I have been collecting 2 5/8" Stewart Warner gauges for a 50's period correct 32 roadster build that I am doing, can someone please tell me what years the black faced vacuum gauge were produced from and when they changed to the colored faced gauge and when that changed to the motor minder gauge.
are the model numbers and dates listed anywhere on the internet? it would be great if someone who has collected all the catalogs would put up a website that lists the model numbers by years.
I have a 'Speedo-Tach Service' catalog from 1950 and it has the colour coded and range segmented vacuum gauge pictured.
I purchased the black faced gauge of a fellow Hamb member who had it dated at 1953 so maybe back in the 50,s you could purchase the black or the colour coded gauge ??? I like the look of the colour gauge but not sure if it will be correct for the build.
Black vacuum produced from beginning (early 40's) through the 60's (into stepped bezel style), colored vacuum that says "vacuum" and has teardrop pointer was probably late 40's, then the Motor Minder first produced with a teardrop pointer in the early 50's, and a big ugly stainless needle in the later 50's. Some Motor Minders were produced with the thin pointer til the end though, as they can be found with stepped bezels too. Motor Minders can be found in the under-dash "bullet" with the thin pointer as well as the stainless pointer. I think the under-dash mount was for the family man who thought he should be getting better mileage from the family sedan. Not a hot rod or utility truck thing. Actually, I think if someone was willing to place a large enough order, SW would probably make any combo you wanted back in those days.
Alchemy thanks for the info, so it looks like anyone of these gauges would be correct in a 50,s build hot rod.
Race car = black face only Real hot rod = black or colored "vacuum" face Showy hot rod = Motor Minder
I was always led to believe the one with the bright colors were for your nerdy uncle who was trying to stretch his mileage. Only recently has the mileagemeter gauge become fashionable along with alotta gadgety type doodads that probably wouldn't have showed up on a hot rod. JohnnyA
thanks Jimmy B, now i have to go out to the freezing *** garage and start digging out gauges 'cause this is going to drive me nuts until i do... guess it could be worse, no snow here
Trust me, I get the appeal of the eye catching one but to put yourself in the mind of a hot rodder in the fifties. Ya want the one that looks all business and blends with the other gauges like a ****pit of an airplane. I've looked at alotta vintage pictures of dashboards and I don't recall seeing the milagemeter mixed in there. JohnnyA This add doesn't exactly scream hot rod.
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