Lucas Toggle Switch Lettering
Author
Discussion

Vanin

Original Poster:

1,022 posts

195 months

Thursday 5th July 2018
quotequote all
I have lost the letters "F" for fog light "B" for rear window and "H" for horns on these switches. There is a small hole in the centre of the stalk and I assume they just glue in.
Does anyone know of a source of these letters?

Vanin

Original Poster:

1,022 posts

195 months

Thursday 5th July 2018
quotequote all
Good thought. I will have to make them up in a similar way if I cannot find an original source, but the originals seemed to be encased in a clear plastic or something similar to protect the letter from grubby fingers
Here is a picture of the switch without the letter. Upside down I'm afraid as I do not know how to rotate without retaking the photo ( it is not upside down on my phone)
Were they not used on Maseratis of the late sixties?

Edited by Vanin on Thursday 5th July 22:28

The Surveyor

7,624 posts

266 months

Thursday 5th July 2018
quotequote all
These are the same toggle switches that were used on early Interceptors, TVR's and Maserati Ghibli / Mexico.

McGrath Maserati sell the logo's as a sheet of stickers.


The Surveyor

7,624 posts

266 months

Thursday 5th July 2018
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Same switches on my old Mexico


Vanin

Original Poster:

1,022 posts

195 months

Thursday 5th July 2018
quotequote all
Had a look at the McGrath website but could not find the letters, I will ring them tomorrow.and thanks for the link

miniman

29,999 posts

291 months

Thursday 5th July 2018
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Why does "B" mean rear demist?

Astacus

3,737 posts

263 months

Thursday 5th July 2018
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Just out of interest, what is the car that you have there?

I am guessing purely from the crackle finish that its an Aston?


Edited by Astacus on Friday 6th July 07:56

The Surveyor

7,624 posts

266 months

Thursday 5th July 2018
quotequote all
Vanin said:
Had a look at the McGrath website but could not find the letters, I will ring them tomorrow.and thanks for the link
The Maserati, Alfa Romeo and TVR toggles all use the standard symbols, the only car I know that uses letters on those toggle switches is the Aston Martin DB6. I've never seen the stickers but Aston Workshop has custom made chrome toggles available with limited letter at circa £60 each.

https://www.astonparts.com/db6-parts/interior-part...

Personally, I'd go with the Maserati option unless it's really important to keep the original letters.


john2443

6,540 posts

240 months

Friday 6th July 2018
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miniman said:
Why does "B" mean rear demist?
I wondered that but maybe it's Back window?

Vanin

Original Poster:

1,022 posts

195 months

Saturday 7th July 2018
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john2443 said:
miniman said:
Why does "B" mean rear demist?
I wondered that but maybe it's Back window?
I think it means "Backlight" Cannot quite remember the others, but H was for Horns, Country or town, R was for fuel reserve, F for foglight and S for spotlight but I am sure I will be corrected.

Chrome is a bit bling I feel, I was hoping someone somewhere had a drawer full of originals.

There are enough clues in the photo to guess the car!

Vanin

Original Poster:

1,022 posts

195 months

Tuesday 10th July 2018
quotequote all
I am going to try these keyboard decals. At £1-17 for the card it is not going to break the bank and if they are the right size perhaps an experiment with a thin covering of clear epoxy or silicone may work unless any of you can suggest a better substance.


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/352206214364

Auntieroll

543 posts

213 months

Tuesday 10th July 2018
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[quote=Vanin]I am going to try these keyboard decals. At £1-17 for the card it is not going to break the bank and if they are the right size perhaps an experiment with a thin covering of clear epoxy or silicone may work unless any of you can suggest a better substance.

Try thick document laminating film, hopefully the adhesive curing temperature will be below than the "shrivel up" temp of the
stickers !

The Surveyor

7,624 posts

266 months

Tuesday 10th July 2018
quotequote all
Vanin said:
I am going to try these keyboard decals. At £1-17 for the card it is not going to break the bank and if they are the right size perhaps an experiment with a thin covering of clear epoxy or silicone may work unless any of you can suggest a better substance.


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/352206214364
Good idea, If those stickers are intended for keyboards they should be sufficiently durable for the toggle switches so won't need covering once in place. I would look at filling the hole in the open end of the toggle with a dab of epoxy glue or filler putty so the stickers sit nice and flat.

Should look perfect thumbup

Oh, and then tell us what car they're on.....

Vanin

Original Poster:

1,022 posts

195 months

Tuesday 10th July 2018
quotequote all
Thanks all for your helpful suggestions. I will experiment with letters like " Q " or " X " unless you can think of anything that they may stand for!

Mr Surveyor, you have already mentioned the car! It can only be that model because if you are a real anorak like me you will know that previous models did not have nearly full circle Smiths dials

droopsnoot

14,623 posts

271 months

Wednesday 11th July 2018
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I used Humbrol matt varnish on my heater controls when I put new decals on them, though I haven't had them on long enough to say how well they last. Perhaps not as long as yours, as the decals on mine are on the top face of the switch, where the pressure is applied. I first used satin varnish, but it was much shinier than I wanted.


markymarkthree

3,595 posts

200 months

Wednesday 11th July 2018
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markymarkthree

3,595 posts

200 months

Wednesday 11th July 2018
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Vanin

Original Poster:

1,022 posts

195 months

Thursday 12th July 2018
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Thanks Droopsnoot,

I hope to experiment with a number of letters using various clear varnishes/epoxy/silicones but maybe some of these keyboard decals are hardy enough as they are designed to be tapped far more often than I might use a rear window/horn/ foglight switch.



and MM3. I did see those stickers but there are no single letters of the correct size and they are far too expensive at over £5!

uk66fastback

18,332 posts

300 months

Thursday 12th July 2018
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Those switches on that Maserati dash look magnificent!

I love threads like these. I have a similar switch - similar in that it is chrome but has no letter or marking on it. I think it came off something my dad had in the 60s and I found it in a box of stuff in his garage. I often just take it out and flick it (oooo errr) cos I like it so much!

Vanin

Original Poster:

1,022 posts

195 months

Thursday 12th July 2018
quotequote all
anonymous said:
[redacted]
I cannot say that I spend hours sitting in the car just flicking the switches. That would be a real turn off!