Hill Holder

SuperDave
SuperDave Senior Contributor
edited September 2012 in HUDSON
In my personal experience, i have only encountered a "hill holder" one time.. about 50 years ago in a Studebaker. The 48-54 Hudson Parts book has several references to a Hill Holder.. Anyone have one on a Hudson?

Comments

  • Jon B
    Jon B Administrator
    Hill Holder was introduced by Studebaker in 1936 and by Hudson in 1937. I'm not sure, but I think it may have been available at least through the StepDown years.
  • 50C8DAN
    50C8DAN Senior Contributor
    I have seen one Hudson No-Rol kit (the trade name for Hill Holder used outside of Studebakers) on ebay a few years ago. They were, to my knowledge, a dealer offered item, but I do not know if they were a factory item or not. I have never seen one on a Hudson of any year. My '64 Studebaker Hawk has the Hill Holder option and my 2008 Subaru has such a device (although it is a somewhat different design, it still does the same thing).
  • Park_W
    Park_W Senior Contributor
    Dogwood Chapter's Duke Marley had a '37 pickup that had one.
  • Hudson's of the 30's had factory hill holders and they are controlled by the clutch pedal when down and you stepped on the brakes and this locked the brakes. When you started to release the clutch the brakes were freed. Clutch pedal adjustment was critical. Walt.
  • hudsontech
    hudsontech Senior Contributor
    Didn't Hudson offer that in 1930 - seems to me I've read a bulletin on the unit from that era.

    Hudsonly,
    Alex Burr
    Memphis, TN
  • SuperDave
    SuperDave Senior Contributor
    On page 31 of the 48-54 Parts Manual top of the page, "Hydraulic Hill holder" Available as a kit for 48 thru 54. Seems like they listed all cars except those with power brakes. Perhaps it wasn't a production installed option? It seems like a darned nice addition if you lived in SanFrancisco or Pittsburgh! Somewhere there is a kit on a shelf.....I think it would be a neat but rare addition to a stepdown. I have never seen one on a Stepdown. Not much use here in the flat lands of Florida, but a conversation piece anyway.
  • charles4d
    charles4d Expert Adviser
    WOW Subaru has a neat new item on their vehicles its called a HILL HOLDER LOL
  • Yes and toyota has a great new invention - a BUTTON on the dash to start the car. WOW what will they think of next ! ! ! And as far as thehill holder not appling to the power brake cars. That makes sense as the master setup is completely different,
    Roger
  • 37 CTS
    37 CTS Senior Contributor
    edited September 2012
    My 37H8 has a functional "Hill Holder" and I use it and really like it a lot. It is so cool to set it and take your foot off the brake and not roll backwards on a hill. When you start to drive off the it releases very nicely.
  • Alex, I started with Hudson in 1934 and in Waterbury, CT. you had to have hill holders, as most new drivers would roll back and hit the car behind. No damage as those bumpers could take a15 mile and hour hit and just drive away. 1939 was the last year Hudson installed hill holders at the factory. Dealer item after that. Walt.
  • Uncle Josh
    Uncle Josh Senior Contributor
    Up here in the Adirondacks, these would come in handy. Had one on the 49 Studie in the 50s. A while ago, Allen Walrath gave me a NOS still in the box. He got it from Prime Motors, Hudson dealer in Fort Plain, NY When I scrapped out the 39 LWB CC last year, I saved the one that was on it also. The NOS is slated for my 40 Victoria 8 coupe.

    As you can see, it was made by Wagner.
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