Working on a new product, looking fro input on gauges

So we are getting ready to launch some new product just before the new year and I thought it might be a good idea to get more feedback on what we have coming before we push the button.
The first two gauge sets are full stepper motor, backlit 4-3/8 and 2-1/16" gauge sets. They also are available with programmable outputs and a programmable fuel gauge, so no sender to change. They are not meant to copy exactly, but have the feel of the period. I have always hated to see a realy nice car, only to see some rather out-of place gauges in the dash.
The first set is somewhat taken from 69 ]Camaros. Mint green screening and green backlighting.

http://inlinethumb32.webshots.com/42...600x600Q85.jpg

Next up are some that have been inspired from 65-66 Mustangs and in my opinion, look very 60s, would probably look good in most any 60s car. Same features as the camaro style

http://inlinethumb20.webshots.com/41...600x600Q85.jpg

Third we have some that resemble 67-69 Mustangs. Again, not to copy them, but with the feel of the period. 5" speedo and tach, I beleive that we can do a 140 MPH speedo, with 2-1/16" air core gauges.

http://inlinethumb53.webshots.com/25...600x600Q85.jpg

We have a couple more really cool things in the works, but they are a bit farther off. I really would appreciate some input. Hate to make a small mistalke that would keep a good product from being great.

Thanks,
fire away!
Mark

Any input?
Good, bad, too big/small, does this make sense?
Thanks
Mark

Well, one thing I might ask is why your big gauges aren't the standard 3 3/8 size? Not that the size you have is necessarily wrong, but most people are making the big ones 3 3/8 and the small ones 2 1/16. Most gauge panels are setup for the 3 3/8 sized tach and speedo also. The only other thing that people look for is quality in the gauge mechanism itself. There are some inexpensive offshore gauges out there that have a pretty bad rep. I'm sure yours don't fit into that category though, from the sounds of what features you have incorporated.

I personally like the looks of the last ones with the simple bezel. Of course I'm a traditional sort of guy, and those look more like the SW and similar ones I am used to.

Don

Thanks for the input,
Our gauges come in 2-1/16, 3-3/8 and 4-3/8. The stepper sets are 3-3/8 and 2-1/16
We are thinking of doing the 67-69 Mustang speedo/tach in the 4-3/8 so that the fit in the large Mustang dash openings. We also have MP products making a dash panel for these gauges so that the fit right back in the dash.
All of our internals and parts are made in the USA and we final assemble the dials, pointers, bezels, etc at our shop.
We are getting these ready for our muscle car lines,
if you are looking for something more traditional, we have those too:
Mark

1940 series:
http://inlinethumb38.webshots.com/24...600x600Q85.jpg

Woodward/1935 series:
http://inlinethumb06.webshots.com/44...600x600Q85.jpg

We try to have products that fit a genre, or time period rather than one-style fits all.

Heck, I like them all!!! The Woodward series just have nostalgia written all over them, and the Mustang design would work in a lot of different cars!! Are you doing any racer style 2 3/8" gauges with the 270 degree sweep?

Dave,
Thanks. I think you might mean 2-5/8, that is the standard size, i don't think anyone makes antything in a 2-3/8". We do have some 2-5/8" base gauges that we use for custom applications. They are mechanical and we custom build them to order. We really just need to know what you want to get going. We do custom dials, pointers, pretty much anything, at a price that isn't cheap, but probably alot less than you might think.
Mark

Quote:

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Originally Posted by marks914

Dave,
Thanks. I think you might mean 2-5/8, that is the standard size, i don't think anyone makes antything in a 2-3/8". We do have some 2-5/8" base gauges that we use for custom applications. They are mechanical and we custom build them to order. We really just need to know what you want to get going. We do custom dials, pointers, pretty much anything, at a price that isn't cheap, but probably alot less than you might think.
Mark

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Yup, 2 5/8"--it's early, still on my first cup of coffee.... Anyway, thanks!! Gonna keep the custom gauge part in mind when it gets to be gauge time for the 'maro!!!!

Those are really nice, and I like the Woodwards too. You know Mark, what you really need is a test bed car to put those on............maybe someone on here.........someone who posts a lot..............someone who would be very happy to report back how nice the looked and how they worked.........someone......................(ok, maybe that was too obvious:o:D:D)


Don

Mighty nice of Pops to nominate me as your field tester, thanks ol' man.
:D

Intersesting designs for the most part. The first set looks like a cross between the old SW green gauges with Auto Meter bezels, especially like the 270 degree config on those. The second set doesn't work for me for some reason, but I can't quite pin it down. Might be that a different bezel design would work better with the marking style. Just not sure. The third ones are just great, very period looking for '60s style.

