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MG TD TF 1500 - TD ignition switch

Chris Cooper Lists the original ignition switch as the one without the window. I picked up one today in a dash guage plate that has the window. It is clearly an older switch and not a reproduction lucas.

So when did Lucas come out with the window ignition switch?

This one is listed as P.L.C 6

Bruce Cunha

Also, there is a small square piece of plastic?/Paper under the center nut on the back. Is this a label? If so, anyone know wha it said?
Bruce Cunha

Bruce the one with the window is the replacement and was not original to the TD. My guess is it appeared in the mid to late 50's. The correct switch for the TC and early TD sported the MRN series lock and the later TD had the FA series. The changeover was more about using up the remaining stock of MRN's. MY TD, built 1st Feb 1951 has the MRN. I've restored a few original switches that I began collecting about 10 years ago at swap meets. MRN's and FA's even in poor condition, are very difficult to find now, hardly ever appearing on the internet. The biggest issue with these switches is with the broken tabs on the bezel and the lock body cover as both the barrel slots wear and the essential locking tabs that protrude from the rear of the switch are extremely fragile and are often broken. The fibroid fish paper you refer to is important too as it's an electrical insulator, not a label.

I still have some restored original MRN's and FA's like the ones in the pic, with NOS lock body covers and levers, rechromed bezels and NOS Wilmot Breeden Union keys. These components are impossible to find today and came from a batch of unused original PLC 6 military switches circa 1950 that I'd purchased, still wrapped in their original waxed brown paper and in their unopened boxes. Cheers
Peter TD 5801


P Hehir

Thanks Peter.

This has got to be an early FA.from the looks of the material.

I have a few parts and pieces from both and will be sending my MRN to be resored. Just wondered how far back the FA went.

The insulating material information is very helpful.

Bruce Cunha

Here is the back side. Note that the insulating material has fallen off. That is why I was asking what it was.

Bruce Cunha

Bruce the number is correct for an FA but all original switches had either MRN or FA stamped into the lock face. The window version is much later and isn't original. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

This thread was discussed between 03/07/2019 and 04/07/2019

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