The Ford Barn

Keith Alvin · 05-25-2022, 04:13 PM

Was the oval speedometer first? Or was it the round speedometer first? If so when was the switch?

marty in Ohio · 05-25-2022, 05:21 PM

The oval speedometer came first. The change took place in the mid 1930 models. My 1930 town sedan was built in late 1929 and has an oval unit.
Marty

Chris Haynes · 05-25-2022, 05:43 PM

My 1930 Tudor has the Oval Speedometer.

johnneilson · 05-25-2022, 05:55 PM

I have two '30 coupes, one each round and oval

J

ronn · 05-25-2022, 06:18 PM

and consequently, the round ones tend to be a bit rarer and more expensive.

burner31 · 05-26-2022, 12:24 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Some info...

MODEL A FORD SPEEDOMETERS
The following material covers the disassembly, cleaning, repairing, installing decals,
lubrication, calibration, and assembly of the familiar oval speedometers manufactured by
Stewart Warner. Oval speedometers were also produced by Waltham and Northeast
Appliance Corp. Northeast produced an oval unit without a trip indicator, and with a
speed indication from 0 to 80 MPH. Hopefully these instructions will be of some use if
you have a Waltham or Northeast Appliance unit. Refer to MAFCA judging
Standards for questions of authenticity, such as style of numbers, thickness of the rim of
the bezel, trip indicator, red and white pointers, etc.
Beginning in early or mid 1930, and continuing throughout Model A production, Stewart
Warner produced the round units without a trip indicator. Waltham and Northeast
Appliance Corp also produced round speedometers.

Y-Blockhead · 05-26-2022, 12:35 PM

My August 1930 Town Sedan is round. I believe this is around the time Ford switched from the oval speedometers.

cars2cool · 05-30-2022, 10:22 AM

Nice pic of the extra gauges Y-Blockhead.

History · 05-30-2022, 10:42 AM

If Henry had wanted more gauges he would have put them in at the factory!!!

Just kidding, that interior is super nice!!!

ronn · 05-30-2022, 10:52 AM

we dont need no stinkin gauges...........

JayJay · 05-30-2022, 10:55 AM

I have an early (January/February) 1930 Town Sedan with oval speedo. My August 1930 CC Pickup had a round speedo. I heard somewhere that the switch from oval to round in the passenger cars was around March 1930, but as with many things, there was likely no firm date as stock was used up.

JayJay

Dale G. · 05-30-2022, 06:15 PM

I will have some rebuilts for sale at the MARC Meet next week.

05-25-2022, 04:13 PM	#1
Keith Alvin Junior Member Join Date: May 2015 Posts: 10	1930 Model A Was the oval speedometer first? Or was it the round speedometer first? If so when was the switch?

05-25-2022, 05:21 PM	#2
marty in Ohio Senior Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Elyria, Ohio Posts: 756	Re: 1930 Model A The oval speedometer came first. The change took place in the mid 1930 models. My 1930 town sedan was built in late 1929 and has an oval unit. Marty

05-25-2022, 05:43 PM	#3
Chris Haynes Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Camarillo, CA and Pine Grove, CA Posts: 2,832	Re: 1930 Model A My 1930 Tudor has the Oval Speedometer. __________________ 1921 Runabout 1930 Tudor Early 1930 AA Speed costs money. How fast do you want to go?

05-25-2022, 05:55 PM	#4
johnneilson Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: 34.22 N 118.36 W Posts: 1,056	Re: 1930 Model A I have two '30 coupes, one each round and oval J __________________ As Carroll Smith wrote; All Failures are Human in Origin.

05-25-2022, 06:18 PM	#5
ronn Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: NNNNNNNNJJJJJJJJJJ Posts: 6,789	Re: 1930 Model A and consequently, the round ones tend to be a bit rarer and more expensive.

05-26-2022, 12:24 PM	#6
burner31 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Shawnee, Ok Posts: 3,471	Re: 1930 Model A Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Some info... MODEL A FORD SPEEDOMETERS The following material covers the disassembly, cleaning, repairing, installing decals, lubrication, calibration, and assembly of the familiar oval speedometers manufactured by Stewart Warner. Oval speedometers were also produced by Waltham and Northeast Appliance Corp. Northeast produced an oval unit without a trip indicator, and with a speed indication from 0 to 80 MPH. Hopefully these instructions will be of some use if you have a Waltham or Northeast Appliance unit. Refer to MAFCA judging Standards for questions of authenticity, such as style of numbers, thickness of the rim of the bezel, trip indicator, red and white pointers, etc. Beginning in early or mid 1930, and continuing throughout Model A production, Stewart Warner produced the round units without a trip indicator. Waltham and Northeast Appliance Corp also produced round speedometers. __________________ Keith Shawnee OK '31 SW 160-B

05-26-2022, 12:35 PM	#7
Y-Blockhead Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Redondo Beach, CA Posts: 5,849	Re: 1930 Model A My August 1930 Town Sedan is round. I believe this is around the time Ford switched from the oval speedometers.

05-30-2022, 10:22 AM	#8
cars2cool Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Sioux City Iowa Posts: 196	Re: 1930 Model A Nice pic of the extra gauges Y-Blockhead.

05-30-2022, 10:42 AM	#9
History Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: NC Mountains Posts: 689	Re: 1930 Model A If Henry had wanted more gauges he would have put them in at the factory!!! Just kidding, that interior is super nice!!!

05-30-2022, 10:52 AM	#10
ronn Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: NNNNNNNNJJJJJJJJJJ Posts: 6,789	Re: 1930 Model A we dont need no stinkin gauges...........

05-30-2022, 10:55 AM	#11
JayJay Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2020 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 1,076	Re: 1930 Model A I have an early (January/February) 1930 Town Sedan with oval speedo. My August 1930 CC Pickup had a round speedo. I heard somewhere that the switch from oval to round in the passenger cars was around March 1930, but as with many things, there was likely no firm date as stock was used up. JayJay __________________ JayJay San Francisco Bay Area ------------------------ 1930 Murray Town Sedan 1931 Briggs S/W Town Sedan Last edited by JayJay; 05-31-2022 at 10:51 AM.

05-30-2022, 06:15 PM	#12
Dale G. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 292	Re: 1930 Model A I will have some rebuilts for sale at the MARC Meet next week.