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Rich5ltr

Joined: 28 Mar 2008 Posts: 681 Location: Hampshire, UK
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Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2015 8:55 pm Post subject: Reading a Vintage Odometer? |
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As it says really chaps. How should you read the digits in the mileage windows on this odometer? Thanks...
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Peter_L
Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 2680 Location: New Brunswick. Canada.
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Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2015 9:48 pm Post subject: |
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Trip Miles on Top. With reset on side.
Total Miles on Bottom
White #'s on Red. 10/th of a Mile.
http://www.magnetic-speedometer-repair.com/new-page1/
Info here about the ratio.
Last edited by Peter_L on Fri Dec 04, 2015 10:04 pm; edited 4 times in total |
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goneps
Joined: 18 Jun 2013 Posts: 601 Location: Auckland, New Zealand
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Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2015 9:50 pm Post subject: |
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Agreed. A nice-looking vintage instrument, but that ammeter's clearly a cuckoo in the nest.
Richard |
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Penman
Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4857 Location: Swindon, Wilts.
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Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2015 9:52 pm Post subject: |
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Hi
Without observing it change while being driven, I would say that the top row is a trip meter reading upto 99.9 of whatever unit it is set to, presumably miles as it is a Smiths instrument.
and the bottom row is an accumulative record up to 9999.9 units.
It does seem strange that the lower set has a tenths digit, unless the red digit is actually a mile per digit making it register up to 99999 units.
That is why I put in the caveat about seeing it working. _________________ Bristols should always come in pairs.
Any 2 from:-
Straight 6
V8 V10 |
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Rich5ltr

Joined: 28 Mar 2008 Posts: 681 Location: Hampshire, UK
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Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2015 10:14 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks chaps, most useful. I hadn't realised it had a trip meter although that seemed most obvious because I couldn't find a reset button. I'll look in the morning. I've only recently got the car and yes, I will be looking out on eBay etc. for a vintage ammeter! |
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Peter_L
Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 2680 Location: New Brunswick. Canada.
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Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2015 11:12 pm Post subject: |
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Rich5ltr wrote: | Thanks chaps, most useful. I hadn't realised it had a trip meter although that seemed most obvious because I couldn't find a reset button. I'll look in the morning. I've only recently got the car and yes, I will be looking out on eBay etc. for a vintage ammeter! |
I looked up "1930's Smiths Odometers" and found quite a few pages, some show the reset, a lever on the side or a button on the front, maybe your button broke off ? look for an anomaly . |
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Rich5ltr

Joined: 28 Mar 2008 Posts: 681 Location: Hampshire, UK
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Posted: Sat Dec 05, 2015 8:57 pm Post subject: |
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Well there's nothing on the front of the instrument. I've had a grope underneath but couldn't feel anything so I may have to remove the instrument from the dash for a proper look! Not that it matters as I won't be using the trip meter.  |
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Penman
Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4857 Location: Swindon, Wilts.
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Posted: Sat Dec 05, 2015 10:17 pm Post subject: |
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Hi
What are the 2 unmarked knobs?
Presumably the one with the W is wipers. _________________ Bristols should always come in pairs.
Any 2 from:-
Straight 6
V8 V10 |
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Rich5ltr

Joined: 28 Mar 2008 Posts: 681 Location: Hampshire, UK
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Posted: Sat Dec 05, 2015 10:56 pm Post subject: |
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Middle one is the fog lamp and the bottom one pulls out to switch on the fuel gauge. Not sure why you would want to have the fuel gauge switched off but apparently early 30s Lagondas had this feature. To be honest I think the switches and gauges have been messed about with in its lifetime (e.g. the modern ammeter) but it's hard to find original cars to make comparisons with. |
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goneps
Joined: 18 Jun 2013 Posts: 601 Location: Auckland, New Zealand
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Posted: Sat Dec 05, 2015 11:02 pm Post subject: |
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Surely there's a club for Lagonda owners whose members would be able to advise? |
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Peter_L
Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 2680 Location: New Brunswick. Canada.
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Posted: Sat Dec 05, 2015 11:32 pm Post subject: |
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Rich5ltr wrote: | Middle one is the fog lamp and the bottom one pulls out to switch on the fuel gauge. Not sure why you would want to have the fuel gauge switched off but apparently early 30s Lagondas had this feature. To be honest I think the switches and gauges have been messed about with in its lifetime (e.g. the modern ammeter) but it's hard to find original cars to make comparisons with. |
Let me start by saying that 100%, I don't have a clue..... but...
The bottom switch is not original, although its position maybe. Did the original connect to (guess) connect to dash lights/instruments and someone messed with the wiring ??? Just to throw a few ideas out there.. |
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Rich5ltr

Joined: 28 Mar 2008 Posts: 681 Location: Hampshire, UK
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Posted: Sat Dec 05, 2015 11:41 pm Post subject: |
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goneps wrote: | Surely there's a club for Lagonda owners whose members would be able to advise? | Absolutely, The Lagonda Club, I'm a member, but hardly any of them use their chat forum. As there's some knowledgeable people on here this is a good place to chat... |
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mikeC

Joined: 31 Jul 2009 Posts: 1809 Location: Market Warsop, Nottinghamshire
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Posted: Sun Dec 06, 2015 9:43 am Post subject: |
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I can confirm that my father's Lagonda Rapier had those exact switches - I think the middle knob on the dash was for the panel illumination; the trip should have a short semi-flexible cable hanging down behind the dash with a knob on the end. I can't now remember whether the knob was pushed up or pulled down to set the trip. |
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