Orginal Dobro gauge

[Big Bopper Bart]

edited by my dumb ass! Should think more before I post

[Peter Barton]

There's two threads with almost the same title Bart - take another look, and check the other thread (or search your own posts).

As far as I know, I'm the only one who can delete anything, and I didn't delete nothin', I promise!

[Big Bopper Bart]

shit aww damn *smacks forehead* ..been a long tiring day I apologize Pete, ect.

[Dragonforce]

Follow these links for pics of (similar modern equivalent) gauges on a fire engine's fire control panel:

http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/fir ... -panel.jpg

You can see now why the "lip" on the gauge is there, to make it sit flush and correctly within a panel not unlike this one.

And another:
http://wwwdelivery.superstock.com/WI/22 ... 430291.jpg

Another:

http://www.istockphoto.com/file_thumbvi ... gauges.jpg

Images of fire tender delivery system panels are hard to find. I am still to find the "holy grail" pic that shows Dobros gauges fitted, but I will keep looking and focus all further research in this direction. I am confident I will turn up something...perhaps another one or two gauge assemblies.
Please note on the images in the links the gauges go up to 400 and even 600 psi, which are super high pump pressures. The Mad Max gauge face has increments of 50...up to a total of 250 (psi originally) this could add further credibility as fire appliances in the 70's and 80's likely had a max main pump pressure of 250psi. Also there are lots of other variable factors...pump size, hose outlet quantities, appliance capacity, hose bore etc...
Definately more research to be done.

The original 100mm lipped Dobros gauge I am certain possibly was a main pump discharge gauge on a fire engine, this may have been it's application and design function. Exactly what make and model fire engine(s) I have yet to determine. I will advise new developments as they come to light...(time to interrogate my uncle who has spent 40+ years in the NZ fire service, and maintained/crewed many makes and models of appliance).

I am convinced that this is the right place to hunt down these elusive items. Anywhere who fits out fire engines,tender wrecking yards, fire equipment auctions etc...
This is why they have not been tracked down, because no-one yet has properly identified the original use and application of these gauges.

[Dragonforce]

I will be focussing on the Mack CF685 pumper which was in service both here in NZ and Australia during the 70's and early 80's. I just need to find one so I can get close up and personal like....Nudge Nudge, Wink, Wink!

[Dragonforce]

One thing that really gets my goat, is people out there who make up so much B.S. about what they have and how they came to have it. They add this almost mythical flavour to their story, so much so that it seems like an urban legend of how their item came into their possession. We all like to feel special and unique and that we are one up on everybody else....it is a nasty and vindictive human trait that we all carry in varying degrees of course. In this instance I am referring to the origins of the "real" Dobros gauges and the copies of these real units. I have trawled the net exhaustively and found at least 7 different versions of the story relating to how George Kritty tracked down the employee and found bits and pieces....enough parts for four units only....enough parts for 7 units only....Try this one on for size too:

"The fuel gauge is interesting as it was made by the dobros company here in Australia but in conjuction with George Miller himself and is pretty much a one off gauge,
before the movie the gauge didnt exist. Ten were made for the movie and afterwards Miller sold them to members
of a Mad Max website. Pretty cool. The guy who made mine says it is an exact replica from one of those originals.
The warning light is a standard brake light found on nearly all trailers made in Australia for decades."

TEN! were made for the movie...and George Miller handed out the remaining nine to members of a Mad Max website!....C'mon.....who made this one up?

Here's another:

"George Kritty (a fan and replica builder) spent a lot of time going to places in search of the gauge once manufactured by Dobros. One guy knew another and from that guy George was told of a person (who insists he wishes to remain anonymous) who might be able to help. As luck had it, he confirmed he had some but only in components. George then had the job of searching through all his boxes gathering a piece here and a piece there until they successfully found enough parts to account for 7 units. The owner then added the numbers and red zone onto the dial face. It was George's job to add the word 'Litres' and to fabricate a bracket since there weren't any left. The owner has priced the gauges at $160.00 plus postage and handling.
There are only a couple left but there is still has a few boxes to search through (if anyone's lucky).
The gauge itself was a SS476 type (flush mount) used for measuring gas/oil/water pressures. So although they were meant for industrial applications, George has recreated the gauges using original and authentic components manufactured by Dobros just for exact looks. Dobros changed there name to Dobbie and were later bought out by another company. These gauges have been obsolete for years, and there will never be anymore found."

