Jaeger (Smiths) Dual Oil/Water Gauge for S1, S2 and other

MarketPlace Parts for Sale
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This is a near new Jaeger (Smiths) Dual Oil/Water Gauge Degrees in Fahrenheit
Model GD1501/01
Purchased from Rimmer Bros. Part No.: BHA4296

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(IMPORTANT NOTE: This is interchangeable for the same gauge with the “Smiths” name/logo on the dial, being no difference between the Jaeger logo’d gauge and the Smiths logo’d gauge. My Elan arrived from the factory in 1965 with the Jaeger logo’d gauge, which was an exact visual and operational match to the tach and speedometer fitted in the car except for the name/logo only. The Smiths model for which this is interchangeable is Model GD1501/14 or GD1501/14A Rimmer Bros. Part No. BHA4586)

It was purchased new, and used in my '65 S2 Elan for only 1000 miles while waiting for my original rebuilt gauge to arrive. Works perfectly and looks as new.

Comes with a used but perfectly good mounting bracket.
The length of the water temp tubing is 84" or 5.6 feet.
The water temperature sensor is bulb type is A2

The obvious question is "Why not buy a new “Smith’s” dual gauge of this model?
Simple, the official manufacturer of all new Smith’s and Jaeger gauges, Caerbont Automotive, has been consistently using a worn out printing plate when manufacturing this model of gauge with the “Smiths” logo on the face- and the quality and look of these new gauges is sub-par resulting in blurry face lettering that does not match the sharp and clean printing on the faces of original instruments made in the 60’s. See the photo below.

I purchased a new Smith’s gauge and then returned it because it looked so bad and did not match the quality of printing of my other instruments. I found that everyone selling the new Smith’s dual gauge indeed was stuck with inventory that had the blurred printing.

The difference between the Jaeger and Smith’s gauges are readily and obviously apparent especially when mounted in the dashboard and seen next to each other, and the new Smith’s gauge really looked out of place, even more so than is shown in the comparison photo below.

I then discovered that the same exact new gauge with the “Jaeger” logo instead had retained the sharp clean printing found on the original gauges- and so ordered that one to use while I awaited for my original gauge to arrive from being rebuilt, which I have now swapped out, making my new Jaeger gauge available to anyone who needs a replacement for either the Jaeger or Smith’s logo’d gauge.

The price of the new Smith’s gauge (with inferior printing) from Rimmer is $225 incl. shipping to the USA, the Jaeger version (with sharp clear printing) being $266 incl. shipping to the USA.

My price is $160 plus cost only for whatever shipping you choose. The small rubber gasket sometimes found between the back of the bezel and the dashboard is not included.

Important: Make sure this is the exact type for use in your car and that the A2 bulb type is used in your engine block. CAREFULLY and CONSCIENTIOUSLY shipped and protected with insurance. Respectfully, no returns with the exception that it is tragically damaged in shipment.

Thanks, Neil Slade :slightly_smiling_face:
1965 S2 Elan
FYI, I am a 100% ebay rated seller/buyer
you may reply to [email protected]

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CLICK TO ENLARGE COMPARISON PHOTO
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Interesting, neverr seen a 0 - 100 psi gauge as standard in an Elan.

You live and learn.

Cheers
Mark

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My original Jeager gauge with the car was imported into the USA 1965, and had the same face with the same numbers as this one. This gauge is commonly found in MGBs as well.
:grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes:

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The Rimmerbros ref number is for an early MGB. Elans always had a 0 - 60 psi oil pressure gauge.

Mike

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I would tend to agree with that. My ex brother in laws MGB had a similar gauge, which I personally always thought looke “prettier” (blasphemy.. guess I’m going to hell) than the Stan card Elan gauge

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Hi, the very first Bourne Elans in 62/63 were originally fitted with 0 to 100 psi gauges, however after complaints from the owners that they could hardly see the reading when hot at tick over Lotus subsequently started to fit 0 to 60psi ones, all 3 of my Bournes came with the 100psi ones.

