Dealer accessory from 1953?????

[48ply]

The pictured items were called curb feelers, and were attached at the bottom of the wheel well opening.? They were used to alert the driver that he was getting too close to the curb. Protection from scuffing the white walls.
The fender guides that you do see on Ebay have a longer shaft with a lighted plastic top that allows you to see where the fender is right before the crunch.
The curb feelers that are shown were the super deluxe models. The after market ones were about 10/12 ga spring steel with about 10coils at the fender end, and had come out in 50 or 51.

AL?

[Ping]

Fender guides.  A mechanics nightmare.  Imagine rolling around under a car to repair it and having those sticking in your sides, eyes, etc........My father being a mechanic hated them. I think some actually disapeared.  :)   John

[Go Fleiter]

The springs seem to be  a safety feature to me. Thanks for the term "fender guides". Explains exactly! Go.

[Wm Steed]

The items you are referring to are generally called 'fender guides' . This type of accessory was very popular in the 1940's, early 50'. Most of them had lights built into the top, some of the lights were shaped like the emblems of the car, ie; Indian heads ect.  The purpose of the item was as already stated, so the driver would have an idea where the edge of the fender was in vehicles that had "fat fenders" which the drive could not see.

Have you ever noticed the very narrow driveways that the older homes built in the 1920's/30's have leading to the garage located in the back yard? Imagine trying to get a late model car between the house/fence without taking a fender off.  The Low Rider's really like the old fender marker lights, they go well with the visors, spot lights, skirts and headlight shades. Large trucks still use the markers so the driver can identify where the fender/bumper edge is.

At any given time you can find the fender marker lights on ebay, usually under 'lighting, antique' or Guide Lights....Bill

[38tech]

I noticed, what appears to be springs located at the base of each rod.
Growing up I remember seeing items such as these located down around the wheels to let the driver know he's getting close to the curb. They were to protect the tires & rims from getting damaged.
What purpose would the "springy rod" have if it was located on top of the fender as shown in the picture?

[Andy Wylie]

They're called fender guides on eBay.

[Go Fleiter]

seem to be orientation marker pins. We had tall ones on truck fenders or bumpers , here thy are called "Peil Stangen".( No fine english match found in my 8000+ pages  dictionary!)
greetings! Go

[my33ply]

They look to be guides to show the driver where the edge of the fender is. It's almoist impossible to see the fenders from the drivers seat.

[jd2ksilver]

No idea, but my guess is flag stanchions  (sp)   to hold little flags... :P

[XmikeyX]

Anyone know what these are called. They attach behind the chrome ring of the head lights.

Im thinking about throwing them up on ebay.