The Ford Barn

DavidG · 10-21-2023, 11:05 PM

Initially all domestic North American '32s had 80 mph speedometers, four or V8, passenger car, commercial vehicle, or big truck. The U.S speedometers were made by Delco, Stewart Warner, and Waltham. The earliest versions from each manufacturer lacked their name on the face and only the Stewart Warner and Waltham versions eventually added their name to the face of their speedometers.

The housings on the back of the speedometers were different. Those on a Delco were painted black while the housings of the Stewart Warner and Waltham speedometers were cadmium plated. The back of the Waltham speedometer was flat (smooth) while that of the Stewart Warner had raised convex ribs in the stamping.

The change from 80 mph to 90 mph took place in late May, 1932 with any 80 mph versions left in inventory to be used up on fours, commercial vehicles, and big trucks. As a result of that practice and the late release of the V8 engine in commercial vehicles and big trucks, some have concluded that all fours were equipped with the 80 mph versions and all V8s were equipped with the 90 mph versions, which was not the case. Early V8s had 80 mph speedometers and late fours had 90 mph speedometers.

10-21-2023, 11:05 PM	#35
DavidG Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: southeastern Michigan Posts: 10,670	Re: 1932 Ford Speedometer Thread Initially all domestic North American '32s had 80 mph speedometers, four or V8, passenger car, commercial vehicle, or big truck. The U.S speedometers were made by Delco, Stewart Warner, and Waltham. The earliest versions from each manufacturer lacked their name on the face and only the Stewart Warner and Waltham versions eventually added their name to the face of their speedometers. The housings on the back of the speedometers were different. Those on a Delco were painted black while the housings of the Stewart Warner and Waltham speedometers were cadmium plated. The back of the Waltham speedometer was flat (smooth) while that of the Stewart Warner had raised convex ribs in the stamping. The change from 80 mph to 90 mph took place in late May, 1932 with any 80 mph versions left in inventory to be used up on fours, commercial vehicles, and big trucks. As a result of that practice and the late release of the V8 engine in commercial vehicles and big trucks, some have concluded that all fours were equipped with the 80 mph versions and all V8s were equipped with the 90 mph versions, which was not the case. Early V8s had 80 mph speedometers and late fours had 90 mph speedometers.