Speedometer MPH to KPH Conversion - face source??

[ysmalkie]

Has anyone discovered a source of GOOD QUALITY KPH faces?

I found this the other day:

https://www.heiler-tachodesign.de/

but have no idea on the quality..

Tadek

[vee12eman]

I don’t know if it’s still available, but I converted mine with a face from SNG about nine years ago.

Regards,

Simon

[Series1 Stu]

Hi Tadek

I got a MPH face for my 356 Speedo from them. Absolutely top quality and great service.

Our friend Carsten helped me out a little too.

Regards

[ysmalkie]

I think that the KPH faces SNG does do not fir the Series 1 unfortunately..


Tadek

[christopher storey]

It is not very difficult to make your own and stick it over the existing face, although it does take patience and a modicum of skill . There are plenty of photos around of kph S1 faces, and you can then use a photoediting programme to size it exactly to your requirements

[ysmalkie]

Thanks Chris,
That's easy, I know - I was thinking of a more sophisticated, original looking solution.... ;-)

Tadek

[mgcjag]

Hi Tadek...contact one of the instrument repair/calibration guys like http://www.speedograph-richfield.com/ https://speedycables.com/

[PeterCrespin]

Caerbont Automotive instruments are the makers of Smiths instruments and still supply anything you need. They also license Nisonger in the USA.

[MarekH]

Dear Tadek,

Take a high resolution photo of the one you have and alter it in one of the many photoshop type programmes to suit your requirements. Then send the file away to have a Letraset transfer made. This will come back as a silkscreen rub down dry transfer. Spray your face black, apply the transfer and rub down.

Resolution will be ~1000dpi.
Up to four colours per A4 sheet.
Cost (about 25years ago when I last did a speedo) was ~£25 per A4 sheet.

The place I went was 4D models who used to be near Angel but moved to somewhere near Tower Bridge. I suspect now we have a world wide interweb, other providers are available.

The result is a 100% oem finish. Since you can fit ~6 speedos onto the A4 with a variety of the text variations, then our fellow listers will even pay for your speedo and the rest of your restoration.....

The next alternative is pad printing, i.e. custom tampo printing, but working with wet ink sometimes has its quirks and some characters simply don't print quite as expected. (This will be how the original was done - the Letraset will have a flatter paint layer. If you are precise, then you can layer one on top of another (at the expense of your profit margin )).

kind regards
Marek

[ysmalkie]

Very interesting Marek - however the e-type speedo face is dished. Will it work ???


Tadek

[MarekH]

I don't see why not. Although the paint decal comes on a mylar sheet base, you are free to cut it up with a sharp scalpel any how you like

I'd cut the mylar sheet into a broad 270 degree arc and lay that flat on the dished surface. You don't even need to rub everything down in one go - you can do just the circular bit and then overlay the numbers later.

Go purchase some black paint, a broken Smiths speedo (for its faceplate) and a sample of any silkscreen rubdown transfer and see what you think of it. Your only downside is that you are going sand down and respray it anyway.

kind regards
Marek

[PeterCrespin]

“Spray your face black, apply the transfer and rub down”

I would put some barrier cream on first and check how busy the dermatology clinics are.