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Fri Aug 11, 2006 8:12 am

Hi guys, In one of the threads I read on the Samba someone mentioned that semaphores are date coded. I was unaware of this. Where is this info on the semaphore? I looked over a used pair and an NOS pair I have and couldn't find anything. Thanks for your help,
Peter

Fri Aug 11, 2006 7:09 pm

I've never seen a date code on a semaphore. I'd say I've fondled at least 20 over the years. I'm not saying there isn't a date, maybe it was applied infrequently.

Fri Aug 11, 2006 7:20 pm

The way you can tell the date is by the part number, just like any VW part. The letter at the end of the part number lets you know if it’s early or late in production. The first version of the part usually has no letter at the end then the first change will have an “A” then “B” and so on. This is a good general rule but there are always exceptions like a letter was never added. The split bug parts have a different number system so they are really easy to tell they are for a split. Check this out and it will tell you just what you need. Matt is a great seller I have bought things from him in the past and he does first class business.

http://www.mattsparts.com/resource/reference.htm

Fri Aug 11, 2006 7:48 pm

While that is true, Peter was refering to a post where the guy claimed his 2 sets of semaphores had a month/year date code.

If anyone can peg the dates when semaphores were modified, let's have them.

111 953 021 A SHO
111 953 021 B SWF
111 953 021 C SHO
111 953 021 D SWF
111 953 021 E SHO
111 953 021 F SWF

Sat Aug 12, 2006 6:15 am

Go here for chart:

http://mattsparts.com/resource/reference.htm

Sat Aug 12, 2006 7:29 am

SWFs are date-coded on the side of the base, near the top, with a two-letter code (month, then year) stamped into the metal. I don't have any grooved or ribbed semaphores to look at, but here's the info for smooth ones:

Month: A-M, January - December (I is not used)
Year: F-1954, G-1955, H-1956, J-1957, K-1958, L-1959, M-1960

SHO date codes are stamped on the back, on both sides of the locking tab with two sets of numbers; year (last one or two digits) followed by month (also last one or two digits). SHO produced replacement semaphores at least through 1968.

the VW nine-digit part numbering system was phased in late-1954/early 1955. The Oct '54 SWF semaphores from my Nov '54 Beetle are the earliest date-coded part I've seen with the new numbering system. I also have a Jan '55 SWF cabriolet semaphore with the old-style part number.

Sun Aug 13, 2006 10:15 am

I have 2 "K" lenses which i am told are both NOS.. One reads Gluhlampe 3 Watt before the SWF, and the other has nothing before the SWF. other theen that and a VW logo their codes are identical. We 160-141/62 ~~~K 2679... Is the one without German writing, and the VW logo an aftermarket?

Sun Aug 13, 2006 10:46 am

Here is a "parts" semaphore for reference:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=296052

Is this July, 1954?

Sun Aug 13, 2006 11:30 am

EverettB wrote: Here is a "parts" semaphore for reference:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=296052

Is this July, 1954?

That would be my guess. The original SHOs from my Jan '55 Beetle are marked 5\1.

Tue Aug 15, 2006 1:32 am

Here are some of the codes on the semaphores I have:

8/8 ----111 953 021C SHO, matched pair--[Aug 58]
4/12---111 953 021A SHO ----------------- [Dec 54]
2/60---111 953 021E SHO ----------------- [Feb 60]
5/62---111 953 021E SHO ------------------[May 62]
11/9---111 953 021E SHO ------------------[Nov 59]
4/6 ----L143.001.2 --SHO, matched pair.-[Jun 54]

The stamping for the date code on that last one is exactly the same as the one in the pic Everett posted. Bold 4 and faint 6.

