1966 wiper arms patent number

[Peter L.]

Re: 1966 wiper arms

Dutch - Good pictures. The wiper arms look like what I would expect on a '66 Corvette. They look like the "real deal" to me. The pictures show the adjusting screw on the side, the dull (brushed finish), and the single rivet attaching the rod to the intermediate body. In the picture of the wiper arm (3rd photo) that shows the base piece, the base piece has the straight sides all the way to the bottom as is typical of the 1963-67 Corvette wiper arms and without a flared section at the bottom that was typical of the Chevrolet Pass, Chevelle, Chevy II, Camaro, & Corvair wiper arms in that time period.

Also, in the 3rd photo, the contrast between the base piece and the intermediate body brushed finish seems intereting, as the base piece seems to be shinier than the body but that might the photo.

Pete

[Harry L.]

Re: 1966 wiper arms patent number

Peter, thanks for responding,you are right, as in the third photo,the base piece is shinnier. The wiper blades that are on are 16 inch Trico blades, one of those blades has a broken clip on the end, that helps hold the refill in place. My question is , where would I buy a blade to match. Or could I fit correct 15 inch Trico blades on my wiper arms? THANKS , DUTCH

[Peter L.]

Re: 1966 wiper arms patent number

Dutch - In my mind, the operation of the 15" wiper blades on the mid-year Corvettes where the the ends come close to meeting in the middle of the windshield always seems like a collision waiting to happen if the adjustment isn't correct; so I'd have an even greated anxiety about 16" wiper blades not functioning correctly since the system is designed for 15" blades. So, if you are looking to maintain originality, I'd suggest finding a set of original, NOS or used, 15" TRICO or ANCO wiper blades to install on your '66 or if you just want the system to function correctly, get a set of newer 15" TRICO blades.

With regards to the clip, as you might guess, both the 15" TRICO and ANCO wiper blades that were original equipment on 1966 Corvettes and other GM passenger cars have the appropriate clips to attach to the wiper arms on your '66 as do the newer TRICO 15" blades; so that will be no problem.

Pete

Pete

[David L.]

Re: 1966 wiper arms patent number

DUTCH,

I have a pair of NORS 15" ANCO "dull" finish wiper blades (boxes dated Feb. 1978 & June 1978) that are about 90% the same as the ANCO 3888296 wiper blades installed on 1966 Corvettes. The NORS blades have a red button on them for easier refill replacement which the original 3888296 blades did not. They are not original but almost. These ANCO replacement blades also sometimes come with a black button. Original and NOS Trico and ANCO wiper blades can be very expensive.

Dave

[Jack H.]

Re: 1966 wiper arms patent number

Now that you have the patent numbers, go the extra mile and visit the US Patent Office website. There you can key in the patent numbers and see/read the actual patents.

On each you'll find the date of application (when the part should have been labeled 'Pat Pending') and the date of grant (when the pending notice should have changed to the actual patent number). That should give you a rough 'feel' for the manufacturing era of that item...

[David L.]

Re: 1966 wiper arms patent number

DUTCH,

Pictured below are six 15" wiper blade holders.

The top one is a 15" "shiny" ANCO which I believe was used on 1965 models (GM # 3871085, I believe, but possibly GM # 3866190). This holder is much shinier then the photo indicates.

The next two are original assembly line 15" "dull" ANCO holders (GM # 3888296 which includes refill). These original holders came with rubber refills with "ANCO PATENT 2782444" molded into the rubber.

The next two, I believe, are "over the counter" 15" "dull" ANCO (GM #3888296) wiper holders. Note that the indentation on the arm attaching part is much larger. These 2 holders are duller then the 2 assembly line holders above.

The last one on the bottom is a very common 15" "dull" Trico wiper holder stamped "TRICO" on each end.

I believe that I described these wiper holders correctly. I would appreciate it if Pete would comment on these wiper holders.

I am still searching for more NOS ANCO "2782444" rubber refills.

Pete,

I also have some 1966 15" "dull" Trico wiper blades with "TRICO" & "MADE IN USA" stamped only at the top. Are these "over the counter" wiper blades made after the 1966 production?

Dave