Horn button and ring

[jneely]

Based on photos of other 52 and 53 Aeros, and given recent revelations that my car may not be quite so complete and original as I'd initially thought, I wanted to inquire about my horn button.

My car had a rather tall rounded button on it when I got it. I grabbed a NOS replacement on ebay some time ago, when one came up. I've seen other cars with a very similar cover design, but are flat. Any insight as to what I have or should have, for that matter? Are there differences between model or year to year?

Also, Aeroman mentioned in another post that my 53 Eagle ought to have a full horn ring. I had not realized my car had one at all, until I recently spotted what's left of the spokes of it peeking out on the bottom of my wheel. Availability may ultimately dictate, but I would be curious to know what was original. Anyone have a lead on a replacement?

Thanks in advance

[MarkH]

I saw that mention of a full ring, likely so. My Lark has a half.

Take a look at the broken spurs behind your wheel arms, sometimes they break at the ends leaving a stub to show what you had.

I think the flat wheel center is a '52/'53 center, domed '54/'55 but my personal opinion is that late '53 might not have been all quite "according to Hoyle"

Horn rings had a lot of leverage on a weak design, decent ones are not plentiful. Don't pass if you find a solid one, if you find a better one someone will buy your extra. 

[Barnum]

I agree with Mark on late 53 cars. Though your horn button is 54....your car may have come that way.My early 54 Eagle has the dome button....My early 54 Lark had the flat version.

[Aeroman]

There's someone in Brazil that sells the full horn rings, don't remember who. I remember seeing the half-rings years ago and made an assumption that they were strategically broken off. That was wrong. The domed horn button showed up at first on the early 1954's and then the earlier flat-top version returned. I assumed (right or wrong) that, because my forearm kept hitting the domed button when steering that it was discontinued. Dunno fer shure. Horn rings are hens teeth, keep what you got and look for a better one.

[jneely]

I don't suppose you have a photo of what either or both full or half rings ought to look like? Just so that I know what I'm looking for... There isn't much useful left of mine as a reference.

I found the attached full ring photo from Mercado Livre.

[MarkH]

Half version. Filled most of the voids with JB weld hoping for bit more strength, and I've vowed to never push on the middle. I had a full version once, round top & bottom.

[Barnum]

I'll have to take a better picture....here is the full one in my Eagle

[edohan]

A picture of a full one in my 1955 Bermuda and my spare one!

[Aeroman]

Whenever I need to honk the horn, I put my fingers on the back side of the wheel spoke and push up. I broke a perfectly good full ring years ago out of ignorance.

[Aeroman]

I don't suppose you have a photo of what either or both full or half rings ought to look like? Just so that I know what I'm looking for... There isn't much useful left of mine as a reference.

I found the attached full ring photo from Mercado Livre.

This ring is for the Brazilian Aeros 1963 and newer.

[MarkH]

Whenever I need to honk the horn, I put my fingers on the back side of the wheel spoke and push up. I broke a perfectly good full ring years ago out of ignorance.

Never had a ring in mine while I was driving it. That's exactly how I'd honk my horn.