Intermittent windscreen wipers...

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grifterkid

Intermittent windscreen wipers...

#1 Post by grifterkid »

Hello folks...

I am a huge fan of reading old car magazines from the 1970's and it really is fascinating to see what accessories were available to the motorist before all those things became a standard fitment on a run-of-the-mill family motor...!!!

One thing that really caught my eye was an advert for the Trico Intermittent Wiper Control which is something I'd liker to find and fit one day as I think it'd be great to have that function on my Toledo with its 2-speed wipers...

Do any of you good people have a similar 'thing' on ny of your cars that was fitted many moons ago...?! It'd be great to know if someone out there has one of these units fitted.

All the best to each and every one of you... :wink:
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Howard81
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Re: Intermittent windscreen wipers...

#2 Post by Howard81 »

1978 Triumph Dolomite Sprint (project thread)
1966 Volkswagen 1300 (project thread)
1962 Austin Mini (project)
1962 MGA 1600 Mark II
1965 Mobylette SP50 (project)
2001 Rover 75 2.5-litre V6
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Re: Intermittent windscreen wipers...

#3 Post by GrahamFountain »

There's a triumph/BL unit, fitted to later TR7s - AAU7087 I think.

They had the same range of controls, so there's no position for intermittent on the wiper stalk - a single wipe turns it on and a second turns it off. Being BL, it may insert into the loom in the same way on the Doly.

But there's no adjustment of rate, unlike this 'ere one from Maplins. And the BL one also has some bad habbits, at least mine does, like occasionally going continuously when it should be intermittent and stopping where it feels like it in the middel of the screen.

Mine also only wipes every other pulse, but I think that's because the switch/mechanism that parks the wipers is worn and the parking space is too big for the length of the pulse.

I've been thinking, intermittently, about designing and building a replacement, round a couple of 555s, but it only bothers me when I'm driving, and a can't cut veroboard tracks at the same time.

Graham.
The 16v Slant 4 engine is more fun than the 3.5 V8, because you mostly drive it on the upslope of the torque curve.

Factory 1977 TR7 Sprint FHC VVC 697S (Now all of, but still needs putting together)
B&Y 73 Dolomite Sprint UVB 274M (kids!)
1970 Maroon 13/60 Herald Convertable (wife's fun car).
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Re: Intermittent windscreen wipers...

#4 Post by alangraham »

In 1981 I responded to an advert for an intermittent wiper control from Spimmin Developments of Blackpool. My dad was an electrician and fitted it successfully to my 1500HL. We had to remove the steering nacelle to expose the green wiper cable and cut in to it. There wasn't much room to work in, but it was successful. There was a switch supplied with it, (like a radio volume knob) - so a kind of potentiometer I supppose - which we mounted on the base of the dashboard. As the knob was turned, it varied the number of wipes. You could vary the number of wipes from one every 50 seconds to as many as you wanted, simply by turning the dial.
It worked extremely well and went with the car, when I sold it. I think I paid about £6.50 for it in those days. Goodness knows what happened to Spimmin developments!
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Re: Intermittent windscreen wipers...

#5 Post by Howard81 »

Still around, but they don't look like they do the kits anymore :lol:

http://www.spimin.com/
1978 Triumph Dolomite Sprint (project thread)
1966 Volkswagen 1300 (project thread)
1962 Austin Mini (project)
1962 MGA 1600 Mark II
1965 Mobylette SP50 (project)
2001 Rover 75 2.5-litre V6
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Re: Intermittent windscreen wipers...

#6 Post by Flyfisherman »

Another thread link to the above subject.

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=27596&hilit=intermittent+wipers

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Re: Intermittent windscreen wipers...

#7 Post by tinweevil »

grifterkid wrote:Do any of you good people have a similar 'thing' on ny of your cars that was fitted many moons ago...?!
Not on a car at the moment but I have a period trip computer. There's a flow meter to plumb into the fuel line and a box o' tricks not far short of the size of a radio IIRC. Red 7 segment LED readout I think. I also have an electronic ignition unit from the same manufacturer, nothing exciting about it on it's own but I've always thought the two would look good together on the same car one day....
1978 Pageant Sprint - the rustomite, 1972 Spitfire IV - sprintfire project, 1968 Valencia GT6 II - little Blue, 1980 Vermillion 1500HL - resting. 1974 Sienna 1500TC, Mrs Weevils big brown.
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Re: Intermittent windscreen wipers...

