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MG TD TF 1500 - MG T series heater?

Does anyone know if this is a heater for a T series? The heater core is missing.

Thanks

Tim
TD12524

TW Burchfield

Tim, my car has the same heater.
It has no identification information.
Not listed on any MG sites.
Installed when new, I believe.
Len Fanelli

Only two come to mind, Arnolt and Smith.
Here's a pic of an Arnolt, I don't believe the color is correct though. The second pic is a Smith I my car. PJ


Paul161

Smith as in my TF.



Paul161

Hello Tim - I just saw this style of heater at Hershey AACA last week for the first time, how ironic, but there was no name on it. Arnolt heaters, I think, were by far the most used, not seen too many Smith's. I also think the Arnolt's were dealer installed from a kit. In England and Germany Bosch were common. The rarest one used, and I've only seen pictures was called '______ Leather', I've forgotten the first name (senior moment). I'm hoping others chime in to solve this mystery, I'd like to know also. FOG
FOG Frank

Thanks Lou and Paul. I have a heater core that came with the cover but it is far to big to fit in the box. It might be a Smith based on Paul's photo. The heater core is in a 2nd post.

Tim
TW Burchfield

Here's the core I have.

Tim

TW Burchfield

Tim, I had to mount my heater horizontally, similar to a Triumph mounting partially up inside the dash under cover, as there isn't enough room on a TF to mount it vertically and back far enough as is on a TD. I'm sure there are a lot of different heaters that have been mounted in these cars over the years. One thing about these old heaters is, they don't have strong motors and put out a much smaller air flow than a newer heater. Don't know about the Arnolt, but the Smith is near impossible to put a modern motor in it as the motor is where the mount bracket is. PJ
Paul161

The Smiths heater was quite common over here, but not the Arnolt. A modern version of the Smiths heater in the same drum shape is offered by Clayton. Probably stronger motor and may fit the Smiths.
Dave H
Dave Hill

Interesting Dave, I wonder if the Clayton has the same mount on the motor as the Smith? Thanks for that bit of info. I'll have to check them out. I know someone makes a replacement core for the Smith, but not sure who. They came in various thicknesses as the triumph was thicker than the one I have. I would like to get a motor for mine that puts some air out as the core gets really hot. PJ
Paul161

FOG
That is a Key Leather heater, it fits above the support bars that the underdash cover fits to. It even has an outlet for a demister that I have seen on a couple of UK TF's (Oh the luxury !).There is not enough room on the TF for a Smiths heater as the dash is much lower.
Jan Targosz on this site has the same heater.
Ray TF 2884
Ray Lee

Ray. There is a circular cut out in the H frame under the dash and I believe that is where Paul has fitted his Smiths heater. Same place and orientation as I had on the TR3A.
Dave H
Dave Hill

Period advert, KL as fitted to a TF.
The reversible motor gave you heat or demist. The plumbing for a TF demister must have been a nightmare.
Ray

Ray Lee

Jus remembered all this info is on the Original TD site.
Ray
Ray Lee

My TF has an original K-L heater. Here it is in the car.

David

David Wardell

Here's mine mounted. I had to cut the under dash cover in half to do this. I found a doubble grove plastic strip for putting paneling together and will get one in black to clean up the ends of the cut. It was a pain getting it plumbed and hiding the hoses, but all came out well. PJ

Paul161

OK, it got the best of me, I had to find my reference material. Back in the late 60's I started to do some research on accessories radios, heaters, reverse back up lights etc etc etc. There were three Factory heaters approved for the T-series cars. Smith's was by far the #1 heater p/n CHS4520, Key Leather by the Key Leather Co. was #2, p/n KLA 360 (mostly late TD's & TF's) and the rarest of them all was Delaney Galley p/n S1. All three were optional, home market, factory approved, some factory installed. To the best of my knowledge and findings, heaters were not installed for the export market. That being said, if you were US military bringing or sending the car home, you could get one installed (Smith's). Arnolt was USA dealer installed from a 'kit' by Arnolt. There were also two other heaters sold, one from J.C. Whitney Co. and another by a company selling from the back of magazines. BOTH were mfg'd by Arnolt and private labled with different names (no notes on names for these). FOG
FOG Frank

The KL heater (Key Leather Company) is very 1960s Odeon Cinema in its looks. (Memories of taking girl friends there on a date). I had a small angle bracket for the switch and I wasn't certain where this went so I have not used it and the switch is now fitted in the hole at the side of the dash where the small MG badge should go. The KL switch is ivory Bakelite and matches the indicator one in the other corner perfectly.

Jan T
J Targosz

This thread was discussed between 12/10/2015 and 13/10/2015

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