Fuji Denki Speedo Decal for CA78

[conbs]

Graham, Thanks so much for the pictures. You must have at least one of everything Honda made if it was for a Dream. Even a Yazaki. Any idea what years and models the Yazaki came on? They seem to be pretty rare.

The last picture, I think, shows what I was trying to describe. The Fuji faceplate 'lights up" with a little reflectivity - or whatever term is proper to describe it. It is harder to see it with the speedo still assembled.

Anyone have an idea where to find paint like that?

I mixed a little flat Varathane and mica powder last night and the first effort was a colossal failure. The color is way too silver. It looks like I will need to get some white pigment to mix in or maybe just start with some white paint and add a little mica powder to that.

I hope I can get in a couple more tries this week and will report back.

Thanks again, Graham.

[G-Man]

Bill

You are very welcome.

The face is certainly more reflective but it still looks to me like an anodised finish.

I think that the Yazaki is one of the earliest as it is mentioned in the attached 1961 Dream road test. It also has a calibration of 2240 rpm at 60mph which is lower than most of the others which are 2250. I have a NS speedo without high beam that is also 2240. Did Honda change the speedo drive or just have a re-think on calibration.

The road test said that the Yazaki read 'illegally' high at lower speeds.

In my 'collection' I have Fuji Electric as well as Fuji Denki. Same company?

Have fun with those speedos.

G

[conbs]

Graham, Maybe the 2240 was off by enough to explain why Yazaki speedo's only came on very early Dreams. Perahps Yazaki got dumped by Honda. It would be interesting to know whether NS or Fuji got the next contract. With the dramatic growth in Honda production that began in 1962, the third contract or likely got let very soon after the second.

In my "collection" I have 2 Fuji Denki speedos, neither of which have high beam indicator and 2 Fuji Electric, both of which have high beam indicators. High beam indicators look to have been added in early '64 production as best I can tell. (102771). All the Fuji's face plates seem to have that subtle reflectivity.

I did a little research on Fuji Electric. Founded in 1923 and it appears to be the parent company of a large number of subsidiaries, including one Fuji Denki Seiki Co., LTD. "Seiki" would seem to be the common denominator for all of the Dream speedo's, except Yazaki. Making a guess from what I have read it appears that after WWII it was common for Japanese companies to collaborate on production of various items. Maybe it was financing or politics that drove collaboration on the Dream speedo's. But, I wonder if Seiki had the inside track with Honda for making speedos and Fuji Electric wrestled the "Fuji" production away from Seiki when the contract was changed to add the high beam indicator. Who knows? Maybe Seiki stayed involved in the collaboration and it was just a "branding" change.

My guess: Fuji Electric was the same company throughout and the nature of the collaboration may have changed per the above. Just a guess.

[G-Man]

Bill

I can see another reason why the Yazaki went out of fashion. I just dismantled one and the mechanism is more complex and better made than the later units.

The gasket for the glass is better (and intact!). There is even a gasket for where the mechanism sits in the case. You can even dismantle the input bearing as it's held in with a grub screw.

I'm going to restore this one for my 1960 C77.

My guess is that Honda just wanted something cheaper.......

G

[conbs]

G, I am convinced. That is a compelling assessment.

[jaberwoke]

Hope these help anyone wanting to make their own face. They were both made from scans at 1200 dpi. Use the screw hole marks for alignment. You can give the .jpg to a printer and I believe with the right equipment, he could make a transfer or decal for you easily.

I made an inexpensive face using an inkjet and glossy photo paper. After gluing onto the face and cutting out the openings, I sealed and fixed the ink with clear acrylic. Lacquer won't work and will run the ink... at least that's what happened my first try.

I don't know if it would work for the purpose of a reflective face but Duplicolor make a clear reflective paint: http://www.duplicolor.com/products/niteLites/ .

[conbs]

Rich, Thanks for posting these. I am sure these will be helpful to many,

I understand from my printer that the file he would use needs to be a vector file (.ai or .eps) to make either a transfer or decal. But, they can probably make the right file from what you have posted. The 2 printers I talked to seemed to balk a little at the idea of a flat vinyl. I have a concern that if a decal is too glossy, a guy might end up with a weird reflection between the glass and the glossy decal. Also, I remain concerned that over time a decal might lift up around the hole for the odometer. So, I am still leaning toward the transfer, but am working on the background for now. And, I am probably too anal about it for my own good.

I am having second thoughts about the Duplicolor reflective paint. A white background coat with a light mist of the reflective clear over it might do the trick. For, now, I want to try the mica powder a couple of different ways. Though my first effort didn't turn out, the reflective nature of the mica powder is about right. I just need to end up with a more white color.

Again, thanks for posting these. Your speedo turned out really good. Did you make that bezel?

Bill