Seth Thomas Electric Tambour Style Clock

[swolf]

Phil, It would be best if you look at the clock first.Check it yourself as I have found that quite often the customers observations are uninformed. Like "my watch stopped because I overwound it".

I would be suprised if the Seth Thomas had a telechron motor. It was primarily Revere who used the Telechron motor. The strike and chime set up will probably be similar to a mechanical movement.

It the clock has an open motor it will usually be gummed up and if it has fibre gears which some do they might be chewed up. These clocks run warm because of the AC power applied to the motor. This has two effects,one the lubricants get baked and dry up,and second,the heat causes air to circulate thru the clock and all kinds of deposits from tobbaco smoke to oil burner smoke collect in the clock.

I have restored a few electrics by installing a modern Haydon 1 rpm electric motor.

If this is your first electric, rest assurred you will spend a lot of time learing how to fix it.

Feel free to call on me by e-mail or phone if you need futher help.

Sherm

[swolf]

Phil, Timesavers has several motors that can be used in the repair of electric clocks. Page 31 of the current catalog shows #20146 which can replace the Telechron type 'B' rotor. This can also be used in any clock that has a 1 RPM motor driving the movement. Be careful you have to watch the direction of rotation. Also they show #18404 which is one I have used to replace a motor in a Hammond electric.Check with Timesavers to find out the direction of rotation.

All of the substitutions will require some fabrication to adapt the replacement motor.

The first approach is to try to fix the origunal motor. Often it is a simple as oiling. Many motors cannot be taken apart without destroying them. what I do with these motors is soak the in naptha for 12 hours, blow out the solvent with compressed air and a heat gun and then lubricate with a spray can using Permatex Superlube (a synthetic with teflon) thru any orifice I can find This is sort of a buckshot way to the lube the motor.

Many electrics ( especially the cheaper table and mantel clocks) have a motor that runs at 300 RPM. They incorporate reduction gears within the clock train rather than reducing the speed integral with the motor. Even the later Telechrons use a motor with 3.6 RPM output and use a train gear to obtain the 1 RPM for the second hand.

What this all adds up to when you are repairing a desirable electric that has a unrepairable motor, is that there will be more time spent than you expect.

[swolf]

Phi, just one more suggestion, DO NOT use WD-40. It will gum the motor up in bbout 2 weeeks.

[gre406]

Hello Phil...Hope you have a "back-up" set of reamers or a least number three,(3). I have two of three that are used just for steel plates.

Is this the motor that is in it and does it have a key on the back door ??

http://userweb.nni.com/gre406/stMotor.jpg

Is this the movement with the "copper" disk governors on the chime and stikes...Just wondering..

Geo
NAWCC#78594

[gre406]

Phil..The key is to wind the springs on the movement the "first" time and is on a holder on the back door. I guess I wasn't very clear on that...

How about a photo.. I'm trying to I.D. some of my motors in the misc box...

Geo
NAWCC#78594

[gre406]

Thanks Phil..I do have this one in the box and is now marked B1700.

Geo
NAWCC#78594