Jonsered

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Thank you Jonsered. Everyday is a school day!!

Mike

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This is an exact match in every way to the original gauge that came in the car direct from the factory in 1965, Jaeger logo and temp and psi scales included. An Elan shares all kinds of parts with other cars, and that mine features an instrument shared with an MGB is no stretch. It uses exactly the same style font as found on my tach, speedo, and fuel gauge- unlike some other instruments I’ve seen recommended for an Elan that have fonts that do not match my other instruments whatsoever..

My car was bought from the original owner who brought it back from the UK that year, and was 100% original when I obtained it in 2001, with only 11,000 original miles on it- now as shown below with 38K miles. (The original buyer died unexpectedly at a very young age, and his mother kept the car in the garage for 25 years virtually un-driven and completely unmolested.). I have all of the original receipts and paper work. My car also was fitted from the factory with a fake wood dashboard- like what you find on lunchroom tables-, not teak. It is apparent been that the factory was fitting parts to cars destined for the USA with whatever they had on hand, and would be less likely to raise eyebrows on the other side of the Atlantic.

It turns out that Ken Gray at Dave Bean sent me a vintage dual gauge he thought would substitute for my original gauge for my 65 S2, , but when it showed up, sure enough the font was different (simpler and not as nice looking). So if my car is an exception with the style font found on all my gauges, so much the better! I prefer mine- as Mark (above) has indicated as well.

If most S1, and S2 gauges feature the plain font I found on DB’s gauge, its total news to me, and a surprise. Indeed, if this is the case, that my gauges are more commonly found on MGBs, I better start posting this gauge on MGB forums- thanks for the tip off!

IF someone here has an S1 or S2 with original instruments and can post photos, I’d like to see what they look like, and if indeed the resemble the gauge I got from DB or if they look like mine.
Thanks :slight_smile:

As far as the problems with the scale on mine, both psi and water temp, it has never has presented any problems with reading under any condition in all the years and conditions I’ve driven the car.

My dash, with all the other original gauges in place, illustrating a matched set, all with the thick, vertical rectangular block-y font. (click to enlarge)- and compared with the current Smith’s site gauge for “Lotus Elan” shown below.

Indeed if the new Smith’s dual gauge was meant for resupplying a gazillion MGB gauges, its no wonder that the plate for this gauge face is now all worn out and blurry after all this time… making for sub-standard dial faces. Time for Caerpont to make a new plate I think.

All this being said and observed, a current web search produces Kelvedon Lotus Dual Gauge Oil/Water - KELVEDON LOTUS LTD. Kelsport advertising an Elan dual gauge that is the same style as mine, with other search results conversely showing the thinner square font. So it appears that my car and its style of gauges is not a single exception.

None the less, in light of all the information hitherto related above, further a Google search for “Cars using a Jaeger dual gauge” comes up with this:
MGA All 1600, 1622, De Luxe, Twin Cam, and 1500 models from chassis #14090.
MGB Early models, up to roughly October 1964 (e.g., Roadster GHN3-48766 and earlier).

So there you go…

Neil

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by contrast, as found on a search for Lotus Elan dual gauge on the Caerpont/Smith’s website- font distinctly thinner and square.

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PS- The interest and feedback is all appreciated- my long post is just to clarify the origin and my experience with this matter of the instruments, thanks to all. Now posted on ebay and MG forums :slight_smile:

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Thanks, but now SOLD
:slight_smile:

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I just stumbled upon this Youtube video- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFkq3YzQgng
It is basically the same car as mine, a stock 65 Elan S2 left hand drive and pertaining to the question as to whether or not this model Elan was fitted with the instrument dials featuring a tall, thick, blocky rectangular font on the dial face as mine has was found on other cars, sure enough, the Elan in the video has the same font style as I have on my car- so this apparently was not just a one off thing on my particular car. Go to 24:35 'in the video for a look at the gauges. – Neil

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