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MG TD TF 1500 - Mystery gauges?!

Hello to you all.

I've attached pictures of the gauges on my 53TD. I know they are not original but can anyone tell me what they have come from?

Thanks

John


J Clack

John, They look to me like early TD Jaeger flat faced, non-magnetic gauges that perhaps had their faces repainted in a non-standard pattern and color.
Steven Tobias

Those are really interesting.... certainly TD needles, but they sure have a Triumph look to them? And 8000 rpm/120 mph?
gblawson(gordon)

John, I suspect they are from the MG-TE series, most likely equipped with a Healey engine and overdrive to attain 120mph. Actually, one drove by last night at great speed, in the fog, so I didn't get his number! Thats the only time you ever see them or hear them, on those dark and foggy nights, whilst sipping your final for the night. Cheers, Bob
R.AF. Robert Finucane

TEE HEE, TEE HEE
gblawson(gordon)

Guys I agree

The only way my TD would do 120mph is if you pushed it out of a C130 Hercules at 15,000 feet. I have done 70mph which I must confess feels like 'warp factor 7'.
Like the idea of a TE though what would that look like??!!!

Cheers

John
J Clack

John, The gauges might not be origional, but I would like to have the steering wheel! Its a beauty! Is it origional? If not, its a really nice repro.
Steven Tobias

Steven

I'm not sure (I'm no expert I'm only 40 years old) but unfortunately it has a hair line crack in the 'bakerlite' which runs half the way around the wheel but still feels OK. She's 56 years old on Monday (according to the T-Register) so I will be having a celebration!!

Cheers
J Clack

Somewhere, like around the bottom edge of the dial, there should be numbers. From what I can see of the bezels, it looks like the gauge is smaller than the case. General appearance and the fact that there is no "redline" marking leads me to think they are c.1970 Smith's aftermarket, fitted in original cases. 8000/120 was standard on these.
Never heard of a stock Triumph that could even dream of 8000!
FRM
FR Millmore

John, Happy birthday to your car. I'm sure that I speak for many of us who love to hear about an enthusiast that is actually younger then his car! It gives us hope that interest in our hobby will continue!
Steven Tobias

...younger then his car....sigh! I have mine by 6 years...!
gblawson(gordon)

Gordon, I second that sigh! When I attend GOFs, I find that I am very much toward the younger end of the spectrum, and I am TD +2 years!
Steven Tobias

The chap I bought the TD from was 73 and felt he was 'too old' to get it back on the road.... the closer I get (11 years to go), the more I wonder if I will feel like doing the same? Don't feel like it now, but who knows....
For now, I'm getting ready for a 400 mile drive on Friday....!
gblawson(gordon)

Gordon, 400 miles in one day, in the TD? You are the man!! Age is just a number!
Steven Tobias

Well, I did Gatlinburg in two days...but of course I was younger by a couple of years!!!


gblawson(gordon)

Gordon, I'm very impressed! For the awards night at the eastern GOF's, the TarHeel (North Carolina) chapter always dresses in formal wear. Its sort of a contest about who can carry the most stuff in, on and around their T type.
I especially like your "rack"!
Steven Tobias

I wanted something for just the occasional trip...not a permanent one:

http://www.gblandco.com/gb/rack/rack.html
gblawson(gordon)

Trying to figure out ...(brain has turnned to mush from dealing with too many "gray men in thin suits")...am I better off claiming to be "TF + 2" (by tittle date of 55) or "TF + 1" (by build date of 54) ;-) !
Think I'll stick with "+1" for this applacation....although most of the tyme Izzy goes by her "tittle date".

Hey Gordon, Was cleaning out my boot the other day and was reminded how nice the covers for my side windows you made for me look! Hadn't been in there for a few years.
Thanks again for those...they still look great!
Cheers, David 55 TF1500 #7427


David Sheward

Gordon, who made those beautiful leather straps? I think the original racks may have used very similar ones.
Jim Merz

I found the straps at 'Princess Auto' (canadian Harbor Freight) for $2.98 each).... a bit thinner then they look, but survived a couple of days of rain with no problems.

Thanks David... still have your old carpet (without the agent orange) and the patina matches the car!!!!!
gblawson(gordon)

Wow, how expensive????

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MG-TD-Original-set-of-gauges-Tach-Speedo-Excellent_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ140700QQihZ016QQitemZ260418991520QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW


Is this what I need to pay, I can see sending the children (and wife)to work in the coal mines ?

