Red Mercury
Member
I posted recently regarding reproduction gauges for my old WD-9 but thought I should begin a new post in hopes that more members would view the following info about reproduction gauges from Stein*r Tractor.
I have recently had more communication with Stein*r Tractor regarding the quality issues of gauges manufactured off shore. Stein*r Tractor certainly seems to have a desire to "get it right" in terms of function and the appearance of the gauge faces. The ammeter that I purchased from Stein*r Tractor is made in the U.S. and it is absolutely perfect--I consider it to be a restoration quality gauge. There are manufacturers for the oil pressure, fuel pressure, and temperature gauges from India, China, and Taiwan. The gauges from Taiwan that Stein*r Tractor presently sell are made exclusively for Stein*r tractor. Stein*r Tractor does also resell the gauges to other suppliers so they can be found on other vendor's websites. The people at Stein*r Tractor feel that the Taiwan gauges they sell do have more original faces than the gauges from India or China--I agree. Here are some comments that I sent to Stein*r Tractor regarding the quality of gauge faces on their Taiwan gauges that I purchased (Some comments have been modified slightly for the benefit of the YT members):
For the most part, the faces on the Taiwan gauges are acceptable with very minor flaws. They are easily identified as reproduction gauges, which prevents me from calling them original restoration quality gauges. Here are some specific comments (Please understand that I am a fussy person who tries to pay close attention to detail):
1. They do not have the Rochester identification around the perimeter of the face and as Stein*r Tractor indicated this is not possible—basically no one can legally print the Rochester name on the gauges without Rochester Instrument's approval (Makes sense!).
2. The temperature gauge has some very minor inconsistencies in the fonts used for the COLD, RUN, HOT zones on the gauge face.
3. I actually ordered a genuine CaseIH fuel pressure gauge this week. It is the real McCoy, but get this—CaseIH has made obvious changes to it so that it no longer looks original. With the exception of the Rochester markings Stein*r Tractor's IHS532 gauge face is a closer resemblance to the original.
4. I also noticed on Stein*r Tractor's website that some of the pre-1947 gauges now have the correct IHC logo on the gauge face. Some observant members had previously pointed out that the reproduction gauges had the block IH symbol inside of the C on the gauge face which was a glaring error.
I have recently had more communication with Stein*r Tractor regarding the quality issues of gauges manufactured off shore. Stein*r Tractor certainly seems to have a desire to "get it right" in terms of function and the appearance of the gauge faces. The ammeter that I purchased from Stein*r Tractor is made in the U.S. and it is absolutely perfect--I consider it to be a restoration quality gauge. There are manufacturers for the oil pressure, fuel pressure, and temperature gauges from India, China, and Taiwan. The gauges from Taiwan that Stein*r Tractor presently sell are made exclusively for Stein*r tractor. Stein*r Tractor does also resell the gauges to other suppliers so they can be found on other vendor's websites. The people at Stein*r Tractor feel that the Taiwan gauges they sell do have more original faces than the gauges from India or China--I agree. Here are some comments that I sent to Stein*r Tractor regarding the quality of gauge faces on their Taiwan gauges that I purchased (Some comments have been modified slightly for the benefit of the YT members):
For the most part, the faces on the Taiwan gauges are acceptable with very minor flaws. They are easily identified as reproduction gauges, which prevents me from calling them original restoration quality gauges. Here are some specific comments (Please understand that I am a fussy person who tries to pay close attention to detail):
1. They do not have the Rochester identification around the perimeter of the face and as Stein*r Tractor indicated this is not possible—basically no one can legally print the Rochester name on the gauges without Rochester Instrument's approval (Makes sense!).
2. The temperature gauge has some very minor inconsistencies in the fonts used for the COLD, RUN, HOT zones on the gauge face.
3. I actually ordered a genuine CaseIH fuel pressure gauge this week. It is the real McCoy, but get this—CaseIH has made obvious changes to it so that it no longer looks original. With the exception of the Rochester markings Stein*r Tractor's IHS532 gauge face is a closer resemblance to the original.
4. I also noticed on Stein*r Tractor's website that some of the pre-1947 gauges now have the correct IHC logo on the gauge face. Some observant members had previously pointed out that the reproduction gauges had the block IH symbol inside of the C on the gauge face which was a glaring error.