for hazards and enjoy your truck original if you wish to....it has more than enough power to get there....speed is just the issue.

Tad