Aristocrat Dash Panel?

[v8fordman]

I found this in my dad's Model A "stuff". I am wondering if this is an Aristocrat accessory aftermarket dash? It is all aluminum.

 

[Brian SATX]

Not sure of he brand but yes it is like an Aristocrat.

 

[A 2 B]

Yes, that is an Aristocrat. The very early ones were said to be made from steel but I've never seen one. I have one like yours that was in a '30 coupe hot rod project I bought. They were discontinued only a few years ago.

 

[DBSHELTON]

I sure wish someone would repop these!! I would love a couple of them.

 

[David R.]

What do you put in the extra holes?

 

[DBSHELTON]

Oil pressure, temp gauges?

 

[v8fordman]

What do you put in the extra holes?

That was going to be my next question. Would old Stewart Warner gauges fit the holes?

 

[Jack Shaft]

Oil pressure gauge in a gravity system?nothing like the confident feeling of 2 pounds on the gauge..rather that be a mystery looks like the ammeter hole was hacked open..

 

[rotorwrench]

Some of these types of accessories were being made when folks were installing V8 engines. They were the early aftermarket hot rod parts. They wouldn't be all that necessary on a stocker.

 

[A 2 B]

I don't have enough post to put up pics but the Aristocrat panel I have has a Speedo, top center in an enlarged hole, a SW volt meter, SW fuel gauge, two SW water temp gauges to accommodate the V8 flathead and a SW oil pressure gauge. Everyone thinks it looks rather unique, compact and well co-ordinated.
They were originally sold in 1932.

 

[Bob C]

Here's a picture that was posted by Brad In Germany.

 

[Joop]

Nice 1930 AD

..

 

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Oil pressure gauge in a gravity system?nothing like the confident feeling of 2 pounds on the gauge..rather that be a mystery looks like the ammeter hole was hacked open..

Actually, the "confidence" you receive is that you see the oil pump is actually working. In frigid temps back in the era with straight grade oils, it would peg the gauge during initial start up. Once the engine had some heat from idling, the gauge would no longer be pegged and at that point it was safe to begin driving your Model-A. Driving too soon with too thick of oil providing little lubrication and would burn-out the bearings.

As for the Ammeter hole hacked open, didn't these overlay the original instrument panel where the Ignition Switch, Ammeter, and Speedometer attach to that panel?? If so, it needed the clearance for the trim bezel on the Ammeter.



My dad grew up about 50 miles south of Clarinda, IA where these panels were manufactured, when I was 6 or 7 years old, we attended a farm sale just outside of town while we were vacationing at my grandparents. At that sale were 5 NOS Aristocrat panels, -and all but one panel had the gauges still in them. All I remember is there were 4 of one style and 1 of the other. Dad always told the story that he paid $20.00 for the whole lot and sold 4 of them for $100.00 a piece, -which he thought was big money back then. It paid for vacation that summer and then other A parts he needed. I would guess an NOS 1930-31 panel complete with the original Dunn script gauges would likely fetch north of $1500.00 these days.

 

[Brad in Germany]

Here are two variations of the original Aristocrat dash panels for the '30-'31 Model A's (note the area around the water temperature and oil gauges):

.....and a close up of the area showing the name of the manufacturer and the detail of the background pattern:

.....and this one with original Dunn gauges:

.....and a close up of the area showing the name of the manufacturer and the detail of the background pattern:

Brad in Maryland

 

[A 2 B]

A little off tangent but this is the panel that was reworked for a '30 coupe with a 8ba, having dual temp gauges and reading in KPH for use in Canada.

 

[Tim Ayers]

I sure wish someone would repop these!! I would love a couple of them.

Me too. I would pay to get on a waiting list if someone would. They use to be around, but have all seemed to have dried up.

 

[Jack Shaft]

Actually, the "confidence" you receive is that you see the oil pump is actually working. In frigid temps back in the era with straight grade oils, it would peg the gauge during initial start up. Once the engine had some heat from idling, the gauge would no longer be pegged and at that point it was safe to begin driving your Model-A. Driving too soon with too thick of oil providing little lubrication and would burn-out the bearings.

As for the Ammeter hole hacked open, didn't these overlay the original instrument panel where the Ignition Switch, Ammeter, and Speedometer attach to that panel?? If so, it needed the clearance for the trim bezel on the Ammeter.



My dad grew up about 50 miles south of Clarinda, IA where these panels were manufactured, when I was 6 or 7 years old, we attended a farm sale just outside of town while we were vacationing at my grandparents. At that sale were 5 NOS Aristocrat panels, -and all but one panel had the gauges still in them. All I remember is there were 4 of one style and 1 of the other. Dad always told the story that he paid $20.00 for the whole lot and sold 4 of them for $100.00 a piece, -which he thought was big money back then. It paid for vacation that summer and then other A parts he needed. I would guess an NOS 1930-31 panel complete with the original Dunn script gauges would likely fetch north of $1500.00 these days.

Isn't that why you have a water temp gauge?to tell you when you reach operating temp?.Stop pumping flow into the valve gallery and you'll hear the valve clatter well before you ruin bearings..

 

[Licensed to kill]

Isn't that why you have a water temp gauge?to tell you when you reach operating temp?.Stop pumping flow into the valve gallery and you'll hear the valve clatter well before you ruin bearings..

I didn't know that solid lifters clattered from lack of oil. I know hydraulic lifters do but have no real experience with solid lifters and just assumed that they would not clatter from lack of oil if they are set properly. Good to know.

 

[Jack Shaft]

The entire valve train relies on lubrication mainly from splash.The valve gallery needs to be kept full to adequately lubricate the valve train,the main bearings will starve when the galley runs dry,being fed from tubes in the bottom of the gallery..

 

[Licensed to kill]

The entire valve train relies on lubrication mainly from splash.The valve gallery needs to be kept full to adequately lubricate the valve train,the main bearings will starve when the galley runs dry,being fed from tubes in the bottom of the gallery..

I'm aware of all that. I just assumed that, since the valve lash doesn't change on solid lifters when starved for oil like a hydraulic lifter that they wouldn't chatter.