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sam christie
United Kingdom
3101 Posts |
 Posted - 31/07/2020 : 18:12:57
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This looks like an early J2 speedometer but the face is mostly brown with the graduated areas picked out in a darker brown.
If not from a J2, is it from an F2, F3, or L2 ?
Sam |
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Ian Bowers
United Kingdom
942 Posts |
Posted - 01/08/2020 : 08:38:24
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I am pretty certain the PB designation is J2.
Ian Bowers
OD 6791
J3 3772 |
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sam christie
United Kingdom
3101 Posts |
Posted - 01/08/2020 : 12:10:58
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Thanks Ian.
It is really the very unusual finish which I would like to explain.
According to another thread (which could be mistaken) apart from the J2 these speedometers with the Smiths PB and P.B. speedometer codes were also used on the F2, F3, and L2 .
Might the speedometer be from a J2 Coupé ? It is in such good condition that it seems to have had a very sheltered life.
Sam |
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Ian Bowers
United Kingdom
942 Posts |
Posted - 01/08/2020 : 12:34:38
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Looking at the very edges (WSW and SW) of the dial face (image may be misleading) they look to be paper, in which case it may have enjoyed a repair at some point in its life.
Ian Bowers
OD 6791
J3 3772 |
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sam christie
United Kingdom
3101 Posts |
Posted - 01/08/2020 : 13:03:05
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Thanks Ian.
No paper just some surplus modern sealant around the edge of the glass. What was the original spacer made from ?
Sam |
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robin
United Kingdom
177 Posts |
Posted - 01/08/2020 : 15:07:54
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Would MG have tempted fate with 6,500 revs. and 100 mph on a J2? My Ltype speedo only went to 90 mph.
robin |
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JohnE
United Kingdom
373 Posts |
Posted - 01/08/2020 : 15:30:06
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I make the scale 15.5mph for 1k revs.
According to Blower; F = 16.7mph, L = 15.2, J =14.7.
JohnE |
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Simon Johnston
United Kingdom
6137 Posts |
Posted - 01/08/2020 : 16:13:26
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Chaps,
The dial on Sam’s speedo is absolutely correct (apart from the odd colour). This photo
Is of the real McCoy and it reads to 100 mph. The rpm markings, however, are not very accurate.
Simon J
J3437 |
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Foz
United Kingdom
769 Posts |
Posted - 01/08/2020 : 19:55:02
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Hi All,
F2 Magnas and J3 Midgets ...two seater cars with dash panels like J2s... but having a different rear axle ratio... had the same governor type speedo but calibrated to the higher axle ratio.They can be identified easily as the are marked PC . and the rev/mph scales reflect that.... When I was restoring my first F2 ... about 50 years ago!... it was missing its speedo.... I did a deal with New Churcher for his J3 one as he wanted a 6" rev counter.... that is not the J3 he is just completing now......
FOZ |
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sam christie
United Kingdom
3101 Posts |
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sam christie
United Kingdom
3101 Posts |
Posted - 01/08/2020 : 21:09:16
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Not wishing to hijack my own thread it seems it was not always "P.B." but sometimes just plain old "PB" and sometimes not necessarily M.G.
Sam |
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Ian Bowers
United Kingdom
942 Posts |
Posted - 02/08/2020 : 08:32:53
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That's interesting, Foz.
I am now the steward of the J3 which Nev owned. When brought back from Italy, it came with a PB (ie J2 speedo) fitted and a spare J3 (PC) speedo with the bearings shot. I had always thought it was the original. Now repaired and replaced, and needing re-calibration.
Can anyone add to the journey story of this PB speedo?
Ian Bowers
OD 6791
J3 3772 |
Edited by - Ian Bowers on 02/08/2020 08:33:26 |
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Foz
United Kingdom
769 Posts |
Posted - 02/08/2020 : 16:42:43
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Hi Ian,
sorry about that... having cars running was the priority and Nev was using the J3 for competition so needed the rev counter. Last heard my F2 was north of London somewhere.... I purchased a £25 Mini with the reg number 1930MG and put that on the F2.
Hi Sam,
its all down to cable turns throwing out the governor weights... and all those mechanisms were 3" diameter ... the bigger ones simply had an adaptor ring inside the 5" case so a J1 tour would have the same mechanism as a J2 but in the smaller case.. Ditto for F-types with their ratio.... dials were marked with different letters so no confusion when ordering a replacement and you got the right physical size/ratio. Very neat mechanism but they wear rapidly on those tiny ball bearings......
FOZ |
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John Reid
United Kingdom
704 Posts |
Posted - 02/08/2020 : 18:14:33
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Hi Foz,
When I sold the J3 to Nev Churcher in the late 1960s (long time ago!) I reminded him to take care of the speedo because it was the original and correct one for the car, calibrated for 9/43 axle ratio. Anyway, sounds like the deal was done for a good cause
John R |
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Barry Walker
United Kingdom
230 Posts |
Posted - 03/08/2020 : 17:57:28
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Hi Sam. Ref. your original question.
I am absolutely certan this is one of Speedograph Richfields screen printed paper dials, from the eighties, cafefully stuck to a metal backing plate. The colours were never consistent. I may be wrong, but I do remember them, (but I never bought one!) Horrid.
Of course all ORIGINAL faces were engraved and filled, white on black. You can always tell an original.
All best, BW. |
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Simon Johnston
United Kingdom
6137 Posts |
Posted - 03/08/2020 : 18:51:06
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Funnily enough, my speedo pictured above was restored/refurbished by Speedograph Richfield in 1972 (I still have their label - somewhere), but retaining the original engraved dial as Barry has described.
Simon J
J3437 |
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