#8 Post by Mad Mart »

I've been thinking, intermittently, about designing and building a replacement, round a couple of 555s, but it only bothers me when I'm driving, and a can't cut veroboard tracks at the same time.
I have made a circuit using a couple of BJTs and a Songle relay. It works but I'm having trouble integrating it into the Dolly circuit.
Sprintless for the first time in 35+ years. :boggle2: ... Still Sprintless.

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Re: Intermittent windscreen wipers...

#9 Post by Edin Dundee »

Way over the top, but how about one of these things? :lol:

http://www.schneider-electric.com/produ ... lio-logic/

You drag and drop timers, counters, logic gates, whatever, onto a PC program, check it all works on your PC, then download to the relay, hey presto! 8A max on the relay outputs.

Intermittent wipers, interior light delay, erm, erm, OK I've run out of ideas. :D
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Howard81
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Re: Intermittent windscreen wipers...

#10 Post by Howard81 »

tinweevil wrote:
grifterkid wrote:Do any of you good people have a similar 'thing' on ny of your cars that was fitted many moons ago...?!
Not on a car at the moment but I have a period trip computer. There's a flow meter to plumb into the fuel line and a box o' tricks not far short of the size of a radio IIRC. Red 7 segment LED readout I think. I also have an electronic ignition unit from the same manufacturer, nothing exciting about it on it's own but I've always thought the two would look good together on the same car one day....
I've got one of those too, it's a Mobelec Maximiser although Smiths sold a rebranded version as the Smiths Fuel Computer. They were first sold in 1981. Ive had it for years but never got round to writing it in :lol:

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1978 Triumph Dolomite Sprint (project thread)
1966 Volkswagen 1300 (project thread)
1962 Austin Mini (project)
1962 MGA 1600 Mark II
1965 Mobylette SP50 (project)
2001 Rover 75 2.5-litre V6
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Re: Intermittent windscreen wipers...

#11 Post by matienzo »

Automatically turns off the display above 120 mph :D
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Re: Intermittent windscreen wipers...

#12 Post by tinweevil »

That's the one Howard :D
1978 Pageant Sprint - the rustomite, 1972 Spitfire IV - sprintfire project, 1968 Valencia GT6 II - little Blue, 1980 Vermillion 1500HL - resting. 1974 Sienna 1500TC, Mrs Weevils big brown.
grifterkid

Re: Intermittent windscreen wipers...

#13 Post by grifterkid »

I love all of the accessories that were available when our cars were new(ish)...!!!

I just wondered specifically though if anyone has a 'vintage' intermittent wiper control in their Dolly or Tolly...?!

There are many old things I've accrued over the years ('Holdspeed' Cruise Control anyone?!) but I think the practical things are the best in terms of making our cars more usable... :wink:
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Re: Intermittent windscreen wipers...

#14 Post by MIG Wielder »

I still have 3 after-market accessories from the 1970's.
A panoramic tinted, rear-view mirror that fitted over the standard mirror with 2 long springs. It was supposed to save you buying wing mirrors at extra cost.
An original Krooklok.
A pair of night-driving glasses. They were tinted with amber lenses with a space-age alien look to them. They were supposed to reduce glare at night. I think the regulations were changed shortly after to outlaw them.
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Re: Intermittent windscreen wipers...

#15 Post by GrahamFountain »

Mad Mart wrote:I have made a circuit using a couple of BJTs and a Songle relay. It works but I'm having trouble integrating it into the Dolly circuit.
What's the problem with integrating? Would you post the circuit diagram, etc.?

Graham
The 16v Slant 4 engine is more fun than the 3.5 V8, because you mostly drive it on the upslope of the torque curve.

Factory 1977 TR7 Sprint FHC VVC 697S (Now all of, but still needs putting together)
B&Y 73 Dolomite Sprint UVB 274M (kids!)
1970 Maroon 13/60 Herald Convertable (wife's fun car).
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