13 replies to this topic

[minijo]

We have a Smiths speedo and wondered if anyone can give us some info.


Serial no: SN9882/09

It is different to any that we have seen before, it has 3 coloured lights in different places (blue-beam, red-gen and yellow-oil) to others that we have found and has a fuel and temp guage at the bottom instead of just fuel. It only goes up to 70mph.

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[m1tch]

We have a Smiths speedo and wondered if anyone can give us some info.


Serial no: SN9882/09

It is different to any that we have seen before, it has 3 coloured lights in different places (blue-beam, red-gen and yellow-oil) to others that we have found and has a fuel and temp guage at the bottom instead of just fuel. It only goes up to 70mph.

WOW that looks awesome I would love a gauge like that with fuel AND temp lol where did you find that? it must be early if it only goes to 70, my standard speedo optimistically goes to 90, and that was 1982

[rick.spi]

would be cool to see it going way past it lol...

[m1tch]

Its also cool as it hasn't been used either!

[dklawson]

Several cars used similar speedometers. That one may be from a Hillman, a Triumph (like a Sports-6), or even a Nash Metropolitan. The feature that seems unique to me is that the gauge has places for both fuel and temp gauges. Most of the ones I've seen of that style only have room for the fuel gauge.

EDIT:
by the way, the serial numbers you posted can help someone with the right book identify the gauge's application. (I don't have a book). What will be more generically useful is knowing the turns per mile number. There should be another three or four digit number somewhere on the gauge face, probably near the odometer window.

Edited by dklawson, 21 July 2009 - 08:29 PM.

[minijo]

Several cars used similar speedometers. That one may be from a Hillman, a Triumph (like a Sports-6), or even a Nash Metropolitan. The feature that seems unique to me is that the gauge has places for both fuel and temp gauges. Most of the ones I've seen of that style only have room for the fuel gauge.

EDIT:
by the way, the serial numbers you posted can help someone with the right book identify the gauge's application. (I don't have a book). What will be more generically useful is knowing the turns per mile number. There should be another three or four digit number somewhere on the gauge face, probably near the odometer window.

Hey the turns per mile number is 1000

The man I bought this off said it came with his 850cc mini many years ago but was never used.

[dklawson]

That would not have been a Mini gauge.

The TPM number being 1000 is very, very interesting. I don't think you'll find any Mini drivetrain combinations that would have used 1000 TMP speedometers. Guessworks would know for sure. However, 1000 TMP is a generic industry standard that came into common use in the 1970s. Most aftermarket cable driven speedometers today operate at 1000 TPM. However, the style of the gauge you have corresponds to instruments built in the late 1950s.

For example, the link below is to a Nash Metropolitan speedometer (1950s):
http://www.kipmotor....speedometer.jpg
Though clearly different you'll recognize the style is similar and indicative of the timer during which the gauge was made.

[minijo]

Thank You dklawson

[Mr Joshua]

Dolly Sprint but not 100% on that But I know a man who would know.

[wmkccwhite]

Could it be a retro look alike but made for use on newer cars?

[minijo]

Could it be a retro look alike but made for use on newer cars?

The chrome is fairly rust if thats the case, but I would ave thought it would go higher than 70mph. Someone said it was off an Austin A30, but I checked the spec of those and they don't do 1000 turns per min.

So do you think it will work in my 850cc mini? Or should I get another?

[wmkccwhite]

Could it be a retro look alike but made for use on newer cars?

The chrome is fairly rust if thats the case, but I would ave thought it would go higher than 70mph. Someone said it was off an Austin A30, but I checked the spec of those and they don't do 1000 turns per min.

So do you think it will work in my 850cc mini? Or should I get another?

I can not say for sure. Guessworks would probley be best to get a good answer on this one.
Good Luck and it is nice looking, post some pics if you get it all sorted

[dklawson]

So do you think it will work in my 850cc mini? Or should I get another?

Almost anything can be made to work with the right modifications and expense.

Check with Guessworks (and/or his web site) but I don't think any Mini drivetrain combination (wheel and tire size, gearbox speedo drive, and final drive gears) will give you something too close to 1000 TPM. However, there may be ways to swap out some components and be "close enough" depending on what accuracy you want or need.

An alternative is to talk to a speedometer shop about a ratio box. The ratio box is about the size of a pack of cigarettes. One cable from the transmission goes in, a second cable comes out and goes to the speedometer. Inside the box is gearing that converts the TPM in to the needed TPM out. Each one is custom made. They aren't cheap, but they do the job. I had one made for our Triumph GT6 when it had a different set of differential gears. The company in the link below won't be practical for you to use since they are in the U.S. but they have pictures of and explanations about the ratio converter boxes.
http://www.gaugeguys...peedcorrect.htm
(Excuse their typographical error. The picture of the ratio adapters is labeled "radio adatpers")

A ratio box would let you fit this to the Mini but you will probably have difficulty finding a temperature gauge to fit that gauge. It will probably be necessary to gut a "standard" Mini's 52mm temperature gauge and mount its movement inside a Mini's fuel gauge housing.. and make a custom scale for the face. Finding a temperature gauge that happens to fit that speedometer is also possible, but... that gauge will be very old and designed for the gauge system used before the mid-1960s. In short, it's not likely to work with the Mini's standard sending unit.

[minijo]

Thank you