'51 Clock and Speedo numbers color???

[Deleted User]
[Deleted User]
edited November -1 in HUDSON
Hello All,



What is the original color for the speedometer and clock numbers? Are they supposed to be white? Mine are kinda mustard yellow. I took the clock lens off and it appears that they are nylon numerals??? Has anyone had any sucess bleaching or cleaning them?

Comments

  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    They are supposed to be mustard yellow I guess thats a good enough description. Mine are same colour. I have NOS speedo and clock for 51 they are same.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Does anyone know what year they began using the glow-in-the dark numerals?
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    OK thanks, 51hornetA
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    The glow in the dark numbers for the speedo and clock began with the 48 Hudsons. They gauge faces were made by Gits moulding as well as the rest of the plastic parts on the Hudson. The numbers should be as white as possible if they are going to glow. After a few years they turn slightly yellow and after really aging they turn almost light brown. The earlier stepdowns (48-50) usually had little damage from sunlight as they were placed further toward the center of the dash. Later(51-53) stepdowns had a real problem with the speedo fading if the car sat out for a long time as the sun could do some UV damage to the plastic dial face since they were placed closer to a side window. Especially the speedo on left hand drive models.The earlier 48-50 dials used a lighter plastic for numerals and the later 51-53 models used a slightly darker material but they all behaved about the same way. If you want to get some glowing on the gauge faces,you might want to consider using florescent white paint or ink. Even if you try to clean up the yellowing numerals they really don't glow too well.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Hudzilla,



    That's for that interesting bit of history. When I first got my Hudson, I was amazed by the glow-in-the dark gauge markings when the lights were turned off. Did any other manufacturers use glow-in-the dark features on their dashes? Also, what was the idea behind using glow-in-the dark markings?
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Thanks for the info. Hudzilla.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Dave53-7C wrote:
    Hudzilla,



    That's for that interesting bit of history. When I first got my Hudson, I was amazed by the glow-in-the dark gauge markings when the lights were turned off. Did any other manufacturers use glow-in-the dark features on their dashes? Also, what was the idea behind using glow-in-the dark markings?
    Dave, the big idea was to give you a bit of an edge in night driving. Six volt lights weren't the brightest so a glowing dash sure helped. If you really want to see them glow.get a decent clock or speedo and put it under a 100 watt light bulb. Now it REALLY glows. Don't know if any other car manufacturer used this idea, but using phosphorescent plastic lost favor about the time the 12 volt electrical system came out. I still remember as a kid getting plastic stuff that glowed in the dark around Halloween. I guess Gits had to dump it somewhere LOL.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    DaveFury wrote:
    Thanks for the info. Hudzilla.
    A pleasure as always Dave. Funny, its total trivia to some and history to others.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Hudzilla wrote:
    Dave, the big idea was to give you a bit of an edge in night driving. Six volt lights weren't the brightest so a glowing dash sure helped. If you really want to see them glow.get a decent clock or speedo and put it under a 100 watt light bulb. Now it REALLY glows. Don't know if any other car manufacturer used this idea, but using phosphorescent plastic lost favor about the time the 12 volt electrical system came out. I still remember as a kid getting plastic stuff that glowed in the dark around Halloween. I guess Gits had to dump it somewhere LOL.



    Hudzilla,



    Also helpful if the circuit breaker killed the headlights while driving. At least you could tell the time and how fast you were going. LOL Yes, I tried the work light approach and the dash really glowed. Have you seen the stick on stars that parents put on the ceilings of their kids rooms? Maybe we should get some of those and put them on our headliners so we can relive the phosphorescent joys of our youth. We'll feel like we're driving in a convertible at night. :D
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    So the general consensus for the numbers is more white-ish rather than yellow-brown, (Glow-in-the-dark plastic color) correct?
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Based on what's in my car, and when they're not glowing, I would say more white than yellow.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    My experience is that they are not white on a 51. Like I said I have a NOS speedo and clock they have been in the original boxes not exposed to light very often. They look almost the same as the ones that are in my 51 Hornet. I can take a pic of the NOS if you like so you can see.



    They are different on the 52-53 where they look more like mother of pearl so yes those are whiter than the 51.
  • 7XPacemaker
    7XPacemaker Senior Contributor
    51hornetA wrote:
    My experience is that they are not white on a 51. Like I said I have a NOS speedo and clock they have been in the original boxes not exposed to light very often. They look almost the same as the ones that are in my 51 Hornet. I can take a pic of the NOS if you like so you can see.



    They are different on the 52-53 where they look more like mother of pearl so yes those are whiter than the 51.



    I have to agree with 51hornetA, the gauges on my '51 are also an off color. The later ones gauges were certainly whiter than the 51's were!
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    51hornetA wrote:
    My experience is that they are not white on a 51. Like I said I have a NOS speedo and clock they have been in the original boxes not exposed to light very often. They look almost the same as the ones that are in my 51 Hornet. I can take a pic of the NOS if you like so you can see.



    They are different on the 52-53 where they look more like mother of pearl so yes those are whiter than the 51.



    I thought we're talking about the numbers, not the color of the face. :confused:
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Yes we are and the 52-53 are whiter than the 51 which is a yellowed colour from the factory.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    51hornetA wrote:
    Yes we are and the 52-53 are whiter than the 51 which is a yellowed colour from the factory.



    Between the combination of chrome trim, mother-of-pearl faces and glow-in-the-dark numerals, I'll have to wear sunglasses when driving at night. :D
  • Walt-LA
    Walt-LA Senior Contributor
    7XPacemaker wrote:
    I have to agree with 51hornetA, the gauges on my '51 are also an off color. The later ones gauges were certainly whiter than the 51's were!



    7XPacemaker,



    Were the numerals on your '51 painted on the glass, as was done with the Wasps? Walt-LA
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    The numerals on the Hornet and Commodore are plastic attached to the face of the gauge. I have a Pacemaker speedo that has the numerals painted on the glass.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    51hornetA wrote:
    The numerals on the Hornet and Commodore are plastic attached to the face of the gauge. I have a Pacemaker speedo that has the numerals painted on the glass.





    My numbers are plastic attached to the face of the gauge. The fuel and temp are painted on the glass.
  • Walt-LA
    Walt-LA Senior Contributor
    Has anyone ever tried cleaning up the raised numerals on the Hornet/Commodore speedo's and clocks? Seems that a very fine sandpaper with board backing might be used to remove the top layer of yellowing - unless it penetrates. I mention because I have a '51 speedo purchased from a speedometer shop which has only a little yellowing on one numeral at lower right - not even the whole numeral. Otherwise, the rest of the numerals are a light ivory or off-white. Not pure white as is the OIL and AMP lettering. Pattern suggests cleaning, but dunno. Walt-LA
  • 7XPacemaker
    7XPacemaker Senior Contributor
    51hornetA wrote:
    The numerals on the Hornet and Commodore are plastic attached to the face of the gauge. I have a Pacemaker speedo that has the numerals painted on the glass.



    Right again. My Pacemaker has the numbers painted on and the Hornet has the plastic. Both are 51's.
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