The Ford Barn

hb32 · 02-12-2015, 08:05 PM

Yeah I know, gotta get the book

but in the mean time...
I have 2, what I think are, 32 Delco speedometers, one is a 90 mph and the other 80 mph. Not able to find any pics on them and looking for confirmation if they are Delco. The 90 has a really long sweep needle where as the 80 is short.
Anyone have any insight on them?
I suspect that the 80 is correct with the build date for my pickup and it came in a commercial black painted dash which should coincide as well.
As always, thanks for sharing the knowledge.

Charlie Stephens · 02-12-2015, 09:02 PM

I think your 80 MPH sweep needle is short because the pointed end is broken off (look carefully). Even then the round area is blended and not round on the ones I have and on the ones pictured in the book. On the 90 MPH you show the arrow at the end of the needle doesn't match anything I have or are pictured in the book. "The 1932 Ford Book" (you really need a copy) says that the speedometers changed from 80 to 90 MPH in late May with the direction to use the remaining 80 MPH speedometers on the four cylinder powered vehicles. By the way, what is the build date of your pickup? I am sure DavidG will jump in here are clear things up.

Charlie Stephens

MIRoger · 02-12-2015, 09:24 PM

Delco speedometers have a black painted housing. Waltham and Stewart -Warner speedometers have cad plated housings. The back of the Stewart-Warner speedos have raise circular ribs. The back of the Waltham housings are flat. The Delco units also say Delco Appliance around the central hub. Charlie is correct about the needle on your 90 MPH unit. According to the engineering records on file at the BFRC Ford specified the same design needle for all three suppliers. For your early production PU the 80 MPH is correct.

hb32 · 02-12-2015, 10:00 PM

They both fit the description with the 90 being a Delco and the 80 a Stewart Warner without the logo on the face. Mounting tabs on both along with physical size is identical. The 90 has a stop peg at zero where as the 80 does not. Could the needle be a carry over from "A" ?
Looks like I may need to hunt down a needle for the 80.
Truck is a late May build from the info I have.

Charlie Stephens · 02-12-2015, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hb32

They both fit the description with the 90 being a Delco and the 80 a Stewart Warner without the logo on the face. Mounting tabs on both along with physical size is identical. The 90 has a stop peg at zero where as the 80 does not. Could the needle be a carry over from "A" ?
Looks like I may need to hunt down a needle for the 80.
Truck is a late May build from the info I have.

The needle is definitely not a carry over from the Model A. The Model A had a rotating disc and displayed the speed through a window at the front. (see https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=161499)

Charlie Stephens

hb32 · 02-12-2015, 10:57 PM

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Right and excuse my lack of knowledge or better yet memory.

DavidG · 02-12-2015, 11:13 PM

You could resolve your question in a hurry with a couple of photos of the back of the speedometers that you have and apply the accurate description provided by MIRoger. Based on the style of the numbers alone, they are not both Delco speedometers.

As stated above, the needle or pointer on the 80 MPH speedometer is not a Ford part and the other is broken off (a fairly common occurrence). While the appearance of all of the '32 speedometer needles are the same, they are not completely interchangeable across all three manufacturers' (Delco, Stewart Warner, and Whatham) speedometers due to different diameters of the shaft to which the needles are attached.

hb32 · 02-13-2015, 12:22 AM

Here you go. The left is Delco and right is Stewart Warner according to the descriptions given earlier.

DavidG · 02-13-2015, 05:54 AM

Correct.

hb32 · 02-14-2015, 12:27 PM

Thanks for the help, once again and yeah I need to get the book.
Any idea where I can get a replacement needle for the 80 mph speedo?
Also, it seems that the Stewart Warner speedo`s are very common, is there any value in the 90 mph Delco that I have?
Are the 80 mph speedometers harder to come by due to the limited availability ?

Charlie Stephens · 02-14-2015, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hb32

Thanks for the help, once again and yeah I need to get the book.
Any idea where I can get a replacement needle for the 80 mph speedo?
Also, it seems that the Stewart Warner speedo`s are very common, is there any value in the 90 mph Delco that I have?
Are the 80 mph speedometers harder to come by due to the limited availability ?

It has been my observation that most people want the 90 MPH and if anything there is a premium on them. You might contact someone that rebuilds speedometers and see if they have a needle they would sell you. You might try a wanted ad for speedometer core with good needle.

Charlie Stephens

DavidG · 02-14-2015, 04:06 PM

The pecking order in terms of desirability seems to be Stewart Warner, followed by Delco, with Waltham at the bottom of the list and the 90 MPH versions of all three are more sought after as Charlie indicates. Notwithstanding, the Delco version is the easiest one to restore. Only early V-8s came with 80 MPH speedometers, but they were used on Model B well past mid-model year. Both of the speedometers shown in your photos appear to be on the rough side, condition judging from the deterioration of their faces. Reproduction Stewart Warner 90 MPH face plates are available, but not Delco (or Waltham) face plates.

