old rev counter needs a new face

[lotus 30]

I have been trying to get this rev counter face reprinted and have had no success most companies want the whole thing charge hundreds of pounds but will not just referb the dial face anyone on here know of a way around the problem
.

 

[ajlelectronics]

Print it on a lazer printer, onto acetate?

 

[lotus 30]

Print it on a lazer printer, onto acetate?

ok so how do you clean up the original to get a good copy to print. I am Ok with tech as I am so stubborn I get there in the end

 

[Anguz]

Personally I would redraw from scratch

 

[JOEPRO]

Can you swap for a good used part?

Or if that's from a Jag or whatever the parts specialists may have overlays available? Or Google the same thing for that model.

 

[ajlelectronics]

ok so how do you clean up the original to get a good copy to print. I am Ok with tech as I am so stubborn I get there in the end

Not copy, start from clean.

 

[ukracer]

Not copy, start from clean.

This is my problem. Lol. I have "all the gear" but no idea. As you say it would be easier to start from scratch but using layers in Affinity designer for example might give you a good start. You can then junk the old layer.

I often think a you tube channel that took project like this and videoed from start to finish would get a "lot" of views.

 

[voipio]

This software will generate circular dials, amongst other things, which might be useful to provide an image source to embellish upon, with Photoshop, or similar. It's a bit fiddly to get to work the way you want it to, but I've used it to make dials in the past.

free software to print graph paper

software for graphics

www.lions.odu.edu

Note added: It's actually a real pain to use for this kind of thing. I have used some other software as well, for making dials, but racking my brain isn't yielding anything useful.

 

[Bullet2012]

Close, but “no cigar”

Chronometric Dial HRD Vincent Tachometer 0-8000 RPM

 

[My Old Landy]

I don't know if I can replicate the exact font but I will have a go at replicating it tomorrow. I can cut it in vinyl as a sticker that you could stick on the original face.

 

[voipio]

Close, but “no cigar”

Chronometric Dial HRD Vincent Tachometer 0-8000 RPM

I think that's worth a cigar :-)

 

[lotus 30]

I don't know if I can replicate the exact font but I will have a go at replicating it tomorrow. I can cut it in vinyl as a sticker that you could stick on the original face.

that would great if you can its fitted to my lotus eleven from 1956 which I have spent three years restoring. all the work was done here by me except upholstery

 

[voipio]

This software will generate circular dials, amongst other things, which might be useful to provide an image source to embellish upon, with Photoshop, or similar. It's a bit fiddly to get to work the way you want it to, but I've used it to make dials in the past.

free software to print graph paper

software for graphics

www.lions.odu.edu

Note added: It's actually a real pain to use for this kind of thing. I have used some other software as well, for making dials, but racking my brain isn't yielding anything useful.

Found it - version 5.4.0.2 of the above software does dials. Just choose "Miscellaneous | Dial" as the graph paper type

Wayback Machine

 

[dobbslc]

There's someone on here that makes replacement faceplates for top end hifi equipment that look really good but it cant remember who it is.

 

[daedalusminos]

Have you contacted Speedy Cables?

Instrument Dial Printing - Gauge Artworks | Speedy Cables

The latest technology allows us to re produce artworks from various automotive, motorcycle, marine, agricultural, industrial and many more gauges. We can alter the dial printing to show a different scale, text, font or logo.

www.speedycables.com

 

[Agroshield]

I think that's worth a cigar

Box of cigars.

The image of that one would be excellent to trace over if you wanted a facsimile. The digits and scale are identical. The OP's one only differs in the writing (the one linked is later, Smiths, not Jaeger).

Direct link to image:

https://www.howardinstruments.com.au/uploads/product/Images/others/Dial/Chrono/Chrono-8.jpg

If someone could find a similar high quality head-on view of the JAEGER writing, all the pieces are there to have a good stab at it.

The only information missing is to decipher the numbers very close to the dial pivot on the original.

That image is so good it is worth spending 10 minutes in Gimp to fill in the holes at 5 and 30 and then do a raster to vector conversion in Inkscape. It might work and is very quick to try.

I don't know if I can replicate the exact font...

This is going to sound harsh, and I do not want it to, but the whole point of a reproduction dial is it is an exact facsimile of the original. It reproduces the OEM original in exact and tiniest detail.

That is where the cost and time of the artistry comes in on these things: look very closely at the rounded ends to the 5, 3 and 6. Those have to appear exactly as shown. Look at the little tick at the top of the 1. Look at the curl of the 2. The mark I eyeball is a cruel mistress and will whip you if you omit or ignore these small details.

The scale and RPM X 100 are easy. BRITISH is not too bad. Even with a good background image, JAEGER is hard.

 

[My Old Landy]

Box of cigars.

The image of that one would be excellent to trace over if you wanted a facsimile. The digits and scale are identical. The OP's one only differs in the writing (the one linked is later, Smiths, not Jaeger).

Direct link to image:

https://www.howardinstruments.com.au/uploads/product/Images/others/Dial/Chrono/Chrono-8.jpg

If someone could find a similar high quality head-on view of the JAEGER writing, all the pieces are there to have a good stab at it.

The only information missing is to decipher the numbers very close to the dial pivot on the original.

That image is so good it is worth spending 10 minutes in Gimp to fill in the holes at 5 and 30 and then do a raster to vector conversion in Inkscape. It might work and is very quick to try.



This is going to sound harsh, and I do not want it to, but the whole point of a reproduction dial is it is an exact facsimile of the original. It reproduces the OEM original in exact and tiniest detail.

That is where the cost and time of the artistry comes in on these things: look very closely at the rounded ends to the 5, 3 and 6. Those have to appear exactly as shown. Look at the little tick at the top of the 1. Look at the curl of the 2. The mark I eyeball is a cruel mistress and will whip you if you omit or ignore these small details.

The scale and RPM X 100 are easy. BRITISH is not too bad. Even with a good background image, JAEGER is hard.

Hence I have not promised I can do it. I have helped a few people restore stuff and I never promise an exact copy.

 

[Gareth J]

Yeah, I used to repair the D shaped smiths Speedos as a bit of if a paying hobby. I did get a batch of the face plates for those remanufactured by someone. I'll see if I can find who and if they're still doing it next week.

It's too late now but those dials are often incredibly delicately printed. Sometimes they'll wipe off with just water. Or a stern look.

 

[Hotstuff]

that would great if you can its fitted to my lotus eleven from 1956 which I have spent three years restoring. all the work was done here by me except upholstery

View attachment 464911 View attachment 464912 View attachment 464913 View attachment 464914

Off topic but I’d love to hear more about your journey refurbishing her.

 

[lotus 30]

Have you contacted Speedy Cables?

Instrument Dial Printing - Gauge Artworks | Speedy Cables

The latest technology allows us to re produce artworks from various automotive, motorcycle, marine, agricultural, industrial and many more gauges. We can alter the dial printing to show a different scale, text, font or logo.

www.speedycables.com

Yes they will do it for £700 the rev counter works fine at £700 it's very painful lol