Stock electrical components for a 1961 Beetle??

[ams69hrs]

While sorting out the pile of boxes I purchased with the 1961 beetle I found these electrical components. Any idea if this is stock for this 1961 Beetle? What is it anyway - relay(s)? Many thanks in advance

[anthracitedub]

I don’t think that’s original equipment for your car.

[ams69hrs]

thanks anthracitedub, I got that impression too, but want to make sure.

[Frederik]

It looks like marchal relays, I think that set up was used as accessory headlight relays (to avoid voltage drop to the headlights) and maybe also fog/driving lights. Not specific to VW but might be cool of you have marchal headlights or fogs (if they work).

[anthracitedub]

I’d certainly keep them, look like some cool period 6 volt relays.

[ams69hrs]

I haven't seen any brackets or any other mounting point near the bumper being able to mount accessory lights or something like that. I assume that in the past a searchlight had been mounted, but that one is now gone.

I agree Frederik that it's not stock since it says "Made in France", Germans wouldn't use French stuff on their cars - they prefer Bosch, Hella f.e.

BTW, I couldn't find any brand-name.

Thanks folks!

[ams69hrs]

Frederik, I found this, you could be right by saying it's most likely Marchal

[wheel607]

[KTPhil]

The pairing, and even the white/yellow wire colors, suggest maybe there were both driving and fog lamps, and this dual-relay arrangement pairs them with low/high beam main headlights. I am guessing that's a fuse holder with the bakelite case?

[Frederik]

The marchal relays in pair connected together with the fuse holder on top (as topic) I've seen has been sold as accessory headlight relays for Volvos (but they were probably universal) one relay in the pair is for low and one high beam. Hella and Bosch also sold accessory dual headlight relays, marketed to get better headlights/less voltage drop. Especially recommended to add later on if converted to halogen.

Here is a nos one, notice the "volvo" on the box

[Frederik]

In this picture from a folder of Bosch accessory for Volkswagen from may 1960 you can see the Bosch accessory headlight relay next to the accessory washer bottle/ on top of the brake fluid reservoir

[ams69hrs]

This looks like mine Frederik. If I would go for extra lightning I would go for German equipment like relays, but also the lights. Thank for sharing this info.

[Frederik]

This is from the same Bosch folder. It has nothing to do with topic but as info. Fogs/curve light was usually not wired through a relay back then, but directly from generator regulator (or starter/battery) to a accessory fuse holder and through a accessory switch to the fog light.

The usual combination was to only have one accessory fog (fluted glass) sometimes in pair with one spot/driving light (lighly fluted/not fluted) on the bumper as in previous picture. The spot/driving light used a relay (and switch) to turn on with the high beams. The fog would be on the right side, spot on the left side (driving on the right side) or the opposite as in the pictures (driving on the left side).

From the early 50's Bosch also strongly marketed the accessory loud horn. The use was to switch to the loud horn and signaling before overtaking a truck (they were noicy back then and chance were that the original horn signal wasn't heard in the cockpit). It used a toggle switch to switch between stock and loud horn and a horn relay. The loud horn was also mounted on the bumper, usual combinations was one loud horn, one fog and one loud horn or one fog one spot and one load horn (as picture). You could also use two loud horns (high/low Hz) but it wasn't so usual on VW. But you could really combine it however you wanted.

[ams69hrs]

This is what I should get Frederik