1941 Ford Dash gauge restoration

T

Torchie

Senior Member
I am getting ready to restore the gauge cluster on my 41 Ford car.
I have looked in most of the Ford parts suppliers and done some thread searches but I can't find anyone that sell the decals to replace the numbers on the speedo
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks as always...
Torchie.
 
I had the same problem. But I also discovered with another speedo I had that on one the numbers were on the speedo face and the other the numbers were on the glass. Odd to say the least. I did see someone on Ebay selling gauge face decals but couldn't find them when I needed them! You could buy a new speedo face. I believe there's one on Ebay now.
 
fordor41 said:
I had the same problem. But I also discovered with another speedo I had that on one the numbers were on the speedo face and the other the numbers were on the glass. Odd to say the least. I did see someone on Ebay selling gauge face decals but couldn't find them when I needed them! You could buy a new speedo face. I believe there's one on Ebay now.
Click to expand...

More 41 Ford car quirks I suspect. The one that I am working on has the numbers on the glass. Speedo is less an issue than the rest of the gauges. Lots of stuff for truck gauges but no little red numbers for the 41 car. I believe that based on the hood hinges mine is a Late production model.
Thanks for the response.
Torchie.
 
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Torchie said:
More 41 Ford car quirks I suspect. The one that I am working on has the numbers on the glass. Speedo is less an issue than the rest of the gauges. Lots of stuff for truck gauges but no little red numbers for the 41 car. I believe that based on the hood hinges mine is a Late production model.
Thanks for the response.
Torchie.
Click to expand...
My first thought was to remove the numbers from the glass and replace them with decals to refresh the look. I couldn't find anything that would remove the numbers. I tried solvents, thinners, strippers and razors. Nothing touched the print on the glass. Good stuff !!!
 
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fordor41 said:
My first thought was to remove the numbers from the glass and replace them with decals to refresh the look. I couldn't find anything that would remove the numbers. I tried slovents, thinners, strippers and razors. Nothing touched the print on the glass. Good stuff !!!
Click to expand...

Those decals on the glass are what I am trying to find. Apparently no one makes them.
Torchie.
 
Torchie,

Back in the 90's I bought decal paper from a hobby shop that could be printed using a laser copier. You can scan your current cluster and retouch the image with Photoshop or similar program on your computer. Then, the only thing left to do is spray it with an UV coat so it doesn't degrade, and your decal is ready. Finally, use "Microset" and "Microsol" to set the decal on the cluster.

Probably, there are new products available now, so I would search google for new products.

Thanks,

Conrad
 
I was thinking of getting new glass and replacing the numbers with decals but couldn't find a font that was like ford's. looks like an art deco font
 
hingebird said:
Torchie,

Back in the 90's I bought decal paper from a hobby shop that could be printed using a laser copier. You can scan your current cluster and retouch the image with Photoshop or similar program on your computer. Then, the only thing left to do is spray it with an UV coat so it doesn't degrade, and your decal is ready. Finally, use "Microset" and "Microsol" to set the decal on the cluster.

Probably, there are new products available now, so I would search google for new products.

Thanks,

Conrad
Click to expand...

fordor41 said:
I was thinking of getting new glass and replacing the numbers with decals but couldn't find a font that was like ford's. looks like an art deco font
Click to expand...

I thought of that possibility as well but haven't pursued it yet. I have also considered looking for a sign painter to just replicate them.
Here are some pics of my gauges. Looks like the decals are/were attached to the gauge surface and not the glass. Font appears to be fairly square and since I am not going for a 100 restoration I will look at making the decals from the computer. I will try to remove the originals and see if I can scan them.
Sorry for the picture quality as it was hard to shoot thru the glass with out glare.
Thanks for the responses.
Torchie.
 

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those look like decals. Mine were actual paint, probably screen printed but impossible to remove for the glass. Yours looks like the font is pretty close to my stock letters.
 
Try contacting Bob wells here on the barn, I believe his contact name is bobwellsnoveltyshop, he does very nice work and he can get the decals for most speedometers.
 
fordor41 said:
those look like decals. Mine were actual paint, probably screen printed but impossible to remove for the glass. Yours looks like the font is pretty close to my stock letters.
Click to expand...

Yes they are decals. It looks like they have shifted from heat???? Or just age.

funrunr said:
Try contacting Bob wells here on the barn, I believe his contact name is bobwellsnoveltyshop, he does very nice work and he can get the decals for most speedometers.
Click to expand...

Thanks funrunr for the info.
I will look into it.
Torchie.
 
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