"IH" symbol verses "spiral" symbol on speedo gauge needle

Greetings,

I've got a question...I recently bought an entire speedometer gauge, housing, mechanism, etc. on ebay. One thing I noticed though it has a "spiral" design shown on the center cap? of the needle of the gauge where my old original one in my 1955 R110 has the "IH" symbol on it.

Does anyone know why some gauges have the spiral?...is it an after market model....or a later year speedo gauge...or...?

Thanks,

Neal

My R series has the red IH in the centre of the dials. My S series has the spiral. I like the IH better but I guess the spiral was an update when they came out with the S series trucks.

I'm not sure when they changed, but my 51 L110 had the "Bull's Eye" circles on the speedo and I'm 99.999999999999999% sure it's original. I've noticed other gauges I've seen had the IH logo. I presume that logo started after the '51 model year, but not sure when the change occurred.

I'm not sure when they changed, but my 51 L110 had the "Bull's Eye" circles on the speedo and I'm 99.999999999999999% sure it's original. I've noticed other gauges I've seen had the IH logo. I presume that logo started after the '51 model year, but not sure when the change occurred.

You appear to have two un matched dials. Different ring on each. And only a gas gauge on the left dial? Was that ever an option? I have never seen one with less than all four gauges in the left dial. (gas, temp, amps, oil).

L series has chromed dimple button in the middle,

R series has red IH in the middle,

S series has a mini target, or spiral if you like,

they all interchange easily, so if yours is different it's been swapped out sometime in the last 60 years.

the two gauges in the picture do not match at all, including bezel trim, definitely a transplant of speedo cluster,

don't know why oil, amp and temp have been blanked out on cluster, but didn't come from factory that way, IHC did a lot of funny stuff, but keep em guessing about engine status wasn't one of them,

do you have after market gauges under the dash? or how do you know your truck has oil pressure, or is charging, or not overheating?

Terrible looking MACTAC wood. A spiral looks like a wound spring. A circle in a circle is concentric.
I have parted out about 10 L&R pickups and I have to say, there was a variety of gauge faces. About 50/50 with IH and the other had concentric circles. Green numerals on a cream face with a red pinstripe 3" circle and red needles, Red numerals on gloss black and red needles, a
few with flat black with yellow-ish glowing in the dark pointers. There were several fonts also. The gauges had various bulb covers in green or red and more often clear. One L had light bulbs in the left and right ports next to the high beam indicator that operated with the turn signals. I have given all of the gauges to MAGIHC MIKE. I'm going with AUTOMETER this time.

Another difference I have noticed is that the 'target type' on my S series has two gauges and two idiot lights. That's not an improvement in my book. My favorite is the 'IH' center and four gauges.

Dean

L series has chromed dimple button in the middle,

R series has red IH in the middle,

S series has a mini target, or spiral if you like,

they all interchange easily, so if yours is different it's been swapped out sometime in the last 60 years.

Jon has it right.

Heres mine in the R160. I like the little IH symbol.

The gauges shown in my L110 were in it when I got it from my granddad 40 years ago. I know I didn't change them and I know he didn't change them. As for the fuel gauge only in the left one. If you'll look in the lower right corner of the photo, you'll see why the other three were blanked off. I DID that. There was an aftermarket gauge set bolted under the dash and I opened up the gauge to put electrical tape (black) over the openings of the gauges that weren't being used. Ergo the fuel only gauge in a 4 pod gauge. I have no explanation why there is no IH symbol, bulls eye circles, chrome buttons or anything on the left gauge. Maybe it dropped out when I opened up the gauge. After 40 years, it could have happened, but I don't remember that. Come to think of it, I may have blanked that out too.
As for the discoloration stated on the rings, I can't explain that either except that it could possible be old adhesive from the contact paper on one, but why it didn't affect the other........???????????? It's and old truck, pre-anything.
As for the wood grain, that's what contact paper "wood grain" looks like after about 38+ years of neglect. It's all gone now. That photo could be the "before" photo.