Dave McDonald Posted November 5, 2020 Report Share Posted November 5, 2020 All the instrument bezels from my TR5 that I'm restoring are black. Is black correct, or should they be chrome? Dave McD Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tr graham Posted November 5, 2020 Report Share Posted November 5, 2020 black black and more black graham Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tim T Posted November 5, 2020 Report Share Posted November 5, 2020 Hi Dave, they are definitely black. Tim Quote Link to post Share on other sites
openroad Posted November 5, 2020 Report Share Posted November 5, 2020 Black Matters ! Conrad. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Waldi Posted November 5, 2020 Report Share Posted November 5, 2020 Hi Dave, I sanded my tr6-CP bezels which are the same with #400 and gave them a couple of coats with a good quality rattle can satin black, they are nice and as original. Cheers, Waldi Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ntc Posted November 5, 2020 Report Share Posted November 5, 2020 And do not forget the dash screws and cup washers. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dave McDonald Posted November 5, 2020 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2020 Thanks All, Black it is then. Dave Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andy Moltu Posted November 6, 2020 Report Share Posted November 6, 2020 Definately black all the way from TR% to the end of the CP TR6s. The CR 6s reverted to chrome finish. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
saffrontr Posted November 6, 2020 Report Share Posted November 6, 2020 Dash screws, cup washers, glove box hinges and lock were shiny on the TR5 and for most of the 1969 model TR6. These miscellaneous fittings went black after that. Derek Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ntc Posted November 6, 2020 Report Share Posted November 6, 2020 30 minutes ago, saffrontr said: Dash screws, cup washers, glove box hinges and lock were shiny on the TR5 and for most of the 1969 model TR6. These miscellaneous fittings went black after that. Derek Interesting ? having owned three untouched fives two were black one shiny. ( screws and washers ). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
250 Posted November 6, 2020 Report Share Posted November 6, 2020 All bezels, screws, hinges etc; black on my 250 Mark. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Peter V W Posted November 6, 2020 Report Share Posted November 6, 2020 Bezels black, Screws, cups, hinges and lock Chrome. Peter V W Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Harbottle Posted November 6, 2020 Report Share Posted November 6, 2020 3 hours ago, ntc said: Interesting ? having owned three untouched fives two were black one shiny. ( screws and washers ). +1 black Quote Link to post Share on other sites
saffrontr Posted November 6, 2020 Report Share Posted November 6, 2020 The black screws and cups as well as cubby lock and hinges were all different part numbers on the CC & CP series TR6 from the TR5/250. Have a look at all of the road tests, and press photos for the TR5 / 250 and they all show up as shiny barring of course the bezels, which was Dave's original query, which are of course black . Derek Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MikeThomas Posted November 6, 2020 Report Share Posted November 6, 2020 57 minutes ago, saffrontr said: The black screws and cups as well as cubby lock and hinges were all different part numbers on the CC & CP series TR6 from the TR5/250. Have a look at all of the road tests, and press photos for the TR5 / 250 and they all show up as shiny barring of course the bezels, which was Dave's original query, which are of course black . Derek Interestingly Derek I note in Bill Piggott's book 'Original Triumph TR4/4A/5/6' (p49) whereby he refers to the 5 & 250 as having 'Dashboard screws should be black' but the image on same page illustrates one 5 with shiny screws. The book also refers to the ammeter as being Lucas and remaining gauges as 'Smiths' instead of Jaegar. All have black bezels as suggested by others on this thread. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
saffrontr Posted November 6, 2020 Report Share Posted November 6, 2020 Mike and all, More than happy to stand corrected on this aspect and it could just be that the press photos and road test cars had the shiny fittings. Attached is a typical Triumph press photo this one of the TR250. cheers Derek Quote Link to post Share on other sites
roy53 Posted November 6, 2020 Report Share Posted November 6, 2020 Mine is black gauges , smiths with a lucas amp.With chrome screws and cups. Press photo shows a heavy pattern on the wood grain dash. Only seen this on aftermarket dashes. Roy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tr graham Posted November 6, 2020 Report Share Posted November 6, 2020 I have to agree with Derek on this one my 5 APP...F 38k miles from new and unrestored has chrome screws cups and hinges. check out Chris Harvey’s book from 1983 , it had 22K miles then graham Quote Link to post Share on other sites
250 Posted November 6, 2020 Report Share Posted November 6, 2020 As we all know quality control back then wasn't always the best so both could be right? Mark. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stuart Posted November 6, 2020 Report Share Posted November 6, 2020 Factory never had any money so they would always use whatever they had or could obtain so its quite likely that they were using up whatever stock was available. Stuart. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MikeThomas Posted November 6, 2020 Report Share Posted November 6, 2020 47 minutes ago, stuart said: Factory never had any money so they would always use whatever they had or could obtain so its quite likely that they were using up whatever stock was available. Stuart. Thanks Stuart, I have someone that helps me out with more in depth stuff on my 5, he did his apprenticeship with Lucas in the 60s in North London and says the same about the parts used! Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
OldBob Posted November 6, 2020 Report Share Posted November 6, 2020 10 hours ago, Andy Moltu said: Definately black all the way from TR% to the end of the CP TR6s. The CR 6s reverted to chrome finish. Chrome was certainly incorporated into the CR TR6 gauge bezels Andy, but the inner face retained a matt black finish to try and prevent reflections up to the windscreen at night. The bezel profile changed too. The image below grabbed from internet shows the dual finish. (We know this is a CR gauge as the rev limit is 5800 and not 5500 as per CP engine). Bob Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andy Moltu Posted November 6, 2020 Report Share Posted November 6, 2020 I hadn't realised that some of the CP6's came out with chrome bezels. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dave McDonald Posted November 7, 2020 Author Report Share Posted November 7, 2020 On 11/6/2020 at 2:49 PM, MikeThomas said: The book also refers to the ammeter as being Lucas and remaining gauges as 'Smiths' instead of Jaegar. All have black bezels as suggested by others on this thread. On 11/6/2020 at 4:27 PM, roy53 said: Mine is black gauges , smiths with a lucas amp.With chrome screws and cups. Roy Thanks for the comments about dash screws/cups and glove box hinges and lock being black as well as the instrument bezels. I'll have to look at these small detail items, which are currently packed away with everything else, when I came to reassemble the car. I can't remember what the cups and screws were but the car was restored previously in 1993/94 for the previous owner so may not be original anyway. What I am pretty sure of is that the glove box lock is chrome and also fitted with the finger pull, which I think is a TR4 fitting. Dave McD Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dave McDonald Posted November 7, 2020 Author Report Share Posted November 7, 2020 On 11/5/2020 at 6:33 PM, Waldi said: Hi Dave, I sanded my tr6-CP bezels which are the same with #400 and gave them a couple of coats with a good quality rattle can satin black, they are nice and as original. Cheers, Waldi Hi Waldi, Apart from my bezels being a little dull with only minor scratches, the instruments are in good condition and all working correctly. Other than having the speedo recalibrated to suit a different tyre size, I'm reluctant to spend the cash for professional instrument restoration, so I'm interested in just smartening up the bezels. Was it difficult to remove the bezels to clean and paint? Presumably when you do remove the bezel it also releases the glass giving you the chance to clean the glass? When reassembling the glass and bezel is there any sort of special sealant to use? Any tips would be welcome please. Dave McD Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.