Instrument Repairs - Servicing - Calibration - First-Class Machining
If it's broken, we'll fix it!
On the strength of almost five decades of professional experience, Tandy Instruments can repair, service and calibrate most measuring devices including speedometers and chronometers, rheometers and mud pressure gauges – as well as antique clocks.
If replacement parts are no longer readily available – as is the case with many older or vintage pieces – we machine new parts to the necessary critical tolerances – ensuring your important or precious instrument performs as new.
Upon inspection of your device, we provide a free written estimate for repairs, parts and materials, for your approval prior to work commencing. Should we later discover any potential areas of concern, we'll give you the option to repair or service up-front, before the operation or accuracy of your device is affected.
In order to guarantee all repairs, servicing usually involves a complete strip-down. All parts are cleaned and polished, lubricated, repaired or machined if necessary. After reassembly, the instrument is diligently calibrated to the relevant standards for that device.
How it works
- Contact us by phone or email
- Send or bring your instrument(s) to us
- Upon inspection we will provide a free estimate for repairs and parts
- Upon approval of the estimate we will undertake all necessary work
- We issue our invoice. You pay online, by cash, cheque or money order
- Your carefully packaged instrument(s) is despatched / delivered to you
Speedometer Repairs Speedometers work in several ways, some by centrefrugle weights; others by magnets. Modern types are electronic. The number of engine revs determines the calibration of the speedometer and the revs are different from model to model. Cable driven speedos can seize when the main shaft and body run out of lubrication, which in turn can break the cable or damage the gear that drives the cable at the engine end.
Chronometers, or chronometric speedos, work on a clock principle where very fine adjustments are required for perfect functionality. A typical repair involves stripping down and cleaning the movement followed by a calibration process involving weights.
Repairs to Elliott Brothers London (EBL) speedometers. These were fitted to - among others - Napier cars in the early 1900s. This type of speedometer has the odometer above the speedo. There is also the EBL Triple where the odo is at the bottom; the speedo in the middle and a clock at the top.
Mud Pressure Gauge Repairs Mud gauges have pressure applied to a diaphragm then to a pin and plate through to a spring which operates the movement. All of these components need critical assembly and calibration.
Rheometer Repairs Rheometers have a 'bob' that sits in the sample being tested. The bob is surrounded by a rotor with a specific gap separating the two components. The rotor is turned by hand crank or by RPM-calibrated motor. As the rotor turns it also tries to turn the bob which is connected to a dial indicator via a spring – which is of a known tension – and it is this turning effect that gives the viscosity reading.
Vintage Clock Repairs Vintage clocks stop working because of wear and tear and lack of lubrication. The gears that drive the clock are fitted on to spindles which are located into holes in the two plates that form the body of the movement. These holes wear in a elongated shape and this eventually traps the spindle. And because it is out of line and lubrication, correct rotation of the gears becomes impossible.
Tandy Instruments
- Proprietor: George Tandy
- Rear 336 Cambridge Street
- Wembley, Perth WA 6014
- P 08 9387 6581
- M 0409 680 076
- E george@tandyinstruments.com.au
Speedometer Repairs
- Early Rolls Royce speedometers
- Vintage and Veteran
- Chronometer / Chronometric
- Elliot Bros (Triple)
- Smiths
- Jaeger
- Veglia
- Harley Davidson
- BMW
- Ducati
- Mercedes
- AC
- VDO
- Kienzle vibe recorders
- XD Falcon
- Bonoville speedo & tacho
- and all cable-driven models
Rheometer Repairs
- Ofite Model 800
- Bariod Model 286
- Fann Models 34A, HC 34A, 35A 35SA
Mud Gauge Repairs
- Cameron - F & D Types
- Oteco - F & D Types
- Geolograph Pioneer
- DTH Products
- 'O' Drill
Old Clock Repairs
- Ansonia
- Cuckoo
- Grand Father
- Grand Mother
- Mantle
- Schatz 8 bells ships clocks
- Schatz Barometers
- Wall Clocks
- Westminster Chimes
Barometers
- All models repaired, serviced, calibrated
Old Ships Compasses
- All models refilled, repaired, serviced
Lasseter's Gold Reef
One of my current interests is Lasseter's Gold Reef and I have been pondering these questions: When he and his surveyor friend Harding found the reef they sailed from Carnarvon to England. What was the name of the ship? Would his name be on the ship's log? What date did it sail and then dock in England? Did Lasseter then go to America to get a survey certificate?
If anyone out there knows more, please email me.