The stampings on the SWF semaphores is really faint.
HK 111 953 021D SWF [Aug 58, or Oct 56?]
CG 111 953 021B SWF [Mar 55]

Tue Aug 15, 2006 12:56 pm

Once again the Samba' nistas come through. Would I be correct in assuming that the any semaphore body that is cad plated is a later production? By cad plated I mean yellow,green orange cast to the metal base. I had heard somewhere in the past that this coating (Cadmuim 2?) was used after 1974. I may be misinformed but I was under the impression that the silvery finish is correct for orginal semaphore bodies. IS this accurate or am I just full of it? Once again thanks for all of the info.
Peter

Tue Aug 15, 2006 3:17 pm

a57oval wrote: Once again the Samba' nistas come through. Would I be correct in assuming that the any semaphore body that is cad plated is a later production? By cad plated I mean yellow,green orange cast to the metal base. I had heard somewhere in the past that this coating (Cadmuim 2?) was used after 1974. I may be misinformed but I was under the impression that the silvery finish is correct for orginal semaphore bodies. IS this accurate or am I just full of it? Once again thanks for all of the info.
Peter

Would they still have been making replacement semaphores in 1974? I doubt it, especially since the TUV inspections started requiring German cars to be converted to turnsignals long before then.

I was buying them in Germany back in 78-79 and the only ones I ever saw were old stock sitting on shelves in parts stores, but they had been there forever. By that time it was no longer something anyone really stocked, but they usually had a set or two on a shelf somewhere.

Tue Aug 15, 2006 3:35 pm

Bruce wrote: Here are some of the codes on the semaphores I have:

8/8 ----111 953 021C SHO, matched pair--[Aug 58]
4/12---111 953 021A SHO ----------------- [Dec 54]
2/60---111 953 021E SHO ----------------- [Feb 60]
5/62---111 953 021E SHO ------------------[May 62]
11/9---111 953 021E SHO ------------------[Nov 59]
4/6 ----L143.001.2 --SHO, matched pair.-[Jun 54]

The stamping for the date code on that last one is exactly the same as the one in the pic Everett posted. Bold 4 and faint 6.

The stampings on the SWF semaphores is really faint.
HK 111 953 021D SWF [Aug 58, or Oct 56?]
CG 111 953 021B SWF [Mar 55]

Semaphores in 62? I dont think so buddy

I silver cad the ones I restore.

NOS GOLD CAD
These are SWF part#111953021F

Tue Aug 15, 2006 3:45 pm

Twin, I seem to remember that all the NOS ones I used to get in Germany had black arms, not primer like those ones in the photo. Am I remembering wrong?

Tue Aug 15, 2006 3:49 pm

twinwindowsJHC wrote: Semaphores in 62? I dont think so buddy

When did semaphores end in the European VW market?

Tue Aug 15, 2006 3:59 pm

coad wrote: Twin, I seem to remember that all the NOS ones I used to get in Germany had black arms, not primer like those ones in the photo. Am I remembering wrong?

You are correct coad, I put primer on this set to paint for a car getting worked on

Tue Aug 15, 2006 6:23 pm

twinwindowsJHC wrote: Bruce wrote: Here are some of the codes on the semaphores I have:

8/8 ----111 953 021C SHO, matched pair--[Aug 58]
4/12---111 953 021A SHO ----------------- [Dec 54]
2/60---111 953 021E SHO ----------------- [Feb 60]
5/62---111 953 021E SHO ------------------[May 62]
11/9---111 953 021E SHO ------------------[Nov 59]
4/6 ----L143.001.2 --SHO, matched pair.-[Jun 54]

Semaphores in 62? I dont think so buddy

Ever hear of spare parts? Plenty of spare parts were made long after those parts disappeared from production.

Tue Aug 15, 2006 8:44 pm

No I never herd of spare parts.... I`m just saying VW never put them on cars in 62

I would like to see a picture of the one you have from 62 (Detailed shot) if that's the last year of production.

Tue Aug 15, 2006 9:31 pm

I have a set of split window regulators-one has 7/51 as the date and the other has 1/62. So they made old style regulators until at least '62. If they really made spare semaphores until '68, then it makes sense.

Tue Aug 15, 2006 9:38 pm

twinwindowsJHC wrote: No I never herd of spare parts.... I`m just saying VW never put them on cars in 62

I would like to see a picture of the one you have from 62 (Detailed shot) if that's the last year of production.

I never said it came off a 62 VW. The fact that it has a black outer cover leads me to conclude it was a parts dept item, not from any car.