From:Steve Marks
E-Mail:<steve@microdesign.ltd.uk>
Subject:RE: RE: Weston ammeters
Response to:828
Date:Fri Dec 10 11:24:28 2004
You say 'My Weston 354 dissertation for what its worth'.
Well it's worth quite a lot actually! And a reply within
hours! Many thanks Steve - knew I could rely on you. Ever
thought of writing a book?

----- ORIGINAL MESSAGE FOLLOWS -----
My Weston 354 dissertation for what its worth.  The 1922 to
1927 D's used what I call a "free standing" zero to ten plus
nd minus meter.  The face was silver/white with black
numbers.  Sunlight and age give these faces a silver or
goldish cast.  The meter body is slightly larger at the base
hat at the face.  I have been told over the years that the
correct meter was the one with the "smiley face", that is
the needle block at the 6 o'clock position of the meter, has
n upperward curve or "smile" along the bottom.  I have
never seen this confirmed in writing.  The 22-26 bikes had
the meter mounted between the toolbox and fork neck on an
angle bracket.  The 27 D had the same meter mounted on the
rudimentary dash bracket at the 3' o'clock position.  When
the 28 models appeared with the dash cover came out, the
meter remained a 10 amp white face but it was now in a
flanged housing screwed to the dash.  The internal mechanism
f both meters is the same but the bases are slightly
different.  The 1929 Deluxe is a mystery.  It might have
used the same 10 ammeter as the '28 but there is some
thought that it was changed to a 15 amp white face maybe
because it was fitted with DU7 generator.  The KJ US Gauge
black face meter was probably not used as it is a panel
mount meter and would not fit the dash.  No Deluxe has a
black face 354 meter originally fitted.

Most vehicle ammeters in the United States deflect
positively to the right and negatively to left.  There are
exceptions.  Indian used a "backwards" ammeter for several
years in the '30s.  My original Hens are fitted with meters
with right positive deflection.  The Weston 354 was a
versatile with 100s of applications.  The 20 and 30 amp
meters were automobile.  There are also panel mount versions
f the meter that are not correct for Henderson.  Early '20s
Harley Davidsons used the same meter on various mounts and
in accessory "AMMICUPS".  When the JD dashs appeared, the
354s were silk screened with the bar and shield and were
used until 1934 in the VLs as well.

If you end up buying a meter that is unoperable, they can be
epaired by most vintage gauge restorers.  A common problem
is a burned wire coil which can be redone.  When examining a
eter be aware that the bodies were riveted to the bases. 
If these have been removed or replaced with wire or screws,
someone has been into the meter.

Happy Henning, Steve

----- ORIGINAL MESSAGE FOLLOWS -----
I know the Henderson used the Weston 354 ammeter but there
does appear to be a number of variations.
1: Black lettering on white background, or white on black
2: Full scale readings differ. I've seen 10, 15 and quite a
lot of 30A scales - there may be others too
3: Some have the 'charge' side on the right, others on the
left.
The ammeter was obviously supplied for a wide variety of
applications - I've even got one with the logo 'Handy
Charger' - originally used on a battery charger. Can anyone
say which model Hens used which variations? Thanks in
advance and Merry Christmas to you all - Steve