02-12-2015, 08:05 PM	#1
hb32 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Nanaimo Vancouver Island B.C. Canada Posts: 1,067	32 speedometers Yeah I know, gotta get the book but in the mean time... I have 2, what I think are, 32 Delco speedometers, one is a 90 mph and the other 80 mph. Not able to find any pics on them and looking for confirmation if they are Delco. The 90 has a really long sweep needle where as the 80 is short. Anyone have any insight on them? I suspect that the 80 is correct with the build date for my pickup and it came in a commercial black painted dash which should coincide as well. As always, thanks for sharing the knowledge.

02-12-2015, 09:02 PM	#2
Charlie Stephens Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern California Posts: 7,032	Re: 32 speedometers I think your 80 MPH sweep needle is short because the pointed end is broken off (look carefully). Even then the round area is blended and not round on the ones I have and on the ones pictured in the book. On the 90 MPH you show the arrow at the end of the needle doesn't match anything I have or are pictured in the book. "The 1932 Ford Book" (you really need a copy) says that the speedometers changed from 80 to 90 MPH in late May with the direction to use the remaining 80 MPH speedometers on the four cylinder powered vehicles. By the way, what is the build date of your pickup? I am sure DavidG will jump in here are clear things up. Charlie Stephens Last edited by Charlie Stephens; 02-12-2015 at 09:08 PM.

02-12-2015, 09:24 PM	#3
MIRoger Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 31	Re: 32 speedometers Delco speedometers have a black painted housing. Waltham and Stewart -Warner speedometers have cad plated housings. The back of the Stewart-Warner speedos have raise circular ribs. The back of the Waltham housings are flat. The Delco units also say Delco Appliance around the central hub. Charlie is correct about the needle on your 90 MPH unit. According to the engineering records on file at the BFRC Ford specified the same design needle for all three suppliers. For your early production PU the 80 MPH is correct.

02-12-2015, 10:00 PM	#4
hb32 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Nanaimo Vancouver Island B.C. Canada Posts: 1,067	Re: 32 speedometers They both fit the description with the 90 being a Delco and the 80 a Stewart Warner without the logo on the face. Mounting tabs on both along with physical size is identical. The 90 has a stop peg at zero where as the 80 does not. Could the needle be a carry over from "A" ? Looks like I may need to hunt down a needle for the 80. Truck is a late May build from the info I have.

02-12-2015, 10:57 PM	#6
hb32 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Nanaimo Vancouver Island B.C. Canada Posts: 1,067	Re: 32 speedometers Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Right and excuse my lack of knowledge or better yet memory.

02-12-2015, 11:13 PM	#7
DavidG Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: southeastern Michigan Posts: 10,101	Re: 32 speedometers You could resolve your question in a hurry with a couple of photos of the back of the speedometers that you have and apply the accurate description provided by MIRoger. Based on the style of the numbers alone, they are not both Delco speedometers. As stated above, the needle or pointer on the 80 MPH speedometer is not a Ford part and the other is broken off (a fairly common occurrence). While the appearance of all of the '32 speedometer needles are the same, they are not completely interchangeable across all three manufacturers' (Delco, Stewart Warner, and Whatham) speedometers due to different diameters of the shaft to which the needles are attached.

02-13-2015, 12:22 AM	#8
hb32 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Nanaimo Vancouver Island B.C. Canada Posts: 1,067	Re: 32 speedometers Here you go. The left is Delco and right is Stewart Warner according to the descriptions given earlier.

02-13-2015, 05:54 AM	#9
DavidG Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: southeastern Michigan Posts: 10,101	Re: 32 speedometers Correct.

02-14-2015, 12:27 PM	#10
hb32 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Nanaimo Vancouver Island B.C. Canada Posts: 1,067	Re: 32 speedometers Thanks for the help, once again and yeah I need to get the book. Any idea where I can get a replacement needle for the 80 mph speedo? Also, it seems that the Stewart Warner speedo`s are very common, is there any value in the 90 mph Delco that I have? Are the 80 mph speedometers harder to come by due to the limited availability ? Last edited by hb32; 02-14-2015 at 12:39 PM.

02-14-2015, 04:06 PM	#12
DavidG Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: southeastern Michigan Posts: 10,101	Re: 32 speedometers The pecking order in terms of desirability seems to be Stewart Warner, followed by Delco, with Waltham at the bottom of the list and the 90 MPH versions of all three are more sought after as Charlie indicates. Notwithstanding, the Delco version is the easiest one to restore. Only early V-8s came with 80 MPH speedometers, but they were used on Model B well past mid-model year. Both of the speedometers shown in your photos appear to be on the rough side, condition judging from the deterioration of their faces. Reproduction Stewart Warner 90 MPH face plates are available, but not Delco (or Waltham) face plates.