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Technical Tachs in the '50s?

Discussion in 'Traditional Hot Rods' started by louisb, Nov 23, 2014.

  1. louisb
    Joined: Oct 13, 2008
    Posts: 1,126

    louisb
    Member

    Were tachs common on rods in the '50s? I always thought they were more of a '60s thing.

    Thanks,

    --louis
     
  2. Ric Dean
    Joined: Dec 20, 2007
    Posts: 477

    Ric Dean
    Member
    from Central NY

    … Are you referring to the Column Mounted Tach with Cup? I know they came out at least in the mid 50’s.

    Some Luxury Cars as far back as the 1930s had Tachs; also some Trucks had low Rev Units back then.
     
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  3. louisb
    Joined: Oct 13, 2008
    Posts: 1,126

    louisb
    Member

    Just wanting to know if tachs were common on hot rods in the '50s. From what you say they were at least available.

    --louis
     
  4. Rockerhead
    Joined: Nov 16, 2006
    Posts: 321

    Rockerhead
    Member Emeritus

    In the 1940s a large percentage of the Southern California hot rods had tachometers. Most of the cars running at the Lakes had tachs so the driver could see how fast he was running. The tacks were mostly Stewart-Warner mechanical drive tachs, typically with an angle drive off the crankshaft or, in some cases off the generator.
    Don
     
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  5. louisb
    Joined: Oct 13, 2008
    Posts: 1,126

    louisb
    Member

    Okay thanks.

    --louis
     
  6. Sun produced the "D" series - aviation style tachs from at least 1946 through the early 50's. Here's a January, 1950 produced Sun D-3 I had in my old Plymouth;

    [​IMG]

    Lee Petty ran a Sun "Football" tach in his Dodge during the 1954 NASCAR season;
    NASCAR_ALLSTARS_LeePetty_early_year.JPG
     
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  7. I think they were pretty common. Stewart warner was making aftermarket tachs in the 40's, i've seen several with date of manufacture in the 1948-53 range, but not any in my price range within my desired rpm range.(banger) You see a fair amount of them in dash board pics as well.
     
  8. louisb
    Joined: Oct 13, 2008
    Posts: 1,126

    louisb
    Member

    Those are pretty sweet.

    --louis
     
  9. dan griffin
    Joined: Dec 25, 2009
    Posts: 505

    dan griffin
    Member

    In Pontiac Mich. in the 50s you could buy Sun tachs from guys who worked at the GMC truck plant. A sending unit was 5.00$ and a head was 5.00$
     
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  10. fleetside66
    Joined: Nov 20, 2006
    Posts: 3,003

    fleetside66
    Member

    Here's a couple..the first is a Stewart-Warner (not sure of the date) & a Sun D-1. An interesting aspect is that the cases have a smaller diameter than the later tachs. 3-1/8" for the S/W & 3" for the Sun.

    [​IMG]
     
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  11. louisb
    Joined: Oct 13, 2008
    Posts: 1,126

    louisb
    Member

    Those are pretty cool. Guess most cars didn't rev past 3-4K then so most tachs are in this range. That Sun D-1 would look cool in a comp coupe or roadster.

    --louis
     
  12. 32v
    Joined: May 20, 2007
    Posts: 952

    32v
    Member
    from v.i.

    IMGP0917.JPG 1957 corvette tach
     
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  13. fleetside66
    Joined: Nov 20, 2006
    Posts: 3,003

    fleetside66
    Member

    Yeah, it takes an E-1 transmitter, where ever one can come up with one of those. I suppose 3.5 K would be the cat's meow for a banger or flattie. I have a 5K Sun "football" tach in my '33 & that's plenty enough for the stock 283. I find that red faced AC tach interesting, because I've had this wood grain AC tach for sale here for quite some time. It looks like they're out of the same mold.

