Thursday, December 30, 2010

old thing quiz





looks like i will go with the flow. icemoon ends the year with a 'where is this building in s'pore' quiz, victor koo has his usual 'old building' quiz and chun see's is 'can you identify this place?'. my last posting for 2011 is a quiz based on something old.

senior citizens, with the exception of icemoon, should have no problem providing the answer to this quiz but those who belong to the post-65 generation may not have seen this device. it was in use between 1948 and 1961. of course, you can still see them but they are indeed rare.

quiz questions:

1 what is the almost rectangular shaped thing in that slot?

2 what is the proper name for it?
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21 comments:

  1. Uncle PhilDecember 30, 2010 at 4:44 PM

    Hi yg,
    I know the answer but I'll let icemoon have a go. A Prosperous and Happy New Year to you and your family.
    Cheers,
    Phil

    ReplyDelete
  2. 小洋December 30, 2010 at 5:48 PM

    Hi yg,

    My brother used to own a car with a similar gadget in the early sixties.

    Wish you and your family a Happy and Prosperous New Year.

    ReplyDelete
  3. peterDecember 30, 2010 at 5:56 PM

    traffic light indicator? my father's/uncles' Volkswagen had one. The fun began for us cousins when it refused to come out of its receptacle. We used our fingers to dig the thing out.

    ReplyDelete
  4. nahDecember 30, 2010 at 6:20 PM

    Ya, this old stuff can go up, but will have to come down, when the job is done.

    ReplyDelete
  5. KeithDecember 30, 2010 at 6:49 PM

    I owned a beetle before in the 80s, which was probably manufactured in the 70s. My car didn't have this gadget. And therefore I have no idea what this gadget is.

    ReplyDelete
  6. donDecember 30, 2010 at 8:07 PM

    1. they're turn signals
    2. semaphores

    ReplyDelete
  7. stanleyDecember 30, 2010 at 10:36 PM

    I think it is the car's right hand/left hand signal indicator. Looks like the car is a Morris minor of the 60s.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Lam Chun SeeDecember 30, 2010 at 10:37 PM

    I believe it is the object that I blogged about here. Surprised that your vehicle is so new. Was the photo taken in Australia?

    ReplyDelete
  9. ygDecember 31, 2010 at 3:20 AM

    phil, icemoon has gone on holiday.

    ReplyDelete
  10. ygDecember 31, 2010 at 3:23 AM

    xiaoyang, in the 50sand early 60s, this gadget was commonly seen.
    best wishes for 2011.

    ReplyDelete
  11. ygDecember 31, 2010 at 3:28 AM

    peter, must have been the earlier model. late 60s, the vw came with the light indicator.
    those days, we travelled in cars with the windows wound down, so could use hand signal when the indicator was stuck.

    ReplyDelete
  12. ygDecember 31, 2010 at 3:30 AM

    nah, some forgetful ones left theirs sticking out even after the job was done.

    ReplyDelete
  13. ygDecember 31, 2010 at 3:38 AM

    don, semaphores is a generic name. there is a specific name for it.

    ReplyDelete
  14. ygDecember 31, 2010 at 3:38 AM

    stanley, you are right. it was on a morris minor.

    ReplyDelete
  15. ygDecember 31, 2010 at 3:40 AM

    chun see, i am sure i would be able to see such a classic car in australia but this one i saw in s'pore.

    ReplyDelete
  16. ygDecember 31, 2010 at 3:42 AM

    keith, it was found on cars manufactured between the late 40s and early 60s.

    ReplyDelete
  17. LeeDecember 31, 2010 at 2:35 PM

    Hi YG, I'll take a pass on this, but just dropped by wish you and family a very happy new year. Best regards, Lee.

    ReplyDelete
  18. donDecember 31, 2010 at 3:04 PM

    trafficators ?

    ReplyDelete
  19. ygDecember 31, 2010 at 3:06 PM

    lee, but you would have seen this on cars in the early 60s.

    ReplyDelete
  20. VictorJanuary 1, 2011 at 5:04 PM

    Don is right. It is called a trafficator. Refer to its Wikipedia entry here.

    ReplyDelete
  21. DavidMarch 6, 2012 at 1:14 AM

    This type was electrically operated. I remember seeing manual ones on lorries. Though I must say very rare even in the 50s. Its a rod about 1 1/2 ft. length. At the end of it is a hand with a pointing fore finger. I believe it operates like see saw - pull down one end inside the cab and the hand is raised.

    ReplyDelete