John
J Clack

...Oh, didn't we mention? My kids are home from their shift at the mill any minute...and I have to go next door to see if my 96 year old mom is finished with the weekly 'afgan'...(just doesn't see so well anymore)!!!!
gblawson(gordon)

Gordon- forgot about my mother that would add another 'value stream'!!
But is this really what the prices are for gauges? (may have to mortgauge the wife, sell the dog and hoc the kids)?
Cheers
John
J Clack

John: If you bought a broken speedo, that also needed cosmetic restoration, you'd probably pay about $100-$150 on ebay. A broken tach, with clock, also needing cosmetics would cost at least $200-$250. So that's $300-$400 right there. Then figure the cost of mechanical restoration and calibration at $150 minimum each, that's $600 - $700 right there. Now figure in a few hundred $$ for cosmetics, and you can see where this leads. I'll let others chime in if they think I'm way off on this.

These gauges look very nice and if, and that's a big IF, the seller guarantees their accuracy (which I doubt he can) they are worth the opening bid.

How about your other gauges? Are they correct and restored? If I recall, a ball park estimate to rebuild and restore all 4 gauges from most restoration shops is about $1200, and you have to provide the gauges. You do have a great quality shop right there in the UK with John Marks and Classic Restorations.

Cheers

Larry
L Karpman

John, I have seen pretty decent gauges for around $375 each. These ebay gauges, however, do look very nice, and they are correct for a '53.
Steven Tobias

John
I think I would try to find out what car they came out of. They might be worth more to those owners than the gauges listed on eBay at over $1200. I would also keep them until I located replacements, try flea markets at car shows. I found a combo water temp and oil gauge with no capillary tube for $25 dollars, cost another $100 to have it fixed. The company that fixed it was John Wolf Co inc in Willioby (?) Ohio. They had a extra set of gauges that I purchased the clock out of. I tried to locate a link for them but Goggle would not let me? Maybe some one in Ohio has a link for them? John
John Hambleton

John,

These look like the original early instruments which have had a rebuild. There is and easy and cheap way to get them to look as factory spec. all you need to do stick the de-calc set on the faces and paint the hands black. If it is done correctly one cannot tell the differnce.

John

52 TD
J Scragg

Guys
Thank you all for your input, had fun in reading all your posts and I'm learing all the time from the information you give.
Vintage Restorations in the UK are very busy at the moment so will not be getting my gauges rebuilt at the moment (not until September 09) which is good because I haven't managed to sell the wife yet!

Having all my Windscreen/Windshield components chromed in the next few weeks. Can't wait to ask, how the heXX does this go back together again!!

Thank you all very much

(Larry thanks for the parts)

John
(We must all be mad)
J Clack

John,

There are some pretty good pictures on my website of restoring the windscreen. If you follow my steps (with the exception of slicing your finger mitering the gasket corners) you will get good results. As additional information, the Auster emblem goes to the inside of the bottom piece, and you have to work out the order of the long pot metal nut plates on the vertical frames so you have the right screw holes open for the pivoting side supports.

Windscreen wiper mounting is in that section.

warmly,
dave
Dave Braun

Dave

Fantastic web site, those pictures will help me without a doubt. I will try not to cut any limb in the process but expect many technical terms to be expressed in my frustration!

Kind Regards

John
J Clack

John, If you look back through the BBS archives, there are a great many postings under "windscreen" or "windshield" (the way we say it on this side of the pond! Back in March of this year, there were 3 threads that I had participated in that you might find helpful. Of course, Dave B's site shows it very well. I found that the one thing that always helped me, was to use a large bench vise or clamps to apply gradual pressure to the frame pieces, rather than the hammer method!
Steven Tobias

Steven thanks for your reply
Not sure if I like a hammer method!, I might be being daft but can't find those threads after a search, any advice on how I can find these?
Cheers
John
J Clack

John, If you go to the main member page, go to BBS archives. Here you can select the main topic (TD, TF) and then the year. Look in march of this year. Also, instead of selecting the year, you have a search option (all years), where you can enter windscreen.
Also, when I said "hammer", I was refering to a rubber mallet, popular with the glazing trade. Because the glass doesn't penetrate very far into the channels (especially the top), the gradual squeeze method worked better for me.
Steven Tobias

This thread was discussed between 02/06/2009 and 10/06/2009

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