Information Needed on a Vintage Stewart Warner Tachometer

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jiminbartow
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Information Needed on a Vintage Stewart Warner Tachometer

Post by jiminbartow » Thu Feb 09, 2023 12:49 pm

I just purchased this vintage Stewart-Warner Tachometer. It was sort of an impulse buy, but I liked the vintage looking face of it, feeling that it looks like a gauge that would look right at home on a 1920’s vehicle. It is also NOS with the original paper label on the back, an hours gauge reading 00000 and the protective sealing wax still on the threaded cable connecting port on the back. Does anyone know anything about this gauge? How old it is, how it could be hooked up to a Model T and where to find a cable and the connections? I don’t really need it if it cannot be hooked up to a Model T and I will probably sell it to someone with a vintage car that will accommodate it, or someone that has the knowledge, experience and parts to install it in a Model T. Thank you for any information you can provide. Jim Patrick

4D259EAF-D38F-4AE0-83D5-8F0A3D243582.jpeg

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TRDxB2
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Re: Information Needed on a Vintage Stewart Warner Tachometer

Post by TRDxB2 » Thu Feb 09, 2023 3:10 pm

Same discussion was started a few days ago by someone else https://mtfca.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php? ... ch#p267438
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Re: Information Needed on a Vintage Stewart Warner Tachometer

Post by Allan » Thu Feb 09, 2023 3:35 pm

The hour meter likely means it was for industrial use. Farm machinery, tractors etc, used them as indicators for service needs.

Allan from down under.

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TMiller6
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Re: Information Needed on a Vintage Stewart Warner Tachometer

Post by TMiller6 » Thu Feb 09, 2023 3:38 pm

If you Google Stewart Warner 503-E, a few references to military use pop up as well as a discussion on the HAMB.
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Re: Information Needed on a Vintage Stewart Warner Tachometer

Post by Lil Teezy » Thu Feb 09, 2023 10:43 pm

What’s the back look like? I have seen WWII and Korean War era, new in the box military vehicle gauges with that green drab bezel instead of bright metal. No reflection?

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TRDxB2
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Re: Information Needed on a Vintage Stewart Warner Tachometer

Post by TRDxB2 » Fri Feb 10, 2023 12:37 am

I should have searched the INTERNET earlier for it. This is on eBay not James'
https://www.ebay.com/itm/304174300310
SW 503E.png
SW 503E 2.png
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You might contact the eBay seller he is a "Jeep" parts guy
https://www.ebay.com/itm/171860031535?h ... Sw9N1Vpuyt
says WWII M38 M38A are Model Jeeps
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cable.png
Last edited by TRDxB2 on Fri Feb 10, 2023 1:06 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Information Needed on a Vintage Stewart Warner Tachometer

Post by Allan » Fri Feb 10, 2023 1:05 am

The green drab bezel makes sense on military vehicles/machinery. They may not do many miles but may operate for some time. Every time the engine is started, the hours are recordred. In this way a service schedule can be adopted to suit the running conditions. Like a lot of government/military items, they stockpile spares that often are outdated before they are used.

Allan from down under.

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