Mike V. Florida
Well-known member
It takes quite a bit to "burn" out an ammeter. Sustained draw of more then 20 amps for a period of time. Other things would burn up first.
Best available ampmeters
- Thread starter Larry Jenkins
- Start date
It takes quite a bit to "burn" out an ammeter. Sustained draw of more then 20 amps for a period of time. Other things would burn up first.
DougVieyra
Well-known member
Hearing of all the above reports regarding poor quality of today's amp-meters, makes me all the more satisfied with my 'affliction' of 'hoarding' all the various Model A parts that I collected in the 1960's & '70's. For what ever 'junk' that was accumulated back then, it seems that the 'junk' parts made in the 1960's were vastly superior to today's 'junk'.
All the cheap J.C.Whitney parts were at least made in America ! And all the second tier replacement parts sold by Sears, Wards, Western Auto, etc. were 'Made in America". And if not up the the top quality of the Ford Motor Company's original production, these after-market parts worked remarkably well. I am happy that I have these items now, even though I rarely have to resort to their use. The original Ford parts have held up exceedingly well.
All the cheap J.C.Whitney parts were at least made in America ! And all the second tier replacement parts sold by Sears, Wards, Western Auto, etc. were 'Made in America". And if not up the the top quality of the Ford Motor Company's original production, these after-market parts worked remarkably well. I am happy that I have these items now, even though I rarely have to resort to their use. The original Ford parts have held up exceedingly well.
H. L. Chauvin
Well-known member
Just in case anyone has a malfunctioning "original" ammeter, and would like to try to repair it, author Mr. Paul Moller, in Volume (2) of his "Model A Ford Restoration & Maintenance Handbook", wrote an article with a hand drawn diagram and photos on rebuilding ammeters.
Tom Wesenberg
Well-known member
I agree.
I looked the other day for any ammeters on ebay, where Dan used to sell under the name "phoncon", but I didn't see any listed.
SteveB31
Well-known member
Back in the 80s, their was a great repro ammeter being made. Since then all of them are made by the same company in China. They are $8, and they are not very good quality. I sent some perfect originals , as samples to copy, to the same folks that make the APCO oil pressure and APCO temperature gauges that are now being made (also oversees), but of excellent quality. I spoke with them a couple weeks ago to see how the ammeter project was coming. He said they could make them, and they would be nice quality, but he had to make several thousand in the first run. So, if they would cost ,say, $30 each, and say they need a 3000 minimum first order, then someone has to pony up $90,000 to get them made. Now, to make a reasonable profit, let's say they retail for $45. Would you think they can sell 3000 of them?. These are the decisions that are made to make every part that is currently being made. The guy that may or may not want to put up the $90,000 is the guy that has to wonder if e can make his money back. Myself, Brattons, Snyders, Mikes, and even Mac's wrestle with these decisions every day. Many parts do not require such a large quantity up front, so the decision to make them is easy, but when you have to make a large quantity up front, on an item you may or may not sell, the decision to write that big check is not so easy.
Steve Becker
Bert's Model A Center
Steve Becker
Bert's Model A Center
BILL WILLIAMSON
Well-known member
Well, I just bought a reproduction of an Old Glass Kerosene Lamp. It DIDN'T have the gold, oval sticker, "MADE IN CHINA"---Instead, it had LARGE EMBOSSED LETTERS, on the bottom, "MADE IN CHINA"---I "guess" they were PROUD of it, but the chimney sits CROOKEDY????--The Dog is LAFFING!
Bill W.
Bill W.
ocpd44
Junior Member
Exactly. And, when I first got my A, I had it down to the mechanic. He was positioning the car for a tow back to the house (it ran but wasn't drivable). When he shutnthe engine off, the cutout did not switch and, before we knew it, we smokedman ammeter. Since then, I learned about power fuses and installed one. Of course, the thing hasn't failed to cutout since.
Regards,
Jeff
DougVieyra
Well-known member
Thank you SteveB31 (post # 29) for helping us better understand the position that the makers of Model A parts have to undergo.
H. L. Chauvin
Well-known member
Thanks for your sincere response Steve.
And in your mentioning,
"They are $8, and they are not very good quality."
the one I received, (not from Bert's), was not the correct diameter and did not fit in the dash opening like originals ....... it was "far" too loose ...... it would have required substantial metal tightening shims to make it fit properly ...... in addition to the needle falling off.
The above manufacturing example you point out is a perfect example of a reality of Life where our U. S. citizens engaged in manufacturing have become fed up with our U. S. Government's Rules and Regulations with demanding "What We Cannot Do".
Then furthermore we are all faced with forever increasing taxes to waste on Foreign Aid to our Enemies .......... and then promising and supplying forever increasing FREE Welfare and Free Food Stamps to "Buy" votes from Lazy Citizens who have no intentions to look for work.
It is only very natural and far more profitable for U.S. entrepreneurs to have items manufactured tax free overseas and retail same here in the U.S. like the 95% or so of the Asian products we witness that is sold in Wal-Mart today.
Like with the reproduction Model A ammeters offered in 1980, our Crystal Ball used to be "CLEAR" in 1980 ............................ however, as we watch our paying mostly interest on our forever increasing 91 Trillion U. S. Credit Card Debt, our Crystal ball is just about 7/8ths full of Model A 600W Rear End Stuff.
Thank God we seniors lived in the best of Model A times and have enough good health to witness the remainder of what is left.
And in your mentioning,
"They are $8, and they are not very good quality."
the one I received, (not from Bert's), was not the correct diameter and did not fit in the dash opening like originals ....... it was "far" too loose ...... it would have required substantial metal tightening shims to make it fit properly ...... in addition to the needle falling off.
The above manufacturing example you point out is a perfect example of a reality of Life where our U. S. citizens engaged in manufacturing have become fed up with our U. S. Government's Rules and Regulations with demanding "What We Cannot Do".
Then furthermore we are all faced with forever increasing taxes to waste on Foreign Aid to our Enemies .......... and then promising and supplying forever increasing FREE Welfare and Free Food Stamps to "Buy" votes from Lazy Citizens who have no intentions to look for work.
It is only very natural and far more profitable for U.S. entrepreneurs to have items manufactured tax free overseas and retail same here in the U.S. like the 95% or so of the Asian products we witness that is sold in Wal-Mart today.
Like with the reproduction Model A ammeters offered in 1980, our Crystal Ball used to be "CLEAR" in 1980 ............................ however, as we watch our paying mostly interest on our forever increasing 91 Trillion U. S. Credit Card Debt, our Crystal ball is just about 7/8ths full of Model A 600W Rear End Stuff.
Thank God we seniors lived in the best of Model A times and have enough good health to witness the remainder of what is left.
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