Antique car electrics

Any antique car electrics experts in the forums? I am helping a friend with the electrics on a 1926 Peugeot car. On the dashboard / instrument panel there is a two handle main electric switch. It also has a central button at the bottom. The left handle has 4 positions labeled C,P,O,L and the right handle has 2 positions labeled M and O. The labels are embossed in the brass switch plate which is 84 mm dia, It is also marked "Etablis Ducellier" at the bottom and has a lovely embossed script "Peugeot" at the top.

My questions are

1. what do these initials C P O L and M O stand for (I assume they would be initials of French words, the car being made in France)

2. what did the central button on this switch operate? might be an electric horn, maybe a side searchlight, but it is not for the starter, the starter has a floor mounted pedal / button.

Thanks for any help. Bon soir.

"C" = commence = start

"O" = ordinaire = normal running position

possibly?

Just guesses I hasten to add. I'll think about the others.

O is a Zero = Off.

M = either Magneto, or Marche = Go = ignition switch.

The other switch is the lighting, so:

L = Lampes = Sidelights

P = Phares = Headlamps

C = Chemin = Highway = main beam or spotlight.

Which leaves the push button as the horn.

On my Citroen 2CV

D= demarrer = starter motor (Which happens to be a bowden cable to starter motor)

S= Start = Choke (Bowden cable to carburettor)

so I would say that

C= Connecter = Ignition On

0= Zero = Ignition Off

I have a 1914 Peugeot! Redsetter is correct on all accounts!

Thanks to all who replied! This is a great help in understanding the car's electrics.

Vintage Engineer - do you have any pictures of the connectors on the back of your switch on your 1914 Peugeot? One of the things we are doing on the 1926 machine is replacing the perished zinc die castings of the housing with machined aluminum ones. The originals have completely disintegrated by expanding internally and crumbling. As this happened the electrical connections fell out and were lost. We do plan to replace the connectors with bronze conductor parts and modern plastic insulators but would like to know what the originals looked like. Thanks again.

On older French stuff it seems to be normal that the dip switch also works in the sidelight position , so

L= on sides> sides only or dip

P= headlight> dip or main ( as is common in UK)

but of course I don't know if this is the case on your Peugeot

Edited By stevetee on 30/09/2019 12:19:45

Edited By stevetee on 30/09/2019 12:20:08

That's shone a light in some unusual places. I wonder if anyone will be proudly restoring their 2026 Peugeot in 2119?

Neil

Not sure. I will have a look at the weekend

Doubt it!

By 2026, no one will have made the electronic parts for a 2019 car, for YEARS.

Howard

The downside of modern cars is the amount of plastic they use, will something like a plastic inlet manifold fall to bits in 50 years?

Moderators - Could I ask that these posts about restoring current cars in the future be moved elsewhere? This thread was intended for antique car electrics as the title says. I welcome any comments on the 1926 Peugeot electrics or other antique car electrics matters but don't want to wade through piles of speculation on the future.

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Edited By Michael Gilligan on 01/10/2019 19:56:28

I have never been on a forum where every answer conforms to the wishes of the OP. Do the moderators have to keep coming back time after time ad infinitum to move posts that are not to the OP's liking ? I agree that it can be a little tedious wading through off topic posts but a little wading can be fun some times. Off topic posts are a fact of life as far as I know. . It does not matter how much you try to moderate them they still keep coming and we learn a little more each time. regards

Jeff,

you may be able to get a second hand switch from Depanoto that is in better condition than yours our helpyou with seeing what is required.

I have often managed to get parts for my Renault NN sent to NZ.

Neil

Thanks for the Depanoto lead Neil, much appreciated.

Old switches are a serious problem with vintage cars. Yes, the castings (zinc or aluminium) are falling apart (or are long gone), but the wiring diagrams are usually devoid of any explanation of what the switch does, exactly. Only in the 1970s did we get sensible switch internal contact diagrams - from the Japanese.

I have a series of wiring diagrams for British, European, and American cars of this era, so let me know if I could help. If so, please specify the makes of components required, not just the car makers.

Cheers, Tim

Thanks Tim, from my first post -

" I am helping a friend with the electrics on a 1926 Peugeot car. On the dashboard / instrument panel there is a two handle main electric switch. It also has a central button at the bottom. The left handle has 4 positions labeled C,P,O,L and the right handle has 2 positions labeled M and O. The labels are embossed in the brass switch plate which is 84 mm dia, It is also marked "Etablis Ducellier" at the bottom and has a lovely embossed script "Peugeot" at the top."

If you happen to have a wiring diagram for this car (or similar Peugeot cars, in years close to 1926, or for the Ducellier firm's products) I'd be glad to have a copy by PM.

Thanks for any help.

Jeff please see your messages ----- but briefly I was on a fishing trip in Scotland last year and we all stayed with a mutual pal who has lots of old "stuff" among this was a Peugeot pickup from the 1920's so contacted him and although not a forum member has has some info that may be useful

John