A kid that works with us brought this contraption into work and we're trying to figure out what it is.... The two dials have mirrors on both sides....
John Bean made (and still makes) a wheel alignment system for years. I'd say that this is part of one of those systems. I think the company is now owned by SnapOn.
Cool! Looks pretty old.. Probably from the late '40s er early '50s.. There's no date on it.. His grandfather gave that to him before he passed away....
Yep, turn wheel one way, set bubble and dial to zero, turn other way, rotate to set bubble, read dial. Other bubble is camber. Mirrors might do toe in somehow, mine doesn't have them.
It's cool. Not saying you were but I was a late bloomer in the world of auto repair. Not until 17 (1979) did I ever attempt to work on a car. Hell, I still don't know what I'm doing. That's why I'm here. I just remember seeing those when I'd go with my Dad to get tires put on the family car.
At least the angle finding tool isn't relative to the heat of the meat. But that's another thing entirely.
Like most hot rodders, I suspect, most of my years have been spent learning about engines and drive trains. Wasn't until fairly recently that I (being a DIYer) was forced via a new project into learning about alignment, ackerman, bump steer, scrub radius...easily as complex as engine building. Fortunately some guys here on the Hamb know it backwards and forwards, which is what makes this place such a great asset.
Other than a different design it looks like the Longacre one we use on our dirt track car. It has 2 levels and 2 dials for checking caster and camber...all you need is 2 18" square aluminum sheets with grease between them under each front tire and I'm sure it will still function. The hole on he end looks like it will cover any hub nut. I believe some of the hubs are much smaller now so the magnets on the end may may not allow it be placed on the hub.
I used to have a similar tool. Instead of the aluminum/grease, I found that several sheets of newspaper worked as well. Just be sure they are flat, no folds.
Based on these examples of caster and camber I just use mini plumb bobs. No need to turn wheels left or right. I do how ever use a plate with pipes under them so tires can move freely when doing camber.
Yessir, blowby and others got it right, I don't know what mfgr. called them, it's a caster-camber gauge to me and one of the slickest tools there is. I mentioned in post a while back my uncle had one I used a lot when running a Chevy with stock A frames in hobby stock. I believe hitting a shadow too fast would spring one. The difference in steering effort with proper caster on both sides is tremendous. as well as the fraction of second it takes for steering correction to catch a spin out or evade "help" on your rear bumper. I never used greased sheets under wheels, just jacked front enough to take weight off when turning. For toe in-out adjustment I used 2 sheets of rigid 3/4 plywood or particle board about same size as tire dia., propped or held against each tire then measure across floor at front and rear corners. Fireball 5
Don’t mean to be repetitious, but it has “ positive Camber” printed on the scale, in the first picture. Lol Bones
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