Trying to locate a source for a 1950 MPH speedometer

[50Splitman]

I've been searching for a correct MPH speedometer for my 1950 standard for a number of years, and I've have placed 'wanted' ads for quite some time in the classifieds and haven't had any luck locating one

I'm looking for a 1950 MPH speedometer, standard preferred, but deluxe OK, in good to excellent condition. Does anyone know of a source I can reach out to? I'm specifically looking for 1950 because I've noticed that it is different in a few ways than 51/52, and I want something correct for my Beetle. Thanks

[wimkever]

[Martin Southwell]

I'm not surprised you haven't found what you are looking for, as the the production and market for RHD cars in 1950 was very limited. There was a suudden influx of NOS, pre Oct 52 MPH speedos about 15 years ago, which I was led to believe came from a container in Myanmar (Burma pre 89), which used to be British, and therefore RHD.

I do have a MPH speedo with a nice face, which I've had for 40 years, and appears to have 7/52 on the back, but not easy to read. I've just tested it by rotating with a pencil, and it seems to work OK. It's been kept in a dry and warm bedroom drawer for those 40 years, and not some damp garage. If interested, then please PM me, but it wont be a give away!

[Who.Me?]

I'd try emailing Thorsten (Krautclassicparts) and BBT, in case either has any in their private collections they'd be willing to part with to go in to an actual vehicle.

And if you're on Facebook, join the...

RPA - Rare Parts Aircooled
Accessories and Rare vw Parts
and
Vintage VW Accessories, Toys and Memorabilia

...Facebook groups and post on those that you're looking for one.

Might also help if you post a picture here showing why it's different to the later styles.
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Andy


Looking for info on my truck's history. Are you from Campbell California or nearby. Do you recognise it? ... http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=636786

[sled]

yes, a '50 speedo has the odometer higher up on the face

that's going to be very difficult to find as the US was one of very few MPH countries in 1950 and we didn't get many beetles in 1950. Even fewer of those were standards

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drive your split.

[50Splitman]

Thanks everyone for the replies! I agree this is a difficult ask, and my search will continue. A few others reached out directly to me with potential leads, and I'll keep my eyes on this thread for more feedback.

The mystery about my 1950 is that while records from VW and previous owners show it is a Hoffman standard built in mid-July 1950 and delivered to NY, the birth certificate only lists the chrome package that Hoffman added to standard Beetles, and it did not have a MPH speedometer on the options list. While the current speedometer that came with the car when I bought it 25 years ago is a standard KM and has the correct date stamp, I was unsure if somehow Hoffman didn't add the MPH option at the time, or if a previous owner replaced it with a KM vs. MPH.

[scarabee]

[my56samba]

Sled posted that picture to show that the odometer is higher up on the face on a 1950 spedometer. he wasn't saying it's a MPH version
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Dec 54 Ragtop Beetle
April 56 Baja Bug
June 56 23 Window Samba

[Martin Southwell]

The one nice thing about having an interest in old VW's, is that we continue to learn things all of the time, no matter how long you have been on the scene. Talking with a friend just now about the subject of old speedos, as he is about to have some decals/transfers made for these early speedo faces, I pulled out an old speedo from the now famous sock drawer, which I now realise from the sand coloured overspray, was the one fitted to my 1st Kubel 35 years ago, and obviously replaced with the proper Kubel item at some stage.

Looking at it, and the info above, I can see that it's a 1950 Beetle item, when compared with a 52 speedo, is quite different in a number of ways, and has more similarities with the Kubel speedo than the 1952 one. The mileage figures are seperated by bars on the 52 item, but not on the 1950.

If you compare the pictures of the back of the two, there is quite a considerable difference in their shapes and even the light bulb is situated differently. We live and learn! Shame this one is not a MPH speedo.

[splitjunkie]

I had a '50 which I sold many years ago, and the speedo was indeed shaped like the one you have. My '51 speedo is shaped like the first picture.
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Chris

You know, a lot of these scratches will buff right out... Jerry Seinfeld

[Rich's 50]

[Martin Southwell]

The plot thickens! It would seem that the 52 speedos seen above were made by VDO, as per their logo at the base of the face, whilst the 50 speedo doesn't have a name on the face, so one assumes not made by VDO, because even on the similar pre summer 43 Kubel speedo (Prior to the tractor dash and the small speedo used on Kubels and Schwimmers) VDO is seem on the face. See picture below.

https://stanley-r-harris.co.uk/blog/the-ultimate-guide-to-vdo-gauges

If we look at the picture of the 50 speedo supplied by Rich's 50 above, we can see a Kienzle sticker on the perimeter rear, which would seem to suggest that they either built or refurbished by them at that time, or maybe both? Could it be that VDO couldn't meet expanding demand at that time, and Kienzle, a well established clock maker of the era, produce them in tandem for VW?

Wikipedia have a good write up on Kienzle - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kienzle_Uhren which includes the following paragraph: During World War II, the company augmented the employed work force with slave labour from Poland and other conquered areas. The factory produced and supplied a range of timing instruments and watches for the German and Axis armed forces. These included chronograph 8-day cockpit clocks for Messerschmitt and Heinkel aircraft[3] as well as wrist and pocket watches for general purchase, and for the Wehrmacht and Luftwaffe.

[spliteric]

Here you go, a MPH speedo from a RHD Rhodesian standard split dated 10/50
Rarer than a KDF speedo, but they do exist.

[Two Glove Boxes]

mic drop!!
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1950 Deluxe Sedan Build

1951 Split Standard Hoffman Build

1960 Dove Blue Double Cab Patina Build

Two Glove Boxes IG

[50Splitman]

Interestingly enough, this is the KM speedo that is in my 50 standard today, which is what came installed in the car when I bought it 25 years ago. It is date stamped 4.1950, and it has VDO on the face. Even though it looks like the original hold-down screws were never loosened, it is still difficult to believe this was the original speedometer in my Hoffman split.