Thing? above the dimmer switch??

Some of the Europeans including Vee dubs used "spare tire pressure" to operate the washer. Must be nice, having a clean wind"screen" and flat spare, LMAO

We had one or two of those VW's
Remember the vacuum windshield wipers that quit working right when you needed them most? (usually Ford Pickup Bronco or Jeep)

One of the VW's we had the turn signal was a cable operated metal arm with reflectors on it that swung up out of the body.

Here's one.