Tung Sol AP 373 Turn Signal Flasher

[Chuck G.]

It's pretty common knowledge that the Tung Sol AP 373 was used in 63 Corvettes without back up lights. That's the aluminum can flasher with "3 LAMP" on the end.

Recently, wandering around a swap meet, in the $1.00 box, I picked up this flasher. It's a Tung Sol AP 373S. Never seen one like it. It's "dated" H 5 6 3.

Here are a few pictures. Anybody know the usage?

I have a "regular" Tung Sol AP 373 in my 63 Corvette presently. I'm just curious about this one.

TIA.

Chuck

[Jack H.]

Re: Tung Sol AP 373 Turn Signal Flasher

It's my belief the suffix code (none, 'V', 'S') designated a specific packaging format (short vs. tall can). But, that's not 'Gospel'.

[Chuck G.]

Re: Tung Sol AP 373 Turn Signal Flasher

Here's a lousy pic of an AP 373 Tung Sol. (no S after the 373)

This is the one that has "3 LAMP" on the end....nothing else.

This is the typical one you see. This is the one in my 63 Corvette, BTW.

The size of this "373" and the size of the "373S" are identical.

Chuck

[Todd B.]

Re: Tung Sol AP 373 Turn Signal Flasher

Chuck:

This is the flasher that was in my very early '64 (#347) when I got it. It is a 373S "dated" H 7 6 3. I have no idea if it is original to the car or not.

Does anyone know the "date" format on these? I also have an NOS AP373V that is "dated" H 8 6 2. Is the first digit the month and the next two digits the year?





Thanks,
Todd

[Chuck G.]

Re: Tung Sol AP 373 Turn Signal Flasher

Todd, the flasher that you depict appears to be identical to the one I purchased at the Moultrie, GA flea market.

Not sure of the date format. Some I've spoken with have suggested that the "H" is a plant source code.

They have also suggested that the first two numbers are the week of the year, and the last number is the year itself. That works OK until you find one that that has the first two numbers greater than 52, the number of weeks in a year.

Then, some have suggested that it's a MONTH---DAY----YEAR stamping, but that doesn't work well when you get to "2 digit" months.

And some have suggested your idea, the first digit being the month, and the next 2 digits being the year.

I honestly don't know.

The AP373S that I bought (first set of pictures) is dated H 5 6 3

The AP373 that is in my car (second picture) is dated H 6 6 2

I should add that the one in my 63 is NOT original to the car. It's a NOS one I purchased from a fellow NCRS member a year or two ago.

Chuck