Cars with perlage

To all: I think you can call it whatever you like, I like to call it perlage or circular graining. I think engine turning refers too much to the gullioche on dials. To Graham: I agree, fashionable cars in the motor industry do have "circular graining" on the firewall between the engine compartment and the rest of the car. Although I couldn't find a photo of it online (a certain antique Bentley with this circular graining came to mind), I was able to find a picture of the dashboard that has the same circular graining effect. Bentley calls this circular graining as "rifling" and its finish is applied in very much the same function as our watch perlage. The Bentley in this photo is from 1929/1930s and is from the one of the original Bentley Speed 6 Le-Mans cars. There were three of these Bentley Speed cars from the 1930s at the Beverly Hills Rodeo Drive Concours d'elegance and I noticed one of them with their bonnet open did have the "rifling" inside the engine compartment. You have an excellent memory Graham!

What is the correct word or term to describe the..

By: justpen : July 2nd, 2009-20:52

Hi All, Can someone please tell me what the correct term, or word, is to describe the pattern which is formed by a series of multiple closely grouped circular polish marks. This pattern is often seen on parts of the movement. kindest regards, Jack

Are you talking about...

By: dxboon : July 2nd, 2009-21:23

... perlage ? You can see an example of perlage (the overlapping circular graining) in this picture of the caliber A07M in a Habring2 jumping second. This photo is courtesy of the Habrings. Cheers, Daos...

I always used to call this "engine turning" until

By: CaliforniaJed : July 4th, 2009-15:22

Daos told me perlage sounded better. She was right! Best, Jed

Almost everything sounds better in French!

By: dxboon : July 4th, 2009-17:40

Hope you are having a fun 4th! We are grilling hotdogs now for chilidogs! Daos

In French: Perlage

By: amanico : July 3rd, 2009-02:43

In English: Circular-graining. Best, Nicolas

other trades call it engine turning, but Perlage sounds better. [nt]

By: G99 : July 3rd, 2009-04:14

No message body

Yes, engine turning is the English term.

By: mrsnak : July 3rd, 2009-19:41

French always sounds better, though.

To be honest with you...

By: foversta : July 3rd, 2009-23:45

I think everybody says "Perlage" even in english... when I discuss with the brands, I've never heard "engine turning". Fr.Xavier

"Engine Turning" has 2 meanings in English...

By: DonCorson : July 4th, 2009-00:40

French English perlage =engine turning guillochage =engine turning As we know perlage and guillochage have next to nothing to do with each other which is why in watchmaking circles the French "perlage" and "guillochage" are very often used to avoid ambigu...

Thanks Don !

By: foversta : July 4th, 2009-00:55

And here is a nice part with perlage: Fr.Xavier...

Thanks Don!

By: ei8htohms : July 4th, 2009-08:33

That's about my understanding as well, but I've also heard American machinists call it "spotting". They seem to mostly think it's a cover-up technique for sloppy machining however. _john

True, John

By: BDLJ : July 9th, 2009-21:53

My machinist friends have the same opinion. There's no real reason for it. For example, on the engine-turned dash shown in one of the photos in this thread, it's so it doesn't just look like a slab of aluminium.

Xavier, engine turning is...

By: G99 : July 4th, 2009-02:20

Xavier, engine turning is used in the motor industry and other similar industries. for example a hand built super car may have 'engine turned aluminium inserts' in the dashboard. there was a large british luxury car from the 50's, the name i forget, but t...

Cars with perlage

By: patrick_y : July 5th, 2009-03:10

Patrick, my memory is...

By: G99 : July 5th, 2009-03:50

Patrick, my memory is poor, but my mate who comes to drink tea every day is 60 and a total petrol head. a bit of a dinosaur, but has the memory like an elephant. i've learnt so much from him about classic cars. he mentions a name and i google it. best Gra...

What a charming fellow he must be. And yes, an elephant never forgets. [nt]

By: patrick_y : July 5th, 2009-15:35

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Patrick, the car wih the engine turned bulkhead........

By: G99 : July 7th, 2009-04:59

i've just spoken to my mate and his recollection is that it was a Daimler and either a Conquest or majestic from the 50's. the one with the 4.5litre V8 in. it was actually an aluminium bulkhead fully engine turned. a work of art that only the mechanic saw...

That's what seemed to me, too, FX.

By: amanico : July 4th, 2009-03:49

Perlage

By: daringdave : July 4th, 2009-15:56

If you look at the wonderful series of articles on Bulgari watchmaking last month, there is a video which actually shows a watchmaker creating perlage on a balance wheel. It is my favorite decorative treatment. xx DD

Thanks to everyone... you would not believe..

By: justpen : July 5th, 2009-08:24

Thanks all, You would not believe why I posted my request for info. I am in China at a factory and we are having problems finishing stainless steel on fuel tankers... and I have been trying to get a photo off the web of the circular finish that is often u...