MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG TD TF 1500 - TD Horn & Lighting Switch

Anybody know the correct orientation of the early combined horn & dimmer switch? If a line were to be drawn through the heads of the two securing screws, would such a line be horizontal, vertical or in some other plane? The sketches in the original drivers handbook don't seem to clearly indicate this. The orientation obviously determines the position of the dimmer toggle. I've seen all sorts of examples on restored cars & surely only one position is correct. And I can't see how LHD or RHD would/could/should make any difference. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

I think this picture will show what you need even if its a little hard to see. I know that this is the correct orientation of the dipper switch.

You may have to zoom in.

...CR


C.R. Tyrell

Found a better picture. Don't mind the Smith gauges. I now have the correct ones' installed. But the orientation of the Horn/Dipper switch is shown better..

...CR


C.R. Tyrell

Thanks CR. Seems like the screws are NW & SE thus placing the toggle between SW & S. Anyone else care to comment? Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

I think you will find that there is not much choice. There are tabs in the chrome bezel backing plate surrounding the horn button and screws from the horn that screw into it. The dipper is on the bottom and that pretty much sets you up.
Christopher Couper

I was always wondering why the switch is so counterintuitive- high beam down and low beam up!
Nevertheless, my discussions with others also seem to confirm the position as in Chris's picture.
But then the designers also drove on the wrong side of the road...

Rgds Mike
Mike Fritsch

Page 88 of "Original MG T Series" shows screws to be at 2 O'Clock and 8 O'Clock which puts the "H" at approx 3 O'Clock and "D" at almost 6 O'Clock. This is for a RHD car so maybe ones exported had the switch rotated hence the reversed "H" and "D"



Jan T
J Targosz

Hi Jan. I have Clausager's book but there are too many inaccuracy's in the photos of most of the restored cars so I'm inclined to not treat his work as gospel. I'd be very interested to see an original early TD Driver's Handbook showing the horn/dimmer detail. My handbook is slightly later than my Feb 1951 car & shows the late 1951 horn with the dimmer on the floor. The sketches in the handbook shed light on a lot of disputed detail & apart from the almost non existent unmolested barn find IMHO these sketches are the most reliable source of original detail. When I purchased my RHD car in 1969 the horn/dimmer screws were at 10 & 4 as shown in CR's pic above. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Peter - Here's a picture from the TD operation manual, 3rd edition, showing a RHD example.
Joe


Joe Olson

And here's a copy of The Autocar, January 1950, starring the famous FMO265 and showing the fascia set-up.

Joe is right (for a RHD).

Jasper





JL Nederhoed TD3966

Looking at this - as a LHD driver, Id be more than happy with the instruments on the right side where the steering wheel is not in the line of sight and the switches on the left.
Theres an idea for an improvement if I ever take the instrument board out...

Rgds, Mike
Mike Fritsch

Thanks Joe. Exactly what I was looking for! It does however raise another very interesting point, that being the mention of the "warning light in the speedometer dial". This is news to me. Having recently pulled mine apart & replaced the dial decal I'm mystified as to where this light is or should be? Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

I thought that was a bit odd, too, so I looked in Clausager's book. He says the high beam lamp was added in June 1952 at TD2/17548 and the foot-operated switch was added in August 1952 at TD2/18883. On the last page of my TD manual there appears "7/52" which may be the date of publication, so maybe my manual is accurate for the 1300 or so cars produced between June and August of 1952.
Joe
Joe Olson

Peter,
As I have photos of my car 1949 TD 0267 when brand new from the original owner this shot of the dash confirms the correct position of the dimmer switch as already stated by others. Also the black fittings holding the dash panel.
Regards Rob.


R Browne

Thanks Rob. Great pic! Can you confirm the exact position of your two screws? Chris Couper would probably be very interested in your collection of original pics. Thanks also for the heads up on the cylinder head spanner. I just acquired it, a 6" Shelley perfect pattern screwdriver (which I know isn't part of the kit but it is cute) & two BSF spanners for $10 from the source you mentioned. Just a tappet spanner & the Dunlop tyre valve remover to go now & I'll have a complete set of original tools. Thanks again mate. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Chris would be very excited to get high res pictures to post on the original gallery pages. :-)
Christopher Couper

This thread was discussed between 09/12/2014 and 11/12/2014

MG TD TF 1500 index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG TD TF 1500 BBS is active now.