That explains it! I'd been wondering what ya'll were talking about.

I happen to ride a BMW R1100S  motorcycle with just such a plug (on a neat
little bracket). I have an electric vest that I use when riding in cold
weather. Now that I find myself in frigid Seattle (well, maybe not frigid,
but I am from Texas so it is all relative) with a van with no heat (for now,
getting ready to install an Eberspracher), maybe I need to drive around
Seattle with my electric vest plugged in. For that matter, maybe I should
just get the whole electric suit.

By the way, if I remember correctly, I believe that BMW motorcycle dealers
sell an adaptor that allows you to plug the "little male plug" accessories
into a standard automotive-type 12v outlet.

Cheers,
Bruce
motorbruce
motorbruce@hotmail.com

>From: Old Volks Home <oldvolkshome@GMAIL.COM>
>Reply-To: Old Volks Home <oldvolkshome@GMAIL.COM>
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Re: Silver socket for your John Deere.
>Date: Tue, 7 Feb 2006 15:07:49 -0800
>
>Aaron -
>
>This is a subject that comes up perennially for as long as the Vanagon List
>has existed.
>
>The Silver Socket is a Power Outlet that is normally installed on
>Westfalias
>(standard) and I've seen them on some MultiVans and Weekenders.  It made
>it's appearance in the late 70s on the Bay Window Westfalia.  It normally
>resides on the portion of Dash Face near the Cig Lighter.  It looks like a
>Silver disc with a hole in the center where the power cord  for your
>particular accessory.  Being European by design, it can be assumed that
>mostly European made (and European sold) 12 volt Accessories are plugged
>into it.  There were a few VAG/VOA Accessories available for it's use at
>one
>time.
>
>In addition to John Deere Tractors, they were also found on VW Type 181
>Things and BMW Motorcycles.  The Trim Shop (aka The Thing Shop) in Arizona,
>BMW Motorcycle Dealers and I guess John Deere distributors carry the socket
>as well as the plug for this receptacle.  I've rewired a number of cig
>plugs
>with this plug to utlize my Silver Socket over the years.  IMHO I think
>it's
>a better connector to use than the cig lighter socket.
>
>Hi-Yo Silver Socket! :-)
>--
>Jim Thompson
>84 Westfalia 2.1 "Ole Putt"
>73 K Ghia Coupe "Denise"
>72 411 Station Wagon "Pug"
>oldvolkshome@gmail.com
>http://www.oldvolkshome.com
>**********************************
>On 2/7/06, Aaron Pearson <aarondpearson@hotmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > okay, what is a silver socket?  i remember this came up once before in a
> > list of quirky vanagon features, but no one ever said where it is or
>what
> > it
> > does.  do they all have one?  my new van plays the song on start up, i
> > didn't know what everyone was talking about until last weekend when i
> > drove
> > it for the first time.  my old van was silent.  where's the silver
> > socket???
> >
> > aaron
> > '87 syncro westy ej22
> >
> >
> > >From: Old Volks Home <oldvolkshome@GMAIL.COM>
> > >Reply-To: Old Volks Home <oldvolkshome@GMAIL.COM>
> > >To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > >Subject: Re: Silver socket for your John Deere.
> > >Date: Tue, 7 Feb 2006 14:35:13 -0800
> > >
> > >And the Silver Socket Rides Again! (Lone Ranger music fading in the
> > >background)
> > >--
> > >Jim Thompson
> > >84 Westfalia 2.1 "Ole Putt"
> > >73 K Ghia Coupe "Denise"
> > >72 411 Station Wagon "Pug"
> > >oldvolkshome@gmail.com
> > >http://www.oldvolkshome.com
> > >**********************************
> > >On 2/7/06, Pensioner <al_knoll@pacbell.net> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > These fit the 'silver socket'
> > > >
> > > > Prices are not current or voltage for that matter...
> > > >
> > > > Left side:
> > > > John Deere SOCKET OUTLET,
> > > > Part Number:  AL25073,
> > > > Cost: $6.35
> > > >
> > > > Right Side:
> > > > John Deere PLUG,
> > > > Part Number: RE11344,
> > > > Cost: $8.32
> > > >
> > > > Yet another electrifying experience...
> > > >
> > > > p
> > > >
> >