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MG MG Y Type - Deficient instrument lighting

Our gauges are "lighted" by a total of 3 pitiful Type 52 (Lucas #986-987) miniature bulbs which spit a meagre 2.2 watts of near obscurity.

I tried Type 420 bulbs which give out 3.5 watts and it's 50% better, but no cigar.

Has anyone had sufficient time, in the last 60 years, to improve on this somewhat?

I found that «Little British Car Co.» sells a 5 watt halogen bulb for $16 a piece (!!!): http://www.lbcarco.com/cgi-bin/gen5?nextform=/orderinprogress.html&o=2275955.4075153257&p=

Is this the only alternative?

Gilles Bachand

Gilles

The Regalia page has improved bulbs available for sale - check them out. They are much better and only about $1CAN each. If you think the Y bulbs are bad, you should try a Range Rover!! Thank goodness I can drive by ear and know how fast I am going!!

Paul
Paul Barrow

CASE CLOSED!

We have a winner.

Thank you very much Paul.
Gilles Bachand

As a comment on the original - rather dim Y type instrument lights I wonder if the obsession with more powerful head lights is resulting in the need for a blaze of interior lights to counteract them. Philips announced recently that their new head light bulbs are 80% brighter than their existing ones - thanks Mr Philips Im blinded already by your old ones. Its a far cry from the 1950s when we made do with 24/36watt head lights. I don't know if others suffer from a candle power overload but I have particularly sensitive night vision [when in more affluent days I was training for my PPL night rating the instructer had the runway and the aircraft landing lights turned off - I then commenced my approach and landed ]. One can only conclude that there is nothing much wrong with my eyes.
Bryan

I say we should all eat more carrots!

Cheers

Paul
Paul Barrow

I'm going to apply to the TV show Dragon's Den for funding for my braille instruments.

Michael
Michael

I quite like the glow at night from my original YB instrument panel bulbs - sort of warm like an old valve radio. Many is the time I have turned them on in my dimly lit garage just to look at them....
David Mullen

David,
You need to get out a bit more mate!
Pat Kiely

Don't they produce LEDs with this socket, which would be brighter without consuming more of the precious Lucas-watts ? If yes, who sells them ?
Remo Peter

They probably do but am I the only one who finds LED lights (particualrly on Christmas Trees!!) a tad tiresome on the eyes - or maybe that says something about my eyes.....
David Mullen

I'd be more inclined to upgrade the headlights first.
JRA Arkley

This Lucas advertisement from the early 1950s should clear up the question regarding the instrument lighting level provided by that company. I must say that it doesn't distract ones attention from the road ahead!

B Mellem

Certainly no danger there with the original equipment as there isnt much to look at in the car at night!!!

Paul
Paul Barrow

B Mellem: brilliant! Thanks for posting that.
Willem van der Veer

As a matter of interest Willem that picture reminds me of my motorcycling days in the 50s, and I still own the machine [shown below my 1949 Scott Flying Squirrel after its recent restoration]. The roads however are very different now!

B Mellem

I just received my little instrument panel light bulbs from England and they work just fine!

I can see! I can see! Good Lord, I CAN SEE!

I compared them with a known 3.5 watt bulb and I had the impression that they were even brighter, although they are stamped «3W». They are also taller, so the filament reaches farther inside the gauge they are plugged into.

It's not like the gauges are now lit up like our modern cars, but they ARE now twice as bright as with the original bulbs.

Gilles Bachand

Gilles (and anyone else),

You are correct - a huge improvement. However, when you consider that there are only 3 bulbs in the entire Y Saloon dash, compared to how many in a modern car, its not so surprising that the modern dash is more like a christmas tree!

Any way, glad you are a satisfied customer.

Paul
Paul Barrow

This thread was discussed between 06/01/2008 and 01/02/2008

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