mk1-forum.net

Hi all, do you think it's an original one? or a copy?
Thanks
++
Olivier

Regardless of original or reproduction... where will you use it? That's a cable driven tach. Not only will you need to connect it to something mechanical on the engine, most also have an input ratio (3:1 for example).

I think I can read "Chronometric" on the face. There were some Indian companies making chronometric copies. I don't know if those reproductions used a chronometric style movement or not. When operated, chronometric movents have needles that "tick" into position like the second hand on a quartz watch. I suspect for cost reasons most reproductions probably use an analog magnetic movement similar to what Smiths used in the 1960s and 1970s. If you test this and the needle moves smoothly without a needle tick it is almost surely a repro.

dklawson wrote:Regardless of original or reproduction... where will you use it? That's a cable driven tach. Not only will you need to connect it to something mechanical on the engine, most also have an input ratio (3:1 for example).

I think I can read "Chronometric" on the face. There were some Indian companies making chronometric copies. I don't know if those reproductions used a chronometric style movement or not. When operated, chronometric movents have needles that "tick" into position like the second hand on a quartz watch. I suspect for cost reasons most reproductions probably use an analog magnetic movement similar to what Smiths used in the 1960s and 1970s. If you test this and the needle moves smoothly without a needle tick it is almost surely a repro.

Thanks Doug, i ask for this test
finally simple to verifiy if an original or a repro

Probably for a motorcycle.

I have used chrono tachs a couple of times on Minis & they really are fantastic! The gearboxes & cables for them are easily available from the likes of Speedy cables.

As far as your example is concerned, it looks suspiciously like an Indian Repro to me. I have never seen that lighting arrangement on any Sm,iths Chrono Tacho. They usually don't have provision for any lighting at all.

The images below are from my Downton 850.

The first image shows the tacho itself, installed in the car & the second image is of the drive taken off the back of the dynamo using a Frogeye Sprite Dynamo & gearbox.

LarryLebel wrote:Probably for a motorcycle.

Yes looks Indian made for the Royal Enfield , put Royal Enfield in fleebay and they will pop up .

goff wrote:

LarryLebel wrote:Probably for a motorcycle.

Yes looks Indian made for the Royal Enfield , put Royal Enfield in fleebay and they will pop up .

12000 RPM on a Royal Enfield?????

Don't I would want to be near it at those revs.....

smithyrc30 wrote:

goff wrote:

LarryLebel wrote:Probably for a motorcycle.

Yes looks Indian made for the Royal Enfield , put Royal Enfield in fleebay and they will pop up .

12000 RPM on a Royal Enfield?????

Don't I would want to be near it at those revs.....

Bloody hell i should have read all the post before i opened my gob , I have Indian RE and down hill 4200RPM if i am lucky. old age i put it down to. .