Cruise control

[mh434]

Ray
I have a couple more photos that I will post on Monday. I did get the catalog number of the micro switch . It's WZE-RQX2

Jon

[YellowRose]

Cruise control

Hi Jon! Thanks for the catalog number. I will call them and see what they can tell me about it.

[mh434]

A few other bits of info for you Ray. There is a shut off valve attached to the diaphragm on the valve cover. It is stamped Valcor eng corp part no v5000-41. A quick google and apparently its often used as a shut off valve for gas turbines ..! Also another bit of kit is stamped R H Thorner Patents. Some digging throws up several patents in the 60's for "automotive speed control apparatus". Pics to follow
Jon

[YellowRose]

Cruise control

Hi Jon, I googled what you posted and it certainly looks like someone was trying to put together some off the wall concoction for speed control! I looked at several of the pdf files by R H Thorner. I saw the dates on some of that patent information was back in the 50's and 60's..

[mh434]

Ray
some more photos for you. I don't think we will ever get to the bottom of this unless someone comes along with a similar setup.! I'm hoping the pictures come up in the same order that I'm describing them.
1, 2 & 3 are the bits marked RH Thorner Patents. looks to be some sort of vacuum driven worm drive, I originally thought it was something to do with the old vacuum wiper drive ?
4 is a better view of the microswitch
5 is the shut off valve which can been seen in picture 6.
The microswitch three pin plug also attaches to the end of the valve. A quick google of the valve reference and they are commonly used as fuel shut off valves for gas turbine engines.! You can just make out that the fixings on the end cover of the valve are wired to prevent them coming loose. Common practice in the aircraft industry.

Jon

[YellowRose]

Cruise control

Hi Jon, thanks for the additional pix. I will see what I can track down tomorrow, but I really do think we are looking at something that someone was trying to use as a speed control unit... That is all I can think of.

[mh434]

Ray

I'm of the same opinion. I would like to put it back on (NOT CONNECTED.!) as it makes quite a talking point...

Jon

[YellowRose]

Cruise control

Hi Jon, I would not install it on the car, even though it does not work, I think I would sit it on top the car or the air cleaner, at S&S events, just to see if someone walks up and says..."Hey, I know that is! That is a Thingamajig" that does....". Later today, I will get back into research on manufacture and model numbers and see if I can find out more about the components...

[mh434]

Good call.

[YellowRose]

Cruise control

Jon, I contacted Valcor Eng. Corp today regarding that shut off valve in the picture. They told me that particular shut off valve was meant for aircraft use, like the Micro Switch, and not for use on a car. They told me that they are also a division of Honeywell! It appears that some previous owner had a bunch of spare parts, some from aircraft, and was trying to create whatever that is out of them. Speed control might be as good a guess as any. This is about all I can do to try and identify the true use of these components. My previous suggestion might be something you may want to do. Display it and see who says anything about it, and what. It certainly is an oddity.

[DKheld]

I love the idea of leaving it on as a curiosity. I'm sure it will generate a lot of interest.

Maybe it's an early Flux Capacitor and the first time you hit the road with the car you will find yourself back in 1960 !

Eric

[mh434]

1.21 Gigawatts...!!!! Ha....now that is funny...it would mean having to get it upto 88 miles an hour though.......on drum brakes...!!!! And who's gonna make a time machine...out of a Thunderbird.!
Ray, thank you so much for you time doing the research. I will proudly display the wotchamathingy with a notice saying "Remains unidentified by the best of the Thunderbird community"..... Hang on though, just had a thought.....maybe its from Roswell !

[YellowRose]

Cruise control

Hi Jon, lol... Well, we gave it a good shot, but as I suspected, we were not able to come up with anything to ID it. Except to be told that some of the components were made for aircraft. Maybe someone was trying to add wings to that thang! lol.. If you ever run across someone who really knows what that thang is, I sure would like to know! Good luck with your Tbird!

[sidewalkman]

Whatever it is, someone went through a lot of time and trouble to create it.

[dgs]

1.21 Gigawatts...!!!! Ha....now that is funny...it would mean having to get it upto 88 miles an hour though.......on drum brakes...!!!! And who's gonna make a time machine...out of a Thunderbird.!

You'll need a EB Enterprises 121G, but they aren't available right now.