A Sinn Of Sorts

[Ryan]

When god created me, he created a man full of internal struggles based around fighting off the urge to collect. I just can't help my damned self. I find stuff that I like and that stuff ends up owning me - especially, if it's mechanical. One of those...

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[chaddilac]

Very Cool!

[squirrel]

I think most of what you're after is found in old aircraft instruments. They are not quite right for cars, but an enterprising company could make them be.

[Ryan]

Originally Posted by squirrel

I think most of what you're after is found in old aircraft instruments. They are not quite right for cars, but an enterprising company could make them be.

Nope. That becomes a "theme" gauge and I'm sure someone makes fake aircraft instruments into automotive gauges.

This idea goes deeper than that.

[Never2low]

You never cease to amaze me in the quirky odds and ends you find, and shed light on. Nothing I stumble across is ever note worthy, or in the slim chance it is, turns out everyone has known about it for ages and I seem even more out of touch for not having heard of it sooner. That's why I like it here...new things everyday.

And yes, they is strong visual resemblance to WWII aircraft instruments.

And the glimpse of a 300SL gull wing is a good tangent for sales. Supremacy among competitors, kind of thing.

[squirrel]

Originally Posted by Ryan

Nope. That becomes a "theme" gauge and I'm sure someone makes fake aircraft instruments into automotive gauges.

This idea goes deeper than that.

I wasn't suggesting "fake", I was suggesting real aircraft instruments designed and built for automotive applications.

It would cost way too much to ever happen, of course. I think you figured that out already.

[Paul]

I've always had this image in my mind of a dash with nothing but a clock in it.

[Verbal Kint]

I have a small stash of square "tank" wind up wristwatches. I started scrounging them after I found one of my grandads in a junk drawer.

Each on unique, each one made/tuned by a craftsman, the sad part is like a great many of our craftsman/machinists, watchmakers are a dying breed.

[1950ChevySuburban]

A few thoughts: Make a speedo that reads 360 degrees around. 120 at the top, 30 60 90 around the face. Same with oil and temp gauges.

These Sinn watches work (for me at least) because they have the right balance between increments and background. In other words, not too cluttered and not too uncluttered. Easy to read at speed, yet stylish.

[lippy]

LOL, "quirky odds and ends" LOL Everyone knows all you need in a car is a oil pressure guage and a temp guage. And if it's in a dragster, just an oil guage. I love the look of those clocks. Lippy

[JeffreyJames]

As much as I do love the design of the SINN examples, it is a bit busy for my tastes but that could be because of the function of them. I could see a modern built gauge built in the same vein with skinnier strokes on the marks and a bit more subdued numbers (maybe just smaller size) in a purpose built hot rod. It would take a company that's willing to let the engineers take the lead and the designers assist them for a true functionally built gauge that would look good in a traditional built hot rod. I feel like all the gauges built now are just a few notches off the mark ya know?

Good read Ryan, put some pressure on these son of a bitches to make some nice new products for those that appreciate quality and have good taste. And while you're at it, have someone make nice looking old timey fuel pressure regulators.

[squirrel]

Originally Posted by lippy

And if it's in a dragster, just an oil guage.

You don't even need an oil gage, if you happen to see it and it's not reading right, it's too late anyways.

[Verbal Kint]

I like the idea of rotating bezels with a center mark and a few hash marks to either side that match the scale on the gauge. Roll the mark around to the shift point or redline on the tach, the sweet spot on the oil pressure range, the running temp range, charging etc... that way theoretically a quick scan of the marks would let you know something is amiss.

[n847]

I love it...I'm a watch fannatic, unfortunatly (or fortunatly) I can't afford to dive into the watch world. I think there is something so cool about a mechanical watch. Any one who has ever seen the pieces that come out of one of these watches can't help but be amazed. You should take a peak at the stuff coming out from Carl F Bucher! Form can follow function! These would make a great gage design, and I would be in line so spend my hard earned pennies for a set!

[pwschuh]

I have a digital aircraft gauge in an O/T car because no automotive gauge provided the required functionality. I needed 4 EGT readings on the same gauge at the same time (bar graph style). Can't get that from any auto gauge manufacturer but it wasn't too hard to find from an aircraft supplier. The only issue is that obviously it is out of "theme" with the rest of the dash, but the functionality is worth it.

[Dakota]

Ryan, very cool. I have had a unnatural wanting fo something simmilar I am a fan of Lumi nox watches, at least the black and white design which is not far from these, not as nice but close. i love the military/aircraft look and feel of them.

[Bad Bob]

All I want to know is....HOW MUCH and WHERE DO I GET SOME??????
I also love old watches and have quite a few.

[squirrel]

I have Nixie tubes in my watch, I'm waiting for someone to put them in automotive gages.

[lippy]

Originally Posted by squirrel

You don't even need an oil gage, if you happen to see it and it's not reading right, it's too late anyways.

But I like to at least see if oil was put in it in the pits. Believe it or not, I did a burnout, and ran an 1/8th mile deal with O oil pressure once, Brad Penn 70 wt and never hurt the bearings. Took our check and went home.

[czuch]

^^^^^^^^^ not the prescribed way to save weight^^^^^^^^^
Those guages are nice. I had an artificial horizon from a cessna in my T-bucket when I was a stupid kid. The oil in the guage would bubble up and take some time to settle when I shut it down. It was cool then though. Wish I was.