Instrument logos

I doubt it. I know of a Mk3 with Smiths clocks fitted as original (can't remember which logo though, possibly blue arrow) where my Mk3 had Veglia with blue arrow.

I think assembly was a matter of fitting what ever they had at the time. So who's to say what is original? I've just changed the original alternator rotor due to loose magnets (I thought they were welded?), date of manufacture was April 1972, approx 3 1/2 years before my bike was built,

Simon.

There were of course a number of 'Green Globe' clocks with solid and shaded globes etc.

The deeper black clockholders were introduced for the 1973 'Mk5' 750 and used on all the 850s. The longer clockholders were necessary for the longer Vaguelia clocks.

Certainly for 1973, the Interstates were advertised with a trip mileometer and these were not available on the Smiths instruments so all Interstates were intended to be fitted with Veglias.

It's not clear how long this continued and if it included the 'Squigly Line' Mk3 850 period. The instruments do seem to have been fitted in pairs and most of the later (1977 build) that I've seen have had Veglias. I have the impression that these later Veglias differed slightly from earlier production.

The Mk3 850 was definitely the first of the 'NVT' branded bikes and the instruments were very similar to the T160 Trident although I think all Tridents had Smiths (but without studs on the case and oddly, no red line on the tacho).

Smiths clocks are probably nicer to have as there are more specialists able and willing to fix them. The dial is a little more traditional with a more discrete needle as well.

One of my Mk 3's has Veglia clocks, and the other ( 77 build original) has a Smiths NVT speedo and Veglia tacho, all blue arrow type. I guess they fitted what they had available.

All T160s were fitted with Smiths blue arrow clocks, as you say, without the studs and red segment on the tacho, probably because the rev ceiling was higher on the triples.

sam