Classic/Antique Car Repair: 1956 Ford F100 Wiring Problem, 1956 ford f100, turn signal switch

Question
I have a 1956 Ford F100 Pickup. I have a problem with the wireing of the rear tail lights, brake lights and signal lights. The problem is that the brake lights and signal lights work fine as long as the head lights/parking lights are off. When the light switch is turned on the brake lights no longer work when the brake is applied. I have a wire running from the light switch to the tail lights, wires running from the signal switch to each tail light and a wire running from the brake switch connected into the same wire that lights the tail lights when light switch is turned on.
Do you have any suggestions of how this should be wired?

Thanks,
Randy

Answer
If the truck has factory installed turn signal lights, the wiring should be correct from the factory. If the turn signals were added on later, the wiring has to be done as specified by the turn signal schematic.

The brake light switch should not be wired to the same wires as the running lights, meaning the lights that come on with the headlights.  Those are the other filaments in the bulbs -not bright enough for brake lights, and when the headlights are on you won't see any difference when you step on the brake because you are just putting 12 volts on the same filament from both sources.  

The brake light switch has to be wired through the turn signal switch, because the brake lights use the same bulb filaments as the turn signals on older vehicles.  There is a wire from the turn signal switch that is meant to be connected to the brake light switch - find that wire and connect it, and remove the wire that goes from the brake light switch to the tail lights, and that should solve your problem.

Dick