Folks Of Interest Early Stewart Warner gauge thread

Picked this up a couple days ago at Hershey, first auburn style SW gauge I've ever owned.

 

Does it work? Also, if you're careful you can separate the front chrome bezel from the rear case and clean the glass. If the glass is too far gone, you can buy replacement curved glass for around $10.
If the capillary bulb needs a charge or the line and capillary bulb need replacement, there are places out there such as Williamson that can do that. That type of work is generally around $200, but well worth the investment for such a desirable and beautiful gauge.
Nonetheless, great score on your part!

 

Luv It

 

Here is the result of a few hours of time and several tooth picks and ear Q- tips. The plastic window to allow light in is missing, so l was able to very carefully clean the inside of the glass and even the gauge face. The oily dust did a good job protecting everything. Best yet, l got the gauge to work. I tested it in boiling water with no result, but had the epiphany while cleaning the inside that the needle and inside gear needed "unstuck" after not being used for probably 60+ years. Gently pushed on the needle with a tooth pick and felt it "break free" and after multiple heat cycles with a heat gun it's working OK, but not perfect (seems to only register above 140 degrees).

 

Is that a 2-5/8" or the 2-3/8"? The 2-5/8" is crazy rare, in comparison to the 2-3/8" I find it astounding that you cleaned that well through the light slot. Great find!

 

I stumbled upon this one recently, which came from France. It's a 2-3/8" & appears N.O.S., as it has the wires crimped around the line (which was probably never unwound). The seller had a lot of WWII stuff, so I'm sure it was some military spare. It also has the gold paint on the needle, etc. I always assumed that stuff has some low light reflectivity or something of that nature, perhaps in the period the blackout lights were utilized? It does not seem to glow in the dark at all. Does anyone know? You see a lot of war & post war Stewart-Warner gauges like that.

 

Thank you, it's a 2 3/8. l myself am surprised with how well it cleaned up. I was really close to attempting to remove the bezel and case but decided against it as l didn't want to risk damaging anything.

 

Patience my friend... if you get the bezel off the front, you can separate the gauge unit from its backing plate. The pinion gear, and geared sector may have some dirt in the teeth as to why it wont react to full swing. Don't use brake clean near the painted face, you will damage it immediately. Dawn dish soap will break down old oil/dirt, flush with warm water, dry with compressed air.

 

Thanks for the info big deuce, l may attempt to separate the case and see whats going on inside. I appreciate the help.

 

Greg it’s radium, it was used for glow in the dark paint. I’m pretty sure the radioactivity is gone by now, but then again maybe that’s what’s wrong with me I’ve worked on a lot of them.

 

Thanks, Rusty. I think the real danger is for those that originally painted it on, day after day on the job. I've never seen one that actually glowed, including the above mentioned temp, which is why I wasn't sure what the gold paint was.

 

@fleetside66
I have a set of three AC gauges that still glow. They were used in stationary engines and cable yarders for logging. This is the second set I've had.

 

Back to the top because @Pat Pryor finally crawled out of his foundation hole...

 

I am Alive and almost out of my hole! I have just been beaten down by some of my many commitments!

 

I did not know such a thing existed Just looked it up for 90ish bucks It's pretty cool.

 

I sold this yesterday. N.O.S. date coded Nov. 1959 Stewart Warner 2 5/8" curved glass, crescent needle, smooth bezel oil pressure gauge.

I also had this beautiful NOS chrome cup still in its original packaging, so I mounted the gauge and sold it as a set.

 

I have a few questions for the people who work on these gauges. First what is the trick to get the bezel off without destroying it? Once off can it be reused? I have seen 3 basic designs of lighting SW gauges, from the front, from slots in the back sides of the gauge, and with a bulb mounted in the back of the gauge. Were these made in different years or were all 3 made at the same time depending on application?

 

I have used a cutoff wheel to carefully cut away on the bucket right at the bezel area. Just through the bucket in one spot. Lets the pressure loose on the bezel so you can pull it out.

Then, find a 70-80's 2-5/8" donor SW gauge to replace the bucket. They are the same as the early ones, except they have a light socket in them. The water temps and oil pressures fit each other. A gas may require the wire stud holes be filed over a bit. Can't remember if the amps needed filed holes or not.

I have my machinist buddy chuck the new bucket in his lathe and take a few thousands off the inside of the rim. Then use a little RTV to glue the old bezel in. In case it ever needs to come off again, it's a much easier job.

 

I kind of inherited these SW Police speedos this week and was wondering what era they're from and can we confirm that these are from a car and not a motorcycle? I saw some extremely similar ones that said Harley Davidson on them but these came from a guy who wouldn't have had anything to do with motorcycles so I have to believe they're from squad cars. Back side looks like it takes a regular speedo cable, I can take a pic if need be.

 

Is there a ratio tag or stamp on the back?

 

There is (I don't know why I didn't take pics of these to start with) there's one on the one with the bracket too but it's kind of obliterated.

 

I think those look motorcycle-ish. What is the OD of the bezel?

 

Theres a part #....all we need is a book !

 

The 540D speedometer is listed as Police trade for general use with a speed unit listed highlighted in yellow 435705 which matches the same speed unit used on Harley Davidson.
Which is different from the speedometer speed unit used on the 540T Ford Police speedometer which is 435703 (1:1 1000 cable revolutions per mile) so to me it would indicate it’s for a motorcycle. Your results may very . There were some motor cycle speedometers that were 1:1 but not many, but you can see Harley speedometers that matched the Ford speed unit those would be 1:1. Ok so now I see that it has a marching speed unit to the Chevrolet, which just blows my theory out of the water. So it does seem to be 1:1. Sorry I just made this more confusing.

 

The cable connection is not a female thread like the automotive kind were, so I also say they are motorcycle.

 

Overall diameter is 4 3/4 but they look like they were made to fit in a 4 3/8" hole. If they are 1-1 ratio, could a cable be made to use these in cars, or would that be futile? They belonged to a good friend of mine who died, would be cool to use one but I don't do motorcycles so if they can't be used in a car they're just going to be shelf-fillers.

 

Making up the cables would be no problem. If you want to send the best one in, if it turns or I can free it up I can check calibration in the test bench.

 

@Squablow HAMBer Rusty ( @e1956v ) is seriously one of the nicest guys ever. Not only that, the work he does is outstanding and he'll definitely take care of you. I have sent him several gauges over the years and have always been beyond impressed. I would jump at this opportunity if I were you.