dashboard clocks and options

[JHertzman@xxxxxxx]

There has been a continuing stream of chat about dashboard clocks which I
traced back to Bruce Giller's wish, in AD7-326, for a clock to plug an ugly
hole in his dash- "And if I can't find an Alfa clock, anyone know where can I
find a new/used round analog 12v clock that would look nice in my GTV?"

A quick skim of two British do-dad catalogs (demon tweeks and Europa
Specialist Spares) turned up neat round blackface analog 12 v clocks galore,
from Lucas, Smiths, VDO, Isspro, and Stewart-Warner. The choices come down to
whether you want black bezels or chrome bezels, red hands or white ones, sweep
second hand or not, individual minute marks or five minute increments, larger
or smaller numerals. I am fairly sure that most of them, plus more, would be
in similar US catalogs.

I am reminded that when the distinguished US wall-clock manufacturer Howard
Miller commissioned the equally distinguished designer George Nelson to design
a line of wall-clocks in the 50s he produced a line of truly bizarre whatzits.
He explained the rationale of the designs by saying that of course nobody uses
a clock to tell time, everybody has a wristwatch, ergo what a clock was for
was decoration. The first part is, I think, true; I haven't not had a watch on
for many decades, and every watch has always been more correct than any of the
many car-clocks I have had. 

In Bruce's case it would seem (unless he is truly watch-bereft) that what a
clock is for is to plug a hole. One might ask what alternate hole-plugs are
available?

Besides the standard gauges found on a GTV these two catalogs offered
voltmeters, oil temperature gauges, ambient air temperature gauges, manifold
vacuum gauges, fuel pressure gauges, and a neat engine-hours recorder. Some of
these could be used for other purposes; when the Cunninghams first went to Le
Mans they had both transmission oil temperature gauges and differential oil
temperature gauges, prompting a British press observation that such
information is seldom useful and often distressing. 

My catalogs, and thus the prices, are not current, but if Bruce (or anyone)
wants more details I will be glad to oblige. No GTV should have to bear
unwanted blemishes.

Cordially, 

John H. 

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End of alfa-digest V7 #341
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