MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey 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 - early TD ignition switch faceplate

Has anyone restored their early TD ignition switch lately? This is the one without the window. I have mine apart, cleaned, test-reassembled, handle-pointer refurbished. It looks good and seems to function well, but I need the new lettering on the faceplate. Craig Seabrook only restores the complete switch. He does not just restore the faceplate. FTFU no longer supplies the "decal" because they said that the decal fades. Does anyone have a solution to restoring the faceplate?
Any help is appreciated,

Jim Smith TD17744
JV Smith TD17744

Jim

You may want to see what silkscreen companies that do instruments would want to silkscreen yours.

Here is one company that does this.

https://newvintageusallc.mybigcommerce.com/custom-screen-printing/
Bruce Cunha

Try,
www.isaydingdong.co.uk (strange name but refers to a 1960's UK tv and film stars catchphrase)

takes a bit of searching but they have decals for both types of switch. Buy at least 2 as they are fragile and tricky to fit.
Just fitted one on a friends 1950 TDC.
Ray TF2884
Ray Lee

Try Dry Transfer Lettering after painting the background black. You can find them at hobby sites and Amazon has a lot. The trick will be finding the correct font and size, especially the 'A'.

Once you have the lettering done then follow up with a clear coat on top to protect the lettering

Mine has been on for 45 years, but it is mostly in a hermetically sealed cocoon.
Christopher Couper

Jim Smith TD17744
If you are interested in trying the dry transfer decals I have an almost unused set in Gothic font white various sizes. Could sent it to you to try. Email at jquilter at peoplepc dot com.
John Quilter (TD8986)

Anyone have advice on the font? Both the "U" and the "A" look strange.
JV Smith TD17744

The "A" is a bit weird because it's rounded. The "U" you could fix with a tiny speck of white paint to make it look lower case.

I think the Gothic is pretty close and what I remember using. I did not bother with trying to fix the A or U.

I had looked at some decals and replacements and they were terrible. Some of the letters such as the A were taken from different font sets and looked like they were just plopped in randomly. They were even slightly larger!

Nowadays we have computer layouts, tons of fonts and dry transfer inkjet paper you can make your own transfers for. And you can do the whole layout at one time so the letters don't wander. :-)

From Adobe this is not bad in Parisine Plus Std Sombre Regular. The U is even correct. Pick whatever weight you like best.

https://fonts.adobe.com/fonts/parisine-plus



Christopher Couper

Thanks for all of the help,
I think I am going to try Declan's layout before I try to do individual dry erase. You are right, Chris, the Adobe font looks really close. I may try that too and see what I like best

Thanks again,
Jim
JV Smith TD17744

FWIW: I updated the etchings page to add some instructions on using the Adobe font etc to refinish the ignition bezel.

https://www.mg-cars.org.uk/mgtd/mgtd_etchings.htm
Christopher Couper

This thread was discussed between 20/06/2021 and 22/06/2021

MG TD TF 1500 index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG TD TF 1500 BBS now