Amp Meeter for a Model A or...
 

I found this amp meter in this box, in my stash. It has significant weight to it. Is it a Factory Model A, after-market, for a car from another year or a re-pop? Also, I am suspicious because it has a black bezel. Thank you.

Re: Amp Meeter for a Model A or...
 

WW2 era Ford replacement part when plating stopped for the war effort.

Re: Amp Meeter for a Model A or...
 

even if it is not the right color and if it fits the hole, it will be better than any new reproduction amp gauge.

Re: Amp Meeter for a Model A or...
 

They original types weren't complicated but they always had that fairly large C-shaped magnet in there to center the needle. The commercials had black bezels but who knows what's under the black paint. The bezels can be replaced along with the glass and face if need be.

Re: Amp Meeter for a Model A or...
 

Why would the commercials have a black bezel, the dash plate was not black.

Re: Amp Meeter for a Model A or...
 

Um. The dash AND the gearshift lever COULD be painted black.

On my small truck (avatar Somerville, MA assembly March 1929) the gearshift was painted black. On removing the paint with a stripper was uncovered a "defect" in the nickel plating - apparently painted to cover a gearshift lever "not appropriate" for a regular car - but perfectly fine for the lesser standard of a truck once painted to match the interior trim.

My truck's dash plate was nickel, but I have seen some both on small trucks and AA, that were fully painted black.

Neil Wilson has addressed the ammeter somewhere - but I'm not seeing it in his AA pages.

My original ammeter was probably silvered - but corroded to a dull grey in time.

I replaced it with a (1990s) "high quality" ammeter reproduction = which indeed was high quality construction. Not the lesser quality "aluminum" case more commonly bought.

However, the diameter of the meter was "small." Bending the ears to hold it in the dash plate there was not enough "ear" to hold the case in place.

My solution was to stretch a rubber O-ring around the case and then bend the ears. It looks correct even though a little small.


Joe K

Re: Amp Meeter for a Model A or...
 

1926/27 Ford Model T used the same size meter as did a large number of cars, trucks, tractors etc.

Re: Amp Meeter for a Model A or...
 

The same meter (or at least a very similar call-out identifier) was used by Ford until nearly WWII.


Joe K