GERMAN TIME BOMB!!

Hi all,

Can I please bring back the post of “THE GERMAN TIME BOMB” S HALLER 400 day clock, to warn new members of the dangers of this clock. I am a newbe and did not know about this until today.
I went to an auction today and bought one of these complete with dome all in good condition, got it home and wound it up, I started the balls moving, but it kept stopping, I thought I would have a look inside to see if anything was obviously wrong, I undid the 4 screws on the backplate, and suddenly without any warning the back shot off, the spring flew out in pieces. I was very very lucky, all I received was a gash to the palm of my hand, which was half an inch away from my wrist, the plastic wheel complete with some of the long spring, hit me in the chest, and yes it still hurts!!

After all this happened I looked in passed posts of Haller 400 day clocks and saw the German time bomb thread, I wish I had seen this before!!!!!

I have attachéd a photo of what is left of my £10 clock, which will go straight in the bin, there will now be one less of these dangerous clocks to hurt somebody else.

Best regards -len

Thanks for the Info Len,

I've never worked on a 400 day clock yet.
But, Will keep it in mind.

Chris

[Scottie-TX]

Now Rookie: You know you should always wear protective gear when working on clox: Armor plate is best. A metal head protector is best. In lew of that a cast iron crock pot will suffice. Always wear mittens. Gloves are simply inadeequate. Rookie: I think this may be a cuckoo clock. Was it cheep?

Originally posted by Scottie-TX:
Now Rookie: You know you should always wear protective gear when working on clox: [HR][HR]

I have welders gloves and goggles especially for mainsprings .But with mainsprings, You can never be careful enough !! Gotta keep your eye out for "Sprocket Rockets" launched by the broken M/Springs also. :biggrin:

[John Hubby]

Hi Len,

Thanks very much for posting the photo of what was left of your clock. I teach the 400-Day Clock Suitcase