Steam Pressure Gauge Restoration

[murrayec]

I acquired this gauge many years ago, the glass was smashed, the face badly damaged and the pointer completely rusted away. Large body gauges- 100mm dia, are ideal for steam boiler pressure testing, much more accurate than the smaller type.

I started restoring it a few years ago! but recently finished it;-

This is the new face made by scanning the old one into Autocad, drawing it up anew, printing it out on heavy paper card and spray lacquering it to seal the paper. It is mounted on top of the old face when reassembling.

Sand blasted the outer body and the exposed pipe fitting.

Body spray painted, the new pointer was cut from thin brass sheet and chemically blackened.

Polishing setup for the brass rim, my polisher is a pistol drill mounted on the bench. I used Luster polish first and finished with Rouge n paraffin.

Polished

A new brass ferrule was turned up on the lathe.

Stuck together with Loctite 603, the ferrule is a press fit onto the pin of the pressure mech, the pin is tapered so the ferrule locks on.

Reassembled, the new glass was made from 3mm perspex sheet.

I now need to pressure test it against a known accurate gauge to see if it needs adjustment, but I will hang it on the wall for the moment......

Eoin