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And it all works perfectly except...It only works when I have my lights on. It's the military 1950's upgrade, and I'm wondering if this is the way it was designed? The wiring instructions has it hooked up through the 3 lever light switch, and if that provides it with power, it would make sense that it's only on when at least the marker lights are on.

I had the solid state one in mine and only worked when the switch was in the stoplight mode or servive drive.....

I have the transistorized version, but I guess that answers my question!

The 50's military upgrade system was a mechanical relay set-up.



Mechanical relay system of the 50's. Power from main light switch is clearly shown on the wiring diagram.

The later system introduce about 1960 is the transistorized system.




Transistorized system introduced about 1960. Power is clearly shown coming from the main light switch.

Wes, I can't thank you enough for your pics!! It got me thru 2 restorations.....
Rick

So, am I correct in assuming that the turn signals only work with the lights on?

If you wire it the way the military intended they should work in service stop as well as service drive modes. They won't work if the switch is in the off or blackout positions. This was so in combat the brake lights wouldn't give away a position. You can avoid that by running your power lead from the battery instead of the light switch.

The turn signals in your modern car do not work with the key off so why would anyone want them to work in a military vehicle vehicle with the main switch off. They become something else that be forgotten and left on to run down your batteries.

In both systems above if you read carefully the entries beneath the illustrations your answer to your question

So, am I correct in assuming that the turn signals only work with the lights on?

is they only work with the main light switch and only when the main light switch is in the positions posted by Rick.