Flathead Temperature Gauges - Interested?

Thanks Chuck

 

The agreement I have with the manufacturer is that I'll paint the gauge faces custom colors - and they'll do the silkscreening once painted. That's how this set was done - I painted blank faces the color I wanted, and they built them up using the faces. If they do runs of white on black for other clients, then yeah - I think I can get what you're looking for.

As this is low volume, nearly one-off type work - there may be a bit of a lag between when I place an order for gauges and when they're built up. Current estimate is two weeks from date of order.

When the pricing info rolls in tomorrow or Friday, I'll get color preferences from y'all...in the meantime, I'll ***ume the first run will be 1/3rd cream and 2/3rds black.

 

This is too cool. I'll probably be in for a pair (oil/water) of each color if this works out.

Not to add to the confusion or create more work for someone, but would it be possible to get runs of both the 2.5 and the 2" if we got enough people? I know I would prefer 2" gauges myself.

This sure beats the **** out of gauges made in china......

 

There's a want list of about two dozen temp gauges and a half dozen pressure gauges already; that's enough for a run. First time out, though...I'm going to stick to 2-1/2" gauges - just to prove to the manufacturer there is a demand. We can widen the offering after a couple of runs.

 

UPDATE:

Pricing and availability is in!

Gauges are avaiable BLACK with WHITE markings, along with CREAM BEIGE with black markings and a red needle.

Temperature gauges: $50 each; $100 for the pair plus shipping
Pressure gauges: $30 each.

I will open up the order desk Monday of next week; will accept Paypal and money orders. Leadtime on this first batch will be 4 weeks; so figure on a mid-April delivery.

Part numbers and ordering information to follow.

From the House of Speed and Chrome,

Chuck.

 

COOL!
I'll get mine in on Monday!!!

2 Beige Temps
1 Beige Pressure

 

I will be in for 2 temp and 1 pressure..Black face..tks for the effort

 

Can you post a picture of the back of the gauge?

 

You can put me down for;

(2) beige water temp gauges
(1) beige oil pressure

Let me know how to send payment and shipping info.

Thanks,
Rob.

 

Hi Mate,

What about a direct mount gauge, simililar to the moon one? Any possibility of this?

Danny

 

Maybe I missed it, is there any place for lights?

 

Yup. That can be done; Ill check into it, but it wont hit the first run. I'm working with a company that has been making gauges for generations - they're used to making thousands of the same gauges, and I'm pulling in some old markers to do short runs of custom gauges the way they were made back in the day - no plastic, lots of machined br*** and a smattering of stainless steel. These all use Bourdon tubes - a flat tube bent in an arc; they straighten out when pressure is applied. The temp gauges use a volatile fluid to change pressure and move the tube - the pressure ones are direct acting.

Anyway - wait until we have a couple of runs under our belt and 'asking' to broaden the line will be possible. Ammeters, voltmeters, and tachometers are out of the question...for now. Temp and pressure - that's the limit for the time being.

 

Good question.

the gauges are NOT backlit; there is room in the case to drill them for a backlight. At that time, they would not be waterproof - although that's not really an issue in a dash-mount gauge.

If you want backlit gauges - let me know - that can be arranged at extra cost; or you can do it yourself.

 

im up

 

UPDATE:

I'm getting requests for custom length cap tubes; will have to check on that and get back to you before opening the order desk.

As mentioned before, these will be available as both temp and pressure gauges, and both cream face and black face will be available.

Finally - I won't be accepting orders until early next week (Monday the 12th or Tuesday the 13th), so check back then. When everything's good to go, I'll pm everyone interested with part #'s and payment details.

To make things a bit easier for my daughter who will be handling order processing, we may figure on a std shipping hand handling rate - a pair of gauges only weighs 2-3#, so it won't be a big figure.

 

Chuck, you might want to invest in a pile of the 'Priority' shipping boxes from USPS. They give the boxes free and you can then wrap & stuff them. You'll know the rate right off for shipping and then you can tack on whatever handling is deemed required. Edie does that with her fiber whenever she can and it saves a ton of h***le. Usually, the smallest Priority runs around $5 and as long as you stay within the US, you're looking at 2-3 days max.

Of course, I suspect I've been to your distribution center so I may just stop by and pick mine up when the time comes!

 

thanks for the suggestion!

Yeah - just want something simple and straightforward so's to continue to develop my not-so-little capitalist.

 

By the way, you get the boxes at the PO for FREE (as free as free is). If you go to them and want a specific box, they charge you for it, weigh it, calculate postage and guess what, it costs you $6 to send it! Been there, done that. Thought I'd save money.

You can get a tape gun at Staples and a Sharpie for the tags and you are just like stuffing calendars and we know you are trained for that.

 

UPDATE:

Out of respect for Tech Week, I'll be contacting everyone separately by PM - after the PM box is cleaned; it's getting pretty full.

Custom capillary lengths are available - no charge to 60"; after that it's 5 bux a foot. More to follow by PM, guys - it's Tech Week!

 

UPDATE:

Everyone who has expressed interest has been contacted via PM; those of you who have sent in $$ have made it into the first order which went out today.

I toured the shop where these are made on Friday - pretty neat. It's an old-fashioned hand-***embled process, starting with a couple of spe******ts who solder up the Bourdon tubes, and culminating in a test stand where each gauge is hand-calibrated before being packed up and shipped off to its new home - wherever that may be.

I picked up a run of faces and needles; they have been painted and will be dropped of for ***embly later this week. We're still looking at a 4 week leadtime, folks - so if there are others who want 'em - get your orders in ASAP!

 

I would still like to see what the back of the gauge looks like. I want to mount mine on top of the firewall. Are there pods or cases available to mount them in like a tack?

 

The back is brushed stainless with a pair of studs for mounting. When I get my gauges back from rework (added red needles) I'll post up the back side...

 

3.29.07 UPDATE:

Received orders for about two dozen gauges - seems like a LOT of these are going on some very hot flathead mills!

Okay - there's been a slight manufacturing issue:

The pointer stem is nickel-plated br*** - and when the indicator receives a coat of red paint (for the CREAM gauges) the red paint doesn't stick well to the indicator stem. After the gauge is ***embled, each one is individually tested and hand-calibrated; in the process of hand-calibration, the red paint chips.

soo...We're gonna have to go with black needles and CREAM faces as shown in the first pix of this post. Please let me know if that's an issue with the folks who ordered up the light-colored faces...

thanks,

chuck.