I has absolutly no idea who is specialist in S/W gauges or how to locate it up or collectors like to sell etc. Maybe some here read this ? I’m not in a purchase right now maybe ( but who knows ) but need to find a source and get the style I want. As this project turns around some, but it started on the dash to make it at older Indy look and then I found a S/W 5” Police 100 MPH ( not black ) but that fitted my style. Now as it went to be 5W chopped 32 coupe and race style very early 50’s and I left early 40’s. I see this car was build before war but updated after war with some new speed parts and less desert and more dragrace theme. Maybe a more classic S/W dash ( se picture ) in a std 32 dash but maybe I want wings gauge or gauge era correct, I was looking at a Pierce Arrow 32 dach but its maybe to old for my style now. -Elegant Yes, but not for me ( se picture ) So give me some ideas on has a RPM or not or keep the beige Police Special or if so where to insatall that. Maybe a odd color if rest is black ?
Well, Hank, it's really all a matter of what you feel comfortable with. I prefer all gauge to match in period, style & color, but there are plenty of fine cars out there with a mixture.
A girl I knew in Santa Cruz was a gorgeous brunette that wanted to know everything. I tutored her through a mechanical swamp (O.T. VW bus transaxle) and she thanked me, made me a gift of a Police Speedo (black 140 mph S/W!) I said, "Wow..." Only times having seen those up close was when after getting stopped the officer would show me the 'accessory mount' on the steering cowl and where he had locked me in with my 'extreme speed'... LOL Never in a million years did I think I could get one. (that was 1970) Beautiful Jan never told me where she got it, either.
The Police Speedo is a 1939, and the other gauges are late 40's and 50's. My speedo was NOS when I put it in.
On gauge made late 40’s from S/W. I has not yet figured out the models. Wings has logo, curved glas and straight needle and as I call it later style ring. Is it same needle to MPH, RPM in that series ss they is bigger ( maybe +3” I guess ) Then its the Tulipan ( I seen both with cresct and not ) maybe 2 series ? Tom showed cresct needles but it was not on volt and fuel level. Jeff showed no crest but it was on the RPM gauge only and rest was Tulipan. As I started this thread, I has bought allot of parts now to my coupe and focus on my project is parts and mock-up. But If I found what I like to do I will watch out. As I know its small space on pulley to front cross can I get a adapter to run a RPM gauge ? The this size on the the RPM one put on steering collum is there chromed cups ? If use the set up I showed first ( on picture and gauge in a panel fit great in a std 32 dash ) I need a RPM gauge out of the panel. I think that moderate set up and fit my style on a std 32 dash as dragracing ( in build up style ) to has the RPM on sterring collum. -But if Wings or Tulipan or Tulipan/Cresct I cant say.. But I like the ring on the Tulipan and straight needle. Then I’m a fan on big dual gauge as 2 of this 5”, se picture I found here at forum. Don’t know what year or series or if they can be find. Maybe period is pre-war or more Indy. It also might need a custom dash or get it wider.
If you're replacing the original .to me this is the nicest and in proportion gauge panel for a '32. Its 1932 Chrysler.
What is bezel dia/hole dia on S/W tulip and Wings ( as I has see several dimentions ) The more early Aburn S/W are the bigger in bezel and hole dia ?
These are SW dashes that I like in 32 Fords & others . Hollywood Panels with Wings (black or white) or the Deluxe black face
That Hollywood you hold in hand and black S/W that MPH and RPM is neat. Is that late 50’s or 60’s or maybe 70’s ?
I can tell you that the "Tulip" small gauges are 2". As far as finding some, her in the classifieds and eBay are your best bet being that you're overseas. There are a couple of dealers that will sell old gauges or even a whole panel.....and by dealers I mean a guy not a big company. There are a few companies that will restore the old gauges also. I met this guy a few years ago at LARS, don't know if he's still around. Pat Swanson (253)307-5255 Check out this thread. https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/early-stewart-warner-gauge-thread.1019310/
The Standard series was made from about 1940 to current. The tulip needles, no logo, and push-in smooth bezel were made till about 1960. Then they had what some call the coffin needle and a rolled on bezel. The winged were made from 1948 to 1954. All had curved glass. In 1955 they started the square logo, large size, with curved glass. The curved glass was phased out about 1956 and had flat glass til 1958. Starting in 1959 the smaller logo was used and is still the same today. Don’t be fooled by the new production wings, they aren’t even convincing at 50 feet away.
I think that was an aftermarket creation. There was a company called Maring that modified SW gauges back in the day to reach high speeds and RPMs. They had some ads in Hot Rod Magazine back in the early years. The gauge has art and needle circa 1945, but I don’t think SW made gauges for the hot rod crowd back then.
I got a idea. New black face on my Police 5” to 140 MPH, Aburn 2.5/8” curved glass and a Master Hollywood panel. Guess the crest needle 150 MPH will be impossible to find, but if anyone has 1 over...
You want to rescreen the perfectly good police face you have? Basically ruining the value of the gauge. That’s like taking your 32 and putting a Model A grille on it. Leave the poor police speedo alone and find another old speedo from a large truck that you can modify. SW made millions of gauges for large trucks with the exact same architecture as the gauges used in hot rods.
Ok, as you said its a awsome gauge and better to find another. It would not be ruin, just a new panel ( as I said, a idea ) -Heard a name ; ”Chris Schleps up in North Michigan’.
Use a Large H-D $70 ish gauge , Re silk screen face inlay , & if no trip desired, new silk face can cover .
Dave Mann's "Roadsters" website covers pretty much all your questions about SW gauges (and a bunch of other trad hot rod topics too): Classic Stewart Warner gauges (roadsters.com)
Tomorrow i will be looking at a Hollywood master panel and some Wings gauges. Well, the master is rather brutal but I got to like it. The Auburn might be top of the line in a 32 ( plus set great in a std 32 dash ) but might feel little old for this coupe now. Plus also my guess very expensive to and speedometer goes to 100 MPH. If I would go on the big 5" MPH and 4 smaller I can't say but I like that set up. But otherwise it is very era correct to go 4 small and the bigger +3" MPH & RPM. So let's see. I'm not in the stage to get stuff like that for my project now, but it's important to a cars attityde and 'feel'.
I bought today a very nice S/W Hollywood Master panel with a cool insert as new ( only a small den in one corner ) with Wings gauges. Fual mech dual water temp and mech oilpressuare and a crank shaft drive to the RPM gauge. 160 MPH speedometer, but bezel was bad but got a spare included. Missing a Wing RPM gauge. S/W floater in tank. Need a contact to Chris in Michigan. If any one has his contacts, send me a PM.
You picked a nice panel with the SW Hollywood. If you are building a 32 Ford you will need to drop the center of the dash down a little to give the panel room to sit flat. You need add to the curved edge with a little body work. I have used the Hollywood in both the 5 & 3 window Fords. Works great in both. check my picture of my 32 5 window to get the idea on the curved area. Good luck on mounting yours. Jerry Drye from North Carolina, USA
Yes I’m very pleased. How can I see your pictures ? I’ll just need to find one that can help me on the Wings. That has spareparts and experiance. Plus I need locate up a RPM gauge. But I has no hurry.
Pictures on share post 11. Black 32 5 window with new black SW Wings The Panel I am holding has used black SW Deluxe gauges (50's---60's era). SW dealers still sell both of these styles of gauges (electric or mechanical ). I do not know what dealers will ship out of the USA. Good luck on your project. Jerry
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