Some Instrument Work

"Snow, Snow, Snow...I long to clear a path and lift a blade of snow"  I think if Bing had experienced our winter he wouldn't be so excited about shoveling snow!  Since I haven't been at the hangar much, I thought it would be a good time to work on instruments.  I was fortunate to have every original instrument this aircraft came with.  They were repairable but in poor condition.  The aircraft had a full IFR panel (just kidding).  it came with:

• Jones Tachometer
• Compagnie Altimeter
• U.S. Gauge oil pressure (it was dated 5/28 on the back.  Fresh stock considering the aircraft is dated 5/31/28!)
• Fahrenheit (water temp) gauge
• Mag switch (still looking for the original mag switch - haven't found it yet)
• and a clock!
  

Pretty spartan, but completely adequate.  Here is a shot of the original panel and location of the instruments.

What I find funny, is there is no airspeed indicator or compass, but a clock.  Times were certainly different in 1928.

I have most the instruments done.  I'm still waiting on the trim ring for the tachometer - I had the old one re-nickel-plated.  I still have to repair the water temp gauge.  

I also restored the data tag and back-filled it with red paint like it originally had.  The other dial you see in the photo is for the fuel gauge that mounts external, above the tank in a tear-drop shaped housing.

We are just about ready to start pumping out wing ribs.  Just waiting for it to get in the 30's or 40's.  Other than those, the wings are ready to go together.