    [​IMG]
     
  14. louisb
    Joined: Oct 13, 2008
    Posts: 1,126

    louisb
    Member

    That wood grain AC tach is pretty slick but I got to say I like the red one better. You know you people are a corupting influence because I really don't need another obsession like antique gauges.

    --louis
     
  15. Jimbo17
    Joined: Aug 19, 2008
    Posts: 3,959

    Jimbo17
    Member

    There were a lot of old tach companies back in those day's.

    Jimbo

    Jimbo Sun Top Tach.jpg Sun Tach.jpg
     
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  16. ROADSTER1927
    Joined: Feb 14, 2009
    Posts: 3,127

    ROADSTER1927
    Member

    P9010007.JPG P9010012.JPG Here is one of my tachs complete with a Mallory distribtor
     
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  17. louisb
    Joined: Oct 13, 2008
    Posts: 1,126

    louisb
    Member

    Nice!

    --louis
     
  18. 19Eddy30
    Joined: Mar 27, 2011
    Posts: 2,314

    19Eddy30
    Member
    from VA

    Last edited: Nov 24, 2014
  19. fleetside66
    Joined: Nov 20, 2006
    Posts: 3,003

    fleetside66
    Member

    Come on, Louis! I think you have what it takes...ha-ha. I don't have another build in me, so I've become obsessed with gauges, panels & dashes. Thanks, HAMB. And I like the red one better, too. Maybe he'll make me a trade?
     
  20. louisb
    Joined: Oct 13, 2008
    Posts: 1,126

    louisb
    Member

    Yeah I have been specing out the dash and gauges for my '50s A build. (The reason for my original question.) Looks like I am leaning towards a Sun football gauge style tach.

    Thanks,

    --louis
     
  21. Andy
    Joined: Nov 17, 2002
    Posts: 5,116

    Andy
    Member

    I have see those generator driven tachs on ebay. It looks like you could pull the motor off the back of the tach and have a cable drive tach. Is that possible?
     
  22. ROADSTER1927
    Joined: Feb 14, 2009
    Posts: 3,127

    ROADSTER1927
    Member

    It does come off and could be converted, but as for the ratio I have no idea! Gary
     
  23. 4dFord/SC
    Joined: Sep 12, 2004
    Posts: 837

    4dFord/SC
    Member

    Sun "Football" tach in my '40 Tudor, ala late 50's:
    [​IMG]
     
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  24. fleetside66
    Joined: Nov 20, 2006
    Posts: 3,003

    fleetside66
    Member

    ...same one in my '33. Williamson's converted my EB 9-A transmitter & and the thing works great.

    [​IMG]
     
  25. mgtstumpy
    Joined: Jul 20, 2006
    Posts: 9,214

    mgtstumpy
    Member

    Tacho2.jpg Here's a new VDO I'm putting in 46 Olds, redone to match the OEM dash styling & speedo.
     
    Last edited: Nov 24, 2014
  26. 4dFord/SC
    Joined: Sep 12, 2004
    Posts: 837

    4dFord/SC
    Member

    Williamson's did mine, too, with an EB-1. Took them awhile to figure out 6v positive ground, but they did it.:)
     
  27. Had one of these in my '50 Olds in '59. Cost me about $30 which was about 3 days wages after taxes.

    tach.jpg
     
  28. mj40's
    Joined: Dec 11, 2008
    Posts: 3,303

    mj40's
    Member

    Tack was almost as cool as a 150 mph speedo, Hurst shifter and chrome glove box door. Mid 60's photo
    [​IMG]
     
  29. 19Eddy30
    Joined: Mar 27, 2011
    Posts: 2,314

    19Eddy30
    Member
    from VA


    Bump
     
  30. ROADSTER1927
    Joined: Feb 14, 2009
    Posts: 3,127

    ROADSTER1927
    Member

    I have not run that tach yet but I am pretty shure it would be hours. I have a collection of those tachs with and without the meter on the bottom. They are from the early 50's and work good. Gary
     

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