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Hot Rods Need Help Remembering the Name or Mfg. of a Vintage Gage

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Deuce3wCpe, Feb 1, 2021.

  1. Deuce3wCpe
    Joined: Aug 21, 2004
    Posts: 848

    Deuce3wCpe
    Member
    from New Jersey

    Hey I haven't posted on here in a long time but looking through Ryan's thread on dashboards I thought of something today and the answer (or lack of it) is driving me nuts.
    There was a gage that was often sold in the old J.C. Whitney and Almquist type catalogs..it had 8 little strobe light or indicator lamps that were arranged in a circular pattern which would flash to indicate the cylinders were firing ? At least I think that was the concept. I never owned one but I surmise they (the lamps) must have been triggered inductively and that there must have been a wire for each that was clipped to the corresponding plug wires. Maybe more of a gimmick than anything else but I wanted to see a picture of one again. I thought it was called a "Moto-Meter" or "Moto-Minder" but they don't match up.
    I'm sure somebody here has one or remembers what I'm talking about.
    Thanks in advance.
     
  2. Moriarity
    Joined: Apr 11, 2001
    Posts: 31,091

    Moriarity
    SUPER MODERATOR
    Staff Member

    Lectra scope by sparkomatic
    C68A3F71-EF90-4111-AAF0-F181FE75DB81.jpeg
     
  3. Deuce3wCpe
    Joined: Aug 21, 2004
    Posts: 848

    Deuce3wCpe
    Member
    from New Jersey

    Wow that was fast ! Spark-O-Matic sounds right although the one I had pictured in my mind had round lights in a circular pattern vs those rectangular lights. That looks like a 6 cly version, maybe the V8 version was different or there were other imitators ? Or maybe the illustration in the catalogs was not completely accurate which was often the case. Or maybe I'm getting old and my memory is shot.
    In any case that's a cool piece thanks for posting it. Save Gas - Avoid Trouble ! lol
     
    larry k, lothiandon1940 and Moriarity like this.
  4. Moriarity
    Joined: Apr 11, 2001
    Posts: 31,091

    Moriarity
    SUPER MODERATOR
    Staff Member

    Sparkomatic was the manufacturer, they made cheap car stereos and shifters and things. The gauge itself was called the Lectrascope. This one is a 6 cylinder version. I have an 8 cyl one too but couldn't find it... there are small wires that you shove in the dist cap along side of each plug wire
     
    lothiandon1940 likes this.

  5. Deuce3wCpe
    Joined: Aug 21, 2004
    Posts: 848

    Deuce3wCpe
    Member
    from New Jersey

    Thanks Moriarity. Like I said I haven't been around here much the last few years but one thing I remember is you always had the coolest stuff in your collection.
     
  6. seb fontana
    Joined: Sep 1, 2005
    Posts: 8,486

    seb fontana
    Member
    from ct

    One that I remember the lights indicated rpm; the more that lit up the higher the rpm.
     
  7. Deuce3wCpe
    Joined: Aug 21, 2004
    Posts: 848

    Deuce3wCpe
    Member
    from New Jersey

    Now that you gave me the name I was able to find a picture of the version I remember. Not sure if this was earlier or later.

    5630E85A-38E5-46F5-AACC-16F424F71FEB.jpeg
    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Feb 2, 2021
  8. Deuce3wCpe
    Joined: Aug 21, 2004
    Posts: 848

    Deuce3wCpe
    Member
    from New Jersey

    And just found a copy of the instruction sheet that you had posted back in 2008
    [​IMG]
     
  9. Moriarity
    Joined: Apr 11, 2001
    Posts: 31,091

    Moriarity
    SUPER MODERATOR
    Staff Member

    I bet that is an earlier one.... cool...
     
    lothiandon1940 and Deuce3wCpe like this.
  10. Deuce3wCpe
    Joined: Aug 21, 2004
    Posts: 848

    Deuce3wCpe
    Member
    from New Jersey

    Yeah I'm still not clear exactly how it functioned. As you can see in the instruction sheet there was an inductive wire inserted next to each plug wire at the cap as Moriarity stated. I imagine each bulb flashing just like a timing light does.
     
    lothiandon1940 and Moriarity like this.
  11. That's wild! Never seen one.
     
  12. partsdawg
    Joined: Feb 12, 2006
    Posts: 3,507

    partsdawg
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Minnesota

    If a guy was to use all the neat old gizmos that were sold. dash.jpg
     
    Deuce3wCpe and Budget36 like this.
  13. Gearhead Graphics
    Joined: Oct 4, 2008
    Posts: 3,890

    Gearhead Graphics
    Member
    from Denver Co

    Now I want something I never knew existed and wont do a bit of good. Thanks a lot!
     
    Deuce3wCpe and Moriarity like this.

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