TailLights... Concern

[keesing]

Yesterday my daughter pointed out to me, that my left side tail light was not working... today, I disassembeled it, cleaned all connections and soldered one broken contact - now everything works, but while working on it I noticed curious things:
    1. The center larger bulb does not light.
    2. The rear smaller bulb above it does not light.
Tail lights work as should, brake lights work, and directionals work... but those two bulbs never light up. Are the supposed to? Am I missing something or just dumb?

1967 250SL Signal Red
1969 280SL "Tweety Bird Yellow"
1987 260E Charcoal

[A Dalton]

The larger center lamp is back-up lamp.. must be in R for activation.
The smaller lamp is a parking lamp that is activated individually on each side for over-night parking.. this is acivated by turning the light sw. to the left ..there are two positions.. first position for Right and second for left, depending on which side of the road you are parked..Key must be off for them to work

[keesing]

Yea... I feel stupid - I know both those functions, but NEVER even crossed my mind while I was into this repair - wow, the mind is a terrible thing to lose!
Thanks Mr. Dalton for waking me!

1967 250SL Signal Red
1969 280SL "Tweety Bird Yellow"
1987 260E Charcoal