Really? The owner added the numbers? and red zone? The gauge was a ss476 flush mount? are you sure about that? Dobros changed their name to......"Dobbie"? Really? This isn't Harry Potter!
Lastly....."and there will never be anymore found". It's B.S. like all this that makes it bloody harder than it should be for others to find what they are looking for! There are so many other variants of the same story that the real facts have become obscured in a mist of fiction and lies. There are other versions, but I have just used two of the most prolific and well known ones.
Even the most widely accepted version of the ex-employee who (of course) wishes to remain anonymous (wouldn't you if you had stolen parts off your previous employer?) I still can't quite fully accept it.....I am not very religious but I can almost compare this version to Joseph Smith's testimony in the book of mormon of how he came to find the commandments, breastplate etc.....There is a similar "feel" and common thread there. I can't for the life of me pinpoint a possible reason why in the first place an ex employee would have a box or two of parts in his shed at his house for not any other shape and size gauge, but the very same shape and style as was used in the movie while being aparrently blissfully unaware of their signifigance or relation to the Mad Max movie. I am not saying any more on this, other than for me at least it seems to have been embellished...to what degree I don't know, nor will I ever be likely to know. But if genuine facts, details and reasons were forthcoming, the matter would then be settled. The time has come for questions, we need to shrug off the popular belief of these gauges being obsolete and the only bits left are in the hands of a possible thieving ex-employee, and start looking where others have not looked before....because somewhere out there......they must be!
It seems that these gauges were all but written off BEFORE anyone actually determined what they were, what they were for, and where would one look properly for them. Many of these stories (myths) were generated mainly by the selfish few who had gauges of their own and wanted exclusivity over them...they wanted everyone to feel like they had something you could not to justify the HUGE prices they paid for them....They felt they were rare and they were going to make damn sure the whole world knew! I am going to turn this around by both tracking down and acquiring the real deal gauges to sell them on for what they are actually worth (whatever I pay for them and no more) and completely dissecting, measuring, and photographing my mint condition genuine unretouched original Dobros gauge, so others may have a bit more means to replicate them better.
I say to the selfish few out there.......How do you like them apples?

[scag66]

"The fuel gauge is interesting as it was made by the dobros company here in Australia but in conjuction with George Miller himself and is pretty much a one off gauge,
before the movie the gauge didnt exist. Ten were made for the movie and afterwards Miller sold them to members
of a Mad Max website. Pretty cool. The guy who made mine says it is an exact replica from one of those originals.
The warning light is a standard brake light found on nearly all trailers made in Australia for decades."

TEN! were made for the movie...and George Miller handed out the remaining nine to members of a Mad Max website!....C'mon.....who made this one up?

That would be me actually. I got this information the same way you get yours and if it is incorrect it will be edited.
Even after your pages of rambling, i see no reason to change it. If you take a closer look at that site you will see the level of research that
that goes into the details and provenence of props through vigourous yet friendly discussion is second to none, maybe you should take some time.

Heres a way to approach the next replica gauge you see on ebay, "Gee, thats expensive, i wouldnt buy that" and then move on to the next
stage of your life.

[Dragonforce]

Gee, look at that! A brave one we have here! Owns up to being the person responsible for claiming it was pretty much a "one off" gauge, then goes on to say how 10 were made for the movie...all in the same sentence!

You could at least have facts and not pure assumptions yourself before being stupid enough to not only take responsibility but to also defend such a bunch of half cocked ignorance and lies. Are you telling ME to take a closer look? Why? Is there a need after such Fu**wit statements like the one above are made and then stood by, by the person responsible who claims to see no reason to change it.

Are you also attempting to tell the world that you believe George Miller had nothing better to do during production than to corroborate a gauge design with representatives of Dobros? Not only doing the one, but a further 9? In case of what pray tell? Were these extra 9 a forethought gift in many years time for fans of a website...when at that time websites and internet let alone computers were still in the realm of science fiction. So you really believe in the 10 or so gauges made for mr George Miller huh? Pigshit!!

Quote: "Heres a way to approach the next replica gauge you see on ebay, "Gee, thats expensive, i wouldnt buy that" and then move on to the next
stage of your life."

Get over it asshole! I am merely doing what these posts are here for....posting, but thanks for your "input" all the same.

[MFP1]

Oh heck what a row everyone is making!!

I pretty much already said what I felt needed in the other thread before stumbling on this one... However just for some added info:

The "Original" gauge was indeed a Burdon Tube pressure Gauge, but it normal intended use was in the food precessing industry.... Presumably it could be used for other things as well. "Dobbie Brothers" was a offical name of the company, shortened later do "Dobros".

WIKA currently produces a "Mad Max Replica" gauge, available exclusevly through Mad Max Cars. Granted there are other ways to get a decent replica of the movie gauge (maybe even chaepar ways to go), but if you want one built by the "original Manufacturer" this is about a close as it gets these days, since they own the plant and Dobros name rights. They make the dial face (no rub on letters) from a screen capture of the film one, and build it in the original plant.

I could go on for quite a while as I have had lengthy conversations with current WIKA employees that served at Dobros, as well as with their development team which assisted in bringing this part into "official" production. However it matters very little, it just a guage folks.

The trailer light thing is a good chuckle too! What is the part number for the trailer light??? Ill have to send my local friends to pick up a few.

[scag66]

Lots of bleeting from you dragonforce, still no facts from you either. Is the gauge not a "one off"? Did Dobros make fuel gauges? Was it seven or 10 gauges?
Good luck on your quest to change the free market system from your small corner of New Zealand.
You I will take no further notice of.