The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Barn Find: Stop/ Accel Gauge

I found what appears to be a stop/acceleration gauge in the barn. I was told it came off an old GMC. I don't know the year. Does anyone else have one or know anything about them? Raccoons knocked it off the shelf and needs repaired.

I rotated and tried to enhance your photo.

Can you read the name of the meter (around the center)?

My wild guess is the same as yours:
some sort of accelerometer - measures acceleration and deceleration/braking - maybe by using a mercury switch.

Ran it through “google lens” ........the only hit in the entire web is the stovebolt site.

Looks like it may be a vacuum gage.
And mercury would be a part of that gage.

https://acbs.org/engine-health-vacuum-gauge/

Don

Don,

That is a vacuum gauge that measures vacuum in units of inches of mercury.

I do not think that a common engine vacuum-gauge needs to actually use/contain mercury; it is just calibrated in inches of mercury.
I might be wrong.

When I mentioned mercury, I was referring to a switch that actually uses mercury, as a cheap-and-dirty "tilt switch".
I do not know how that particular accelerometer/decelerometer makes its measurements - it might be just by vacuum?

It is called a "Perf-O-Meter".
This is what I found on google.
https://books.google.com/books?id=x...age&q=perfometer%20gauge&f=false

This device apparently can do a lot! Sounds like a 1950s gimick from the back of a magazine. Still looks cool! Maybe someone can repair it for me?

Thanks, Fritzy440

There is one for sale on eBay for around $150

Attached is a little information on how it works - no mercury, just a pendulum.
A picture of a different model is also attached.

Awesome! So the real question is... Do you think it really works? Or is it just for looks?

I'll find out for us - I just bought one.

The one you mentioned on ebay?

Yes - I made a lower offer and it was accepted.

This will be very interesting! Will you mount it to the steering column or the dash?

I'll determine that when I get it.
I'd like to mount it on the steering column.
However, attached is a photo of the "mounting bracket".
I will not drill into my dash - I might use a temporary plastic strap.

I'll post a "performance report".

I think I found a company that will rebuild mine. I hope it doesn't cost more than $200...

https://www.bobsspeedometer.com/1/120/index.asp

You will think I am crazy, but my Buy-It-Now offer was accepted on the other one.

I will tell my 94 year old mother what her Christmas gift of $$ was spent on.

Merry Christmas - Thanks, Mom

Ha Ha Ha! Mother always know best!

Link to a little more info:

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...ity-gauge-1953-popular-mechanics.979574/

http://alfa1900csszagato.blogspot.com/2015/08/the-perfometer.html

Excellent links/information, showkey

Thanks very much.

I remember Dad had one he would use one on some of the early sixties cars.
He would watch it to get better gas mileage when driving.
I bet it was still in his old garage when it sold.

Harbor Freight sells them.


Don

A video on how to read one.


Don

That video is about using a vacuum gauge - a simple & handy tool.

The "Perform O Meter" is a G-Force Gravity Gauge - much more sophisticated

Modern perf-o-meter ? ..........on your phone

Excellent

I’ll post a product report in comparison to the modern “Gauge”

The liquid, probably glycerin, in the gauge is there to cushion or dampen the needle movement. Many high end pressure, vacuum and combination gauges have it.

Showkey, did you notice that the unit on H.A.M.B./Jalopy Journal was for sale - for only $750.00?

Did not notice that.............ouch...............makes yours look like a bargain.
Cool fun project but not $750 cool 😎.


There was a perfometer manual on eBay .........looked like they published the high gear roll on acceleration expected G values for various vehicles.

I wonder if the fluid inside is snake oil?

I guess I will have to start looking for a manual?

Tim - I have to ask, where did you get the photo of the guage on that table top thats's in your post ? This photo looks exactly like the photo on the HAMB ...take a look at Showkeys post and the link. The photo on Nitrodaze post , Jun 18,2015 looks to be the same exact picture. Did you just buy a $750 gage for cheap?

I probably got that photo from the HAMB - I should have referenced that? Sorry.

By the way, I have received both units/gauges.

One "Perform O Meter" came with the attached/integral hinged mounting bracket, with four screw holes for attachment to the dash (I guess - there were no screws sent to me).

It also came with a long metal "strap". I assume that would allowing strapping the mounting bracket to a steering column (no holes in the dash).

I'd like to get a copy of an instruction manual. I am looking for a 1953 magazine that had a review of this "meter".

Oh, no problem. I thought maybe you'd used a photo from the sellers listing and just managed to buy, for cheap, what had been listed for $750 a couple years back. Anyway, looking forward to hearing your "report". Thanks Tim!!

That looks really cool. I'm more interested in the vacuum gauge though, (I watched the video linked.) The Perf-o-meter has a patent number, perhaps you could look that up for more information? I did some searching and found one listing that included the text on the meter: "Rare, vintage auto Perf O Meter. Circa 1952. This meter appears to have been used to measure brake efficiency. Made in U.S. zone of Austria for Autosphere Corp. N.Y. Patent pending U.S. copyright 1952. Measures 4-1/2" in diameter. Circumference is 15". I then searched for Autosphere and found an article on Hemmings about Karl Ludvigsen that includes: "Meanwhile, we set up another company, Autosphere, to wholesale less-exotic car accessories. When the economy turned down at the end of the 1960s, both companies started hurting." It looks like a passive device that does not connect to anything, just zero it out and go. Oh, it looks like there is a 63 page book for the Per-o-meter and it is available from Two libraries: Bowling Green State University in Ohio, and Benson Ford Research Center in Michigan. ok, I need to use my time more wisely while at work, time for lunch...

I now have two styles/versions/generations of the Perf-O-Meter

In case people now, or in the future, are interested, I'll provide images/photos in two posts:

More photos/images, below:

Walter (walterhvogel),

First, any chance you have a relative called Ellen Vogel - near Albany, NY)?

Second, thanks for the leads on the books/manuals.

It looks like this one can only be read in the library?
"Perfometer manual fully illustrated: covering all phases of car road testing"

I cannot find a document on the Ford site.

Thanks for the leads

Here's a link to the Ford Library: https://dalnet-primo.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/primo-explore/search?query=any,contains,Perfometer%20manual%20fully%20illustrated&tab=default_tab&search_scope=physical_scope&vid=01DAL_HENRYFORD&lang=en_US&offset=0
May have to copy and paste to get the site...
Glad I could help! I do not have any relatives that I know of on the Vogel side of the family on this continent.

Thanks, Walter,

Are you able to view that document on-line?
Do you have a "library card"?

Thanks,

With your correct title, I found the following:

Perfometer manual fully illustrated

It looks like you have to visit both of the libraries (and, that you might have to get a library card for either library).

Nonetheless, you have given me the name of the book (I will keep searching).

Thanks,

The "instrument" shows up on eBay about once a month (I have seen them listed for $25 - $150).

Autosphere Perf O Meter