Instrument Panel

super dave · #1 21-01-11, 05:21

I am not sure if this is the place to post this but here goes. I was wondering if anyone could tell me what this Instrument Panel goes to. It looks to be possibly out of an armored vehicle as it has an magneto switch installed in it, anyone ???

Dave

super dave · #2 21-01-11, 05:22

one more picture

Grant Bowker · #3 21-01-11, 10:26

I agreee that the "magneto" switch means a spark ignition engine, and that magnetos are mainly small engines (up to motorcycle sizes) or quite large (airplane based?) or stationary engines (where they didn't want to worry about battery maintenance). Although magnetos were found on a few cars, most engines based on automotive designs were the battery based systems. The size of the panel suggests that it was installed in a fairly large vehicle, it is quite a bit larger than the panel used in most M series trucks. The transmission temperature and pressure guages seem unusual for a normal roadgoing truck of the period which suggests to me that either the transmission was marginal for the size of the vehicle or planned for heavy work off road.
The last picture includes the character string GM-G-136-C2. If they are referring to the vehicle type G-136, that is the M8 Greyhound armoured car.
This seems to fit with the idea that the 3 lines are serial number, vehicle type and identification of the accepting inspector for the ordnance corps (suggested by the bomb symbol). This last paragraph is speculation but seems to make sense to me.

marco · #4 21-01-11, 12:47

Super Dave,

I think you accidentilly posted the wrong extra photo.
That shows the numbers in a Staghound armored car armor plate,
in this case the one on te right front side.

The panel looks to belong to the Patton M46/47 tank series.

Marco

super dave · #5 21-01-11, 19:13

Yes I accidentally posted the last photo which is not from the panel. I looked on line and it is not out of the M46/47 tank, totally different.

tankbarrell · #6 22-01-11, 09:24

I suspect it is from a large truck or M8 tractor. With an air pressure gauge, hi beam indicator and flasher switch, it seems very truck like but unusual in having magneto ignition.

super dave · #7 22-01-11, 19:43

And the mystery continues