Black or Chrome Instrument Bezels?

Richard Branch

5 March 2016 at 18:44 #51787

I know the answer is that you can have what you want but this is just a bit of fun. What are people’s opinions on instrument bezels, black or chrome? I’ve seen many images on the internet showing cars with either finish so what the consensus on here? Mine are currently a mix so need sorting, I’m just not good at making decisions! 😆

Colin M34

5 March 2016 at 23:17 #51788

Black

Chrome is too flash for a pre-war car. OK on an MGB…

Colin

Richard Branch

6 March 2016 at 11:22 #51795

Fair enough Colin, I see your point!

6 March 2016 at 13:09 #51797

About 16 years ago I had to find replacement gauges for my 2 Litre. It had returned from 35 years in USA with some interesting BMC gauges and a temp gauge from an autoclave manufacturer! In my research over a period of a couple of years, I photographed numerous 1931-2 2 and 3 Litre dash panels. Some very original panels, some fully restored. I only spotted one that had gone down the chrome bezel route and have to say it looked a bit ‘show car’ but was part of an impressive restoration. I went for satin black as being period and actually saved me money in the instrument restoration department

6 March 2016 at 14:11 #51800

Well here’s mine and these are as far as can be checked the unmolested originals, so I guess they were always chrome, I have left them as they were when I got the car (except for some mechanical repairs on two)

6 March 2016 at 16:18 #51803

Thanks Adrian, great photgraph.
I think this is evidence that on the later cars it was a choice of the customer between satin black or chrome.
Not sure this would have been the case on the earlier cars( 2 and 3 Litre) but when chrome became more fashionable from around 1930 perhaps it was a choice?
Regards
Mark

Richard Branch

6 March 2016 at 19:07 #51804

Thanks again, mine is a 1933 car so I guess chrome would have been becoming popular however as has been said,especially for a tourer I am erring towards black.

RobO

6 March 2016 at 19:16 #51807

Mine are satin black too Richard, the pre restoration photos i have show black too 🙂

All the best
Rob

6 March 2016 at 19:32 #51808

Well most of the pictures I’ve seen for tourers are black and it looks right, so If mine had been missing/knackered I might have gone that route as well 🙂

Richard Branch

19 April 2016 at 21:32 #51871

Following on from my previous post, can anyone say if 1930s Lagondas were ever fitted with water temperature gauges calibrated in Fahrenheit? Most of the pics I have seen on the internet show them as having Centigrade gauges but I wondered if these are newer? In the winter I am aiming to re-do the dash board in my car and am slowly collecting the correct instruments to go in. Thanks Rich?

20 April 2016 at 15:52 #51873

I did some research around 16 years ago when I was replacing missing gauges on my 2 Litre and I am pretty certain that Lagonda went with Centigrade. Certainly on the oval dash cars as I have many photos of such. The LG45 is also in centigrade.
However, other manufacturers went with Fahrenheit ( for example MG, if I recall correctly, and Austin in the post war period were using Smith instruments showing Fahrenheit)

Having experienced both, my view is that Centigrade markings are much clearer on the gauge. However, it is possibly Lagonda would respond to a customer requesting Fahrenheit………

Regards
Mark

SRD

20 April 2016 at 16:12 #51876

We have restored many Lagonda pre-war car clocks, mostly Smiths.

They came with either chrome or black finish.

In a few cases we have noted that a standard chrome bezel was sprayed black in period in period. Clearly the factory had an order to complete and needs must..

Richard Branch

20 April 2016 at 18:28 #51877

Thanks Mark for the info regarding the temperature gauge; I am of the age that uses feet and inches and beer in pints but am more comfortable with temperatures in Centigrade. It’s good to hear that Degs C is probably good for 1933 cars. I found a decent looking gauge on eBay but it’s Deg F so I’ll pass on that.

Regarding the bezels, black is good for me. Simon, can you PM your details as I may contact you to renovate some dials for me.

Thanks Rich…

Richard Branch

30 June 2018 at 13:34 #52834

Well I see my last post was over 2 years ago but I just fitted my nicely working clock which I have sprayed the chrome bezel satin black and it looks excellent. I have also finally had fitted a proper S Smiths MA oil pressure and temperature gauges and a nice Joseph Lucas ammeter. All looking very good now.