Facebook Find - Stewart Speedometer

[Retro54]

So I acquired something pretty cool last Friday, but didn't want to add it to post about it and the story until I had it in my hands.
A random search last Friday for 'brass speedometer' turned up a 1913 (13-15?) Stewart magnetic drive speedometer that is of the style and patina that would match my 1915 T. I messaged the lady, and her husband responded back with his phone number.... so I gave him a call and was soon talking to an 82 year old from upstate NY. He had this speedometer on a shelf for decades and was interested in getting it into someone's hands who could use it.

After asking if he knew the history of the speedo, he launched into an amazing story. As a young man in 1958 he had friends who were getting into antique cars and he thought he might want one as well, so he picked up a super nice, original 1915 Model T ford, and soon disassembled it for restoration "as they did in those days" he said. Ha! He placed this speedometer and the brass body tag on a shelf for safe keeping and when he sold it as a stalled project in 1964, he forgot he had them and they didn't go with the car... and so for the last 59 years.. they sat until sent to me!

To say I was super excited is an understatement and without haggling on price, I sent PayPal. Imagine my surprise when he shipped it by lunchtime and it was on the way! Imagine my further surprise when he sent me the photo below of him and his buddies with the car and a closer picture of it in his backyard! Definitely a 1915 T, what a nice car it appears! Now the hunt is on to complete the installation (I think I might just need a cable, my car coming with a Stewart drive gear and swivel) The Speedometer book from is on its way from Langs... I think acquiring new parts for a running car is one of the best things about this hobby. Boy this sure is fun!

[Retro54]

Some more pictures of the speedo...

[Retro54]

And then of the gear I have...

[Retro54]

And finally the swivel...

[Retro54]

And for those who haven't followed my progress over the last few years... here is my RPU that the speedo will be installed on... there are three screw holes in the firewall that I am sure will line up!

[OilyBill]

You are one LUCKY GUY to have nailed all those items on one transaction!! And all of them look to be in beautiful condition, as well!! Things like this happen, but not very often. But you are able to experience one of the high points of an antique car restoration!
Good luck with it, and have fun.

But now cops will not hesitate to give you a ticket for "scorching", being as you have one of those fancy, high-falutin speedometers, and you can no longer honestly claim you didn't know how fast you were going, and were just trying to keep up with the cows!

Judge: "Speeding, eh? Five dollars or Five days in jail!"

Husband: "Well, I guess I'll pay the $5, judge!"

Wife: "You'll do NO SUCH THING!!! I never HEARD of such extravagance!!!"

[Retro54]

You are one LUCKY GUY to have nailed all those items on one transaction!! And all of them look to be in beautiful condition, as well!! Things like this happen, but not very often. But you are able to experience one of the high points of an antique car restoration!
Good luck with it, and have fun.

But now cops will not hesitate to give you a ticket for "scorching", being as you have one of those fancy, high-falutin speedometers, and you can no longer honestly claim you didn't know how fast you were going, and were just trying to keep up with the cows!

Judge: "Speeding, eh? Five dollars or Five days in jail!"

Husband: "Well, I guess I'll pay the $5, judge!"

Wife: "You'll do NO SUCH THING!!! I never HEARD of such extravagance!!!"

Haha hey Bill, thanks! Now I just got the speedo woth this find. The other pieces I had.... I'm hoping they might work with the head unit, but will wait to see what the speedometer book says.

[Original Smith]

I don't know how pure you wish to be, but that is not the speedometer Ford used in 1915! I suggest you get a copy of Russ Furstnows speedometer book for the correct information.

[RGould1910]

Larry is correct re the year. But the head will work with the road gear not the swivel. You need a 2 1/2 to 1 ratio swivel and a small gear to match. Furstnows book is a great resource. Especially the first one.

[Retro54]

I don't know how pure you wish to be, but that is not the speedometer Ford used in 1915! I suggest you get a copy of Russ Furstnows speedometer book for the correct information.

Boy oh boy, if I was going for a model year correct January 1915 touring, then this speedometer would be the LEAST of my worries. I know their only original once, but that ship has sailed with this 1915 cut down touring turned pickup. I appreciate originality, but I prefer period correct for this vehicle, and this fits the bill.

I wonder how this earlier speedo got on that 1915 as found in 1958? Without a time machine, one will never know....

[Retro54]

Larry is correct re the year. But the head will work with the road gear not the swivel. You need a 2 1/2 to 1 ratio swivel and a small gear to match. Furstnows book is a great resource. Especially the first one.

Yes got my copy of the MFTCA edited book authored by Russ. Starting to learn. I see the road gear is the one needed since I have demountable wheels on mine. The swivel I will need to clean up more. Perhaps it is an earlier one? When they used the 1-1 gearing? Hard to say. I also wonder if the odd model number of the fiber gear and tooth count will 'correct' the 1-1 of the swivel and mate up properly to the head? More research is needed, but this is part of the fun of these cars right? At worst, I have some tradable parts for the right pieces I may be missing.

[schwabd1]

Hey Andrew, I sent you a PM (I think, I've never sent one before!). Dave

[Retro54]

Hey Andrew, I sent you a PM (I think, I've never sent one before!). Dave

Hi Dave, I appreciate your interest. However, still doing some research on my end. Always like to know what I got before I would let it go. I cleaned up the swivel tonight, and found it's an Ogden Manufacturing Company product. Pretty sure it's a model #2094, which would be appropriate for the 'other' manufacturers other than Stewart. Was really hoping it'd be the No. 2090, but the male end for attaching the speedo cable is just like the No. 2094. Again, still research, but ya never know!

Andy