Speedometer cable finish

[wrndln]

I have looked through the Judging Guidelines for the finish on the speedometer cable on a 28/29 car. Other speedometer items are described, but I can't find the actual outside cable finish. Does anyone know whether it is raven finished or cad/zinc. If someone knows where it is in the JG's please respond with the page number.
Thanks for any help.
Rusty Nelson

[luckyal]

With all due respect, every time I read this type of post I am thankful I only have a nice driver instead of a points car ! For me to stress over this type of information and requirements would take the pleasurew out of owning a Model A !!! Thank goodness there is room in the hobby for both of us !
Al

[chopo]

to each his own. natural finish with engine paint overspray on it at clamp

[Mike V. Florida]

I believe it was originally Raven but flat black will work.

[wrndln]

Luckyal,
Please, just ignore my posts and don't post responses to my posts unless you have something constructive to respond with.
Rusty Nelson

[wrndln]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Thanks Mike V. I though I read somewhere they were raven finished, but of course I can't find it now, so I wasn't sure. I agree, that flat black would be a decent substitute for a raven finish. I'm not sure how a person would get a raven finish on something as large as a speedometer cable. It seems all cables from vendors are zinc or cad plated.
Rusty Nelson

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by wrndln

Luckyal,
Please, just ignore my posts and don't post responses to my posts unless you have something constructive to respond with.
Rusty Nelson

AW, Rusty, Al's just rattlin' I've done the same in the past. You know what? I've found it rewarding to try to do stuff in an original manner, even if you're not trying for points. I guess d.j. & others hae rubbed off on me. The cars are only original looking once. Did a lot of changes on Minerva before I sold her, but trying to keep Vermin quite original. Even Gregg, the old drag racer, has gotten into the proper ways of keeping things as they were way back then. He even hammered out some "T" shaped cotter pins! Once, he put in a NAIL for a cotter pin to see if I would notice it! (AARGH!)
Bill W.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by Mike V. Florida

I believe it was originally Raven but flat black will work.

I wonder if a Dog mixed some flat urethane clear & sum lampblack & stirred it with his 2 long claws & rubbed it on with a throw away junk rag, wuld it make a durable "RAVEN FINISH"?
Ol' Bill's gonna' mix lampblack with epoxy resin to "DO" 2 small steering wheel kracks. Buster T.
(Hope you like my pics, Ol' Bill showed me how to "DIG EM UP"!)

[Mitch//pa]

just ignore the canadian mountie everyday he makes a new friend

thanks for the info on the finish i was wondering about that also

[Tom Wesenberg]

I would blacken it with G96 Gun Blueing. It sure worked nice on my rusty old .22 Remington. I posted some pictures a few months ago, but maybe can post them again. This gun was all rust and bare metal until I sanded it and reblued it. I bought the G-96 off ebay.
Birchwood-Cassey seems to have a monopoly on the local stores and it doesn't work.

[Franchise_24]

I don't know why people bother making some of the comments they do. Sorry you had to experience it Rusty. Just wait, the high and mighty will 1 star this thread next. Thing is they hide behind it and will never admit to it.

[160B]

Originally Posted by wrndln

I have looked through the Judging Guidelines for the finish on the speedometer cable on a 28/29 car. Other speedometer items are described, but I can't find the actual outside cable finish. Does anyone know whether it is raven finished or cad/zinc. If someone knows where it is in the JG's please respond with the page number.
Thanks for any help.
Rusty Nelson

Restoration Guidelines and Judging Standards, Area 1 Engine Compartment, page 1-18 revised 2011, Table for Engine Compartment Finishes, Speedometer cable Housing finish "R" Raven finish.

[Arlen]

I'm not happy with how raven last so I had mine powder coated a low gloss black. Guy thought I was nuts but man it looks good now in the car.

[Ryan]

I've cleaned this thread up a bit... A reminder of sorts - if you like the Ford Barn and value your account here at all, please be respectful of other users. To be frank, I'm not into hosting the school girl name calling and what not.

Thanks,

R.

[Ron in Quincy]

Rusty,

I had the cable on A1276 Black Oxide by a plating shop in Reno. He has a special tank set up for Black Oxide; does a lot of gun parts in Black Oxide; the tank is heated and the finish does not rust. I also had 2 28 Cables done for another person who is also building 2 Fine Point A's.

