Specs for Roadster Windshield Wipers

[Edwin Ek]

Johnson's book does say that Roadsters use SWF 2400 blades. Seems an error.

A longer blade would be better (more glass wiped) if it doesn't hit the edge of the windshield.

[James Davies]

Perhaps it is confusion between the wiper motor and the wiper blades?

Here's the SWF part numbers for Speedsters and Roadsters up through 1958:

Typ 540 Speedster (pre-A)
Motor: SSWV 2405c
Wipers, complete: WVS/34c
Blade: WBP 26/34c (260mm)
Arm: WVS 20/34c

Typ 356A Speedster (until Feb 1957)
Motor: SSWV 2405c
Blade: WBP 26 A 1 (260mm)
Arm: WVS 20/34c (225mm)

Typ 356A Speedster (Mar 1957 to May 1958)
Motor: SWA 2405f
Blade: WBA 26 (260mm)
Arm: WMA 20/34c (218mm)

And that's all the info I have. =(

[Jon Bunin]

Here's the SWF part numbers for Speedsters and Roadsters up through 1958:
- - - - - - -
Blade: WBP 26/34c (260mm)
- - - - - - -
Blade: WBP 26 A 1 (260mm)
- - - - - - -
Blade: WBA 26 (260mm)
- - - - - - -

The number WBK 26 A 1 is on the detached flap of this SWF box.
I assume that "26" is the blade length in centimeters.

A photo of my Roadster, below, in early 1960 along Sunset Cliffs Blvd in San Diego.
You can click on the photo to enlarge it for some basic wiper details.

[Edwin Ek]

Jon, that is a cool shot! Still have the yellow license plate?

I see two sunvisors, headlight lenses with no horizontal string of numbers at the bottom, and crown logos for the Hella foglight lenses.

[Jon Bunin]

Jon, that is a cool shot! Still have the yellow license plate?

No, the yellow plates were all retired after 1962. When I bought the car in the 70s, it had one black 1963 plate, which I still have.

[Jon Bunin]

The SWF arms are marked L and R accordingly, under the shepherd's crook.

Top photo: The R marking under a Roadster wiper arm, for Rechts or Right.
Lower photo: The slight angle difference between L (on left) and R (on right) wiper arms for a 356B Roadster.

[Edwin Ek]

Jon, the second picture showing the difference in bend is very helpful. Thanks!

By the by, the German word for left is links.

[James Davies]

The number WBK 26 A 1 is on the detached flap of this SWF box.
I assume that "26" is the blade length in centimeters.

Thanks for adding that data point Jon. =)

[Brad Ripley]

Great discussion about arms and blades. My file is about 1" thick on the subject, Bosch and SWF part numbers and such. Certainly for the out and out show car the correct arms/blades are nice to have. However, present day supply of originals in any quantity is about zero. However, to satisfy demand it's only practical to manufacture three arms and three blades -- see chart below -- note the dimension changes. Additionally, someone is making the pickle fork versions; I don't know who that is.

[Dick Weiss]

The wiper blade insert, shown in the photo, should be removed for the 2-metal strips flipped over so the rubber strip will fit the windshield curve--especially on the driver's side.

[Edwin Ek]

Brad, what do the measurements in purple ink mean?

I think Eric Soterik, a member here and also active with early 911's, is making pickle fork wipers, along with Hella 128's and other items.

[Jon Bunin]

The wiper blade insert, shown in the photo, should be removed for the 2-metal strips flipped over so the rubber strip will fit the windshield curve--especially on the driver's side.

Dick, the blades were purposely manufactured with that curvature.
You can see in this SWF packaging that the clear plastic cover was designed to maintain that shape...

[Brad Ripley]

Edwin, I said, "note the dimension changes" = lengths changed from the original catalog page.

The discussion started out about arms/blades for a Roadster. To fit all T-5 models, we manufacture the following:
arm 644-628-301-10 = 275 mm long, end to end
blade 644-628-311-10 = 265 mm long, end to end

[Edwin Ek]

Jon,

Are you saying that the box stamped with the Porsche part number and labelled with SBK 100 927 also has a (detached) label with WBK 26 A 1?

The reason I ask is that I found a guy with a stash of this stuff, and I want to make sure I look for the right parts. I bought some NOS correct wiper arms from him a few years ago.

[Edwin Ek]

Another source, my mechanic, has a large collection of used blades.

To get the correct blades, is it enough to look for the brand SWF, length of 260 mm, and the correct attachment method? Or are there other characteristics?