On the back side of the Hot Rod Revolution, its time to get back into the 1959 Almquist catalog and flip to our next chapter after manifolds. What is ... <BR><BR>To read the rest of this blog entry from The Jalopy Journal, click here.
Interesting to note that the catalog shows S-W's with the big logo, small logo, blue line, and wings, so any of these would be correct for a (very) late Fifties build.
I like when I see the mix and matching of gauge needles and such done by the MFG. I am also a gauge nut but still have a ton learning to do. I don't nearly know the differences as well as I should and would like to learn a shit load more about European gauge building an use. Almquist catalogs are the shit!!! I could study them for days!!! I have a 5" Script Stewart Warner Tach with a crescent style needle that I would like to find out more about. I want to know what they were originally meant for? It does not appear that they were intended for Hot Rods though.
I think it's the same thing that draws most folks to the cockpit of a vintage plane as well....something about all those gauges and meters!! They are works of art in themselves. I think that the dash of the car can make it or really break it. On a small scale, it's kinda like being drawn to mission control at Houston...all those dials and needles!!
According to what i read They stopped making big logo's in 57or 58, and wings in 53 or 54, and convex in '56?
around 56 -58 we just wanted to use SW gauges, but i didnt see the wings, or i would have got them. later on I saw wings in older rods. I do recall the blue ones but even then we were somewhat traditional, and I didnt go for those, too fancy, as i recall I was sorta traditional even back then, when we were putting a lotta new gadgets on, ie 4 speeds, automatic trans,open drives, etc.
That's my understanding, too. That is why I found it interesting that they were all in the 1959 catalog. Either it is wrong that they had stopped making them, or there were a lot still unsold by 1959. Either way, they would be correct for a period built at least to 1959, since they were still being sold.
the blue gauges were around for awhile, in customs and such,but it wasnt 'cool' to have them in a roadster in my locale, we had some older rodders around the riverside area, [both lakes and drag racers] and us youngsters followed thier lead. I mean if you had a rod and they looked it over at the drive in, and didnt have a good response we knew we screwed somethin up. ggggg. If you had a beater and thats all you could afford, the work couldnt be 'mickey mouse'.