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1960 mains electric clock

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gerry madden18/07/2023 18:53:05
331 forum posts
156 photos

I have found the coil in this 1960 mains electric clock to have gone o/c. (It was working fine when it was last used in 1995 and I was looking forward to using it again in my new workshop. Typical!)

I did wonder about attempting to re-wind the coil myself but the wire is so fine I can hardly see it, never mind feel it. So I think such an attempt would be a disaster. (I have measured the wire to be around 0.065mm diameter)

dscn0065.jpg

So I'm just wondering now if anyone knows of a source for a replacement ? The coil is approx. 30mmL x 17mmOD x 1/4"(square)

I imagine (and I may be totally wrong !) that the electrical characteristics are not too critical just as long as doesn't draw too much current.) Please let me know if the coil laminations and rotor need to be closely matched in order to function. If so, I might need to think about a quartz movement but that's just MORE batteries and therefore doesn't appeal so much.

Gerry

Journeyman18/07/2023 19:25:53
avatar
1257 forum posts
264 photos

Probably cheaper, safer and quicker to buy a quartz battery movement (available everywhere) and fit to the face with a suitable adaptor. Similarly fitting the hands to the movement. Will look the same and likely just as accurate.

John

Michael Gilligan18/07/2023 19:30:42
avatar
23121 forum posts
1360 photos

I was about to suggest Cousins … but their range of synchronous movements is discontinued crying 2

You may however find some information of interest on this page: **LINK**

https://www.cousinsuk.com/document/category/movements-mains-synchronous

[ sorry, I haven’t looked at anything more than the titles]

MichaelG.

Ady118/07/2023 19:41:36
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6137 forum posts
893 photos

Even if you got it fixed it would probably make scary buzzy electrical noises

Mike Poole18/07/2023 20:58:15
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3676 forum posts
82 photos
Posted by gerry madden on 18/07/2023 18:53:05:

I have found the coil in this 1960 mains electric clock to have gone o/c. (It was working fine when it was last used in 1995 and I was looking forward to using it again in my new workshop. Typical!)

I did wonder about attempting to re-wind the coil myself but the wire is so fine I can hardly see it, never mind feel it. So I think such an attempt would be a disaster. (I have measured the wire to be around 0.065mm diameter)

If you do decide to wind coil then make sure you remove the wire coating before measuring, an easy way is just heat it in a flame and burn it off.

Mike

Peter Bell18/07/2023 21:33:54
399 forum posts
167 photos

Gerry, You could rewind it so that it works on a lower voltage and use a suitable low voltage mains transformer (bell transformer) to power it. I've done that a few times to avoid using a quartz movement.

This link give info https://sound-au.com/clocks/ocm.html Peter

gerry madden18/07/2023 22:53:05
331 forum posts
156 photos

Thanks for the good leads !

Mike - I'm glad you said that about the coating. In the past I have tended to remove the enamel by gripping it between fine emery paper. I had a feeling this particular wire wouldn't be strong enough for this technique and when I tried it on a short sample, it proved it ! A flame, ....excellent.

Gerry

Georgineer18/07/2023 23:14:05
652 forum posts
33 photos

Given that there is most probably only one break in the winding, and that it's most likely on the exposed parts of the coil, the first thing I would do is give it a good coat of looking at under a magnifying glass. If you can identify the break it should be fairly straightforward, if a bit fiddly, to effect a reapir. You can spare a turn or two in order to give enough length to play with, and the soldered repair doesn't need to be particularly elegant, though it's a good idea to slip something insulating under the join to isolate it.. It has worked for me in the past.

As far as I can tell from the photo the yellow stuff is nasty gloop from the sort of sticky tape they used in the sixties, and it doesn't look as though there is widespread corrosion, which is the real killer.

George

old mart19/07/2023 20:23:17
4655 forum posts
304 photos

With a clock that size, you could use a quartz movement powered by a larger cell than an AA type, and it would run for several years.

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