But I'm with the other guys on the Woodward for '30s/'40s cars. I'd love something like those for the '36 coupe, but it doesn't look like you make them sized for the stock openings on a '35/36 Ford. The speedo hole is a nominal 4 3/8, the lesser two are nominal 2 3/8. The face and bezel are really nice though.

Are you saying you do "restoration/upgrade" to old panels? I've got one I'm thinking about new guts for the side gauges, and a mild spruce up of the gauge face (such as the temp on the far left of pic below), but not wanting to lose the "good" patina, just the bad. Here's a pic of the panel, pm me if that's the kind of thing you do.

Bob,
we used to do a bunch of restorations, espescially on Porsche, Ferrari and Kit cars. The restoratrions and retrofits get pretty expensive, so we started working on new products with the feel of the old stuff. We can re-do your dials, no problem.
As for the 35s fitting in the hole on your 36, most guys are enlarging the two openings, which is still about $1500-$2000 less than a retrofit set.

Mark

I'm with Don on the bezels - I like those with a little break over the rounded contours, and polished over satin. Also, a personal note, I can't abide a scale x100 on a tach - makes it look like a speedometer. For me I want to see either a single digit x1000, or spell it out. Probably just me...

I hear you on the single digit on the tach, that is how they used to do them. Whats worse, most tachs from the 60s only went to 6K and called out the RPM every 500, do the tach looked ike a 60 MPH speedo

Mark

[QUOTE=Bob Parmenter;371409]Mighty nice of Pops to nominate me as your field tester, thanks ol' man.
:D

Well, it is Christmas after all Bob. :D:D

Don

Both are good looking ...... maybe a red tell-tale on the 1940 tach though....

As for the 1935 series .... sweat.

How bout working on a 40's fighter plane mimic??

Regs

Quote:

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Originally Posted by REGs

Both are good looking ...... maybe a red tell-tale on the 1940 tach though....

As for the 1935 series .... sweat.

How bout working on a 40's fighter plane mimic??

Regs

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Regs,
the 1940 Series has the original 1939 issue US military graphics, so that one is pretty close.

Mark

those look nice.
Just a thought, have you ever considered swapping the voltage gauge for a vacuum gauge?

I love them all. However, my personal preference is for a speedometer that only goes to 100. After all, I think (I think) that most of these will go in cars that are street rods, not racers! But I've been wrong before, well-----maybe a time or two! Great looking gauges all. My two cents. Perley

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DeepRoots

those look nice.
Just a thought, have you ever considered swapping the voltage gauge for a vacuum gauge?

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We do custom work all the time, we do alot of custom vac/boost, Air/fuel ratio, EGT, whatever someone needs we try to do.

Mark

I really like the "retro" look.

I'm working on a '63 SS and went with a combination "hot-rod/muscle car" look with Auto Meter Pro-comp.

I seem to remember an old Dodge Businessman's Coupe my father had (late 40's?) that the speedometer lighting changed colors at speed, i.e., 0-30 was white, 30-60 was green and at 60 it turned red. Am I imagining this or were there such lighting "options" on cars?

Regards All,
Glenn

Ok Mark ....... you got the graphix down on the 40's aircraft but what about convex lenses?? Also the besels ...... can you make a set like a foghter with 4 point mounts?

Also ...... what we talking costwise ..... or direct me someplace to check.

REGS

We had a '41 Plymouth with the changing colours at speeds, I think it was a Chryco option for some time.
Marks914....have you thought of putting convex lenses on some nostalgia gauges? I made a set once with crazy glue and watch lenses, looked great.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by REGs

Ok Mark ....... you got the graphix down on the 40's aircraft but what about convex lenses?? Also the besels ...... can you make a set like a foghter with 4 point mounts?

Also ...... what we talking costwise ..... or direct me someplace to check.

REGS

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Authentic bomber/military gauges have flat lenses and black bezels, but we dressed ours up with real glass domed lenses. All of our air core gauges have domed lenses, a small glass shop in CT makes them for us.

I'll PM you with the website, I don't want to look like a spammer, unless its OK to list our website with the admins.
Mark

I found the site just by Google/Bing; Woodward 1935 gauges, went straight to it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by glennsexton

I really like the "retro" look.

"Am I imagining this or were there such lighting "options" on cars?"

Regards All,
Glenn

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Naw, Glenn, you aren't imagining that.

One of my buddies had a '48 (I think) Dodge sedan. The speedometer changed colors as speed increased. Real classy!

Jim

Just picked up some dials from the screener for the Camaro sets, thought I would post some pics of the prototypes. Still working on getting the lighting right, probably need a green filter to get them to light greener.
Mark
http://inlinethumb64.webshots.com/45...600x600Q85.jpg
http://inlinethumb03.webshots.com/46...600x600Q85.jpg
http://inlinethumb29.webshots.com/21...600x600Q85.jpg