Another Tachometer for under 25.00? (Mechanical speed indicators)

[pebbleworm]

Undoubtedly old news, but I just picked up a Brown and Sharpe "Vest Pocket Speed Indicator" for about $15.00 U. S. I've only played with it, but it seems pretty accurate and fun to use. Using it all day every day would probably get old very fast, but for a quick check on a spindle speed this and other mechanical speed indicators seem like a (now) inexpensive and nicely made tool. All the ones on eBay seem to go for under 20.00. Am I missing the downside to these? Apart from needing a clock with a sweep second hand...

 

[kd4gij]

:worthless:

 

[pebbleworm]

OK... Here are the ones currently on eBay:
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313&_nkw="speed+indicator"&_sacat=0&_from=R40
Mostly Starretts, a couple of B&S, and some much more expensive Swiss instruments. Basically, just put the rubber tip on the center of your rotating center, time a minute and count the "pulse"- one beat every 100 revolutions, and a direct reading dial for less than 100 revolutions. Neat concept, and remember reading in a very old book that they were once expensive.

 

[pebbleworm]

OK... Here are the ones currently on eBay:
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313&_nkw="speed+indicator"&_sacat=0&_from=R40
Mostly Starretts, a couple of B&S, and some much more expensive Swiss instruments. Basically, just put the rubber tip on the center of your rotating center, time a minute and count the "pulse"- one beat every 100 revolutions, and a direct reading dial for less than 100 revolutions. Neat concept, and remember reading in a very old book that they were once expensive.

 

[kd4gij]

I have a B&S one in my tool box.

 

[pebbleworm]

Does yours get a lot of use? Or does it stay in it's drawer decade after decade? I'm thinking of adding a variable speed motor to my little lathe, and have an X2 mill on order, so I thought this gizmo would at least give a rough idea of how fast things are turning.