Ron

[Steve Plucker]

Originally Posted by wrndln

I have looked through the Judging Guidelines for the finish on the speedometer cable on a 28/29 car. Other speedometer items are described, but I can't find the actual outside cable finish. Does anyone know whether it is raven finished or cad/zinc. If someone knows where it is in the JG's please respond with the page number.
Thanks for any help.
Rusty Nelson

Great question Rusty!...This is what Model A'ing is all about...Hope you got the answer you were looking for. You can't ask for better guys, such as Mike V., Chopo, Mitch, Tom Wesenberg, Franchise 24, 1930 Coupe, 160 B, Arlen and Ron in Quincy, to step up to the plate when one of us is in need of a answer, no matter what the question is.

And Ron in Quincy is right...I have seen this guy's work and he's got my vote!

Pluck

[Gary Karr]

Rusty,
The original speedo cable housings were raven finish. I have a great original that shows a lot of the raven finish and the large nut on the end that screws onto the speedo gear is an unfinished aluminum. All of the original Stewart Warner cable housings I have seen have the Stewart Warner script at the bottom end, visible when mounted on the car. I have a great source for raven-type plating. Send me a PM. Gary

[Mitch//pa]

Originally Posted by Arlen

I'm not happy with how raven last so I had mine powder coated a low gloss black. Guy thought I was nuts but man it looks good now in the car.

Does the housing stay flexible after powder coating? Never would of thought that would work out good, but now ill try mine..

P.s. hey guys i made the CUT. Lol

[wrndln]

Thanks to all that responded constructively. Raven finished it is! Now if I can find a decent speedometer to get raven finished, I would be in business. Maybe Bert's in Denver has one or two of them. The one or two I have are kinked and wouldn't look very good even if raven finished.
Rusty Nelson

[Steve Plucker]

Originally Posted by wrndln

Thanks to all that responded constructively. Raven finished it is! Now if I can find a decent speedometer to get raven finished, I would be in business. Maybe Bert's in Denver has one or two of them. The one or two I have are kinked and wouldn't look very good even if raven finished.
Rusty Nelson

Rusty,

I may be mistaken but the case of the speedometer was black enamel???...on top of that, it is not seen when assembled to the Instrument Panel Assembly anyway.

Pluck

[Charles Reese]

Re: “Raven” I stumbled across this … am hoping the 'magic potion' in the rustolem will delay surface rust from forming.

(l) rust oleum; (m) heated/quenched in old oil; (r) gloss paint

(Late Entry) I stumbled across this when i was cleaning up some hinges on my garden gate ... the hinges seem to be holding up pretty well considering i only wire brushed them before spraying .. i think i have tried all of the 'tried and true' methods - to no avail ... am pleased with the outcome of this so far!

[wrndln]

Steve,
I was referring to the cable, not the speedometer itself. I have 3 speedometers rebuilt by Harry Warburton that are painted gloss black.
Rusty Nelson

[d.j. moordigian]

Rusty,

Here's a photo.....

[d.j. moordigian]

Couldn't stand the first darker photo.....so here's the fix.

[Midwest Tin]

Hi, In a prior reply Ron stated he had two 28 speedo cable housing redone. My question is a 28 speedo cable housing same as the 29? and what is the lenght of an original 28/29 cable?
Thank you Jim

[Tom Wesenberg]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Originally Posted by Midwest Tin

Hi, In a prior reply Ron stated he had two 28 speedo cable housing redone. My question is a 28 speedo cable housing same as the 29? and what is the lenght of an original 28/29 cable?
Thank you Jim

28 and 29 are the same. I bought a nice original cable from Bert's when I stopped there about 8 years ago.

I'll have to measure the length when I go to the garage.

[160B]

Originally Posted by Midwest Tin

Hi, In a prior reply Ron stated he had two 28 speedo cable housing redone. My question is a 28 speedo cable housing same as the 29? and what is the lenght of an original 28/29 cable?
Thank you Jim

Restoration Guidelines and Judging Standards, Area 1 Engine Compartment, page 1-15 revised 2011.

"The initial speedometer cable was 15/32" in diameter. With the introduction of the round speedometer in June 1930, the cable was 19/64" in diameter."

[d.j. moordigian]

While I was looking this stuff up you received good info.
1. The split was in early 1930.
2. About 62"

Dudley

[Arlen]

Mitch - it last great. There's not really any sharp curves so seems to be holding up just fine. I powder coat most every part of the car. I love that stuff.

[Mitch//pa]

Originally Posted by Arlen

Mitch - it last great. There's not really any sharp curves so seems to be holding up just fine. I powder coat most every part of the car. I love that stuff.

arlen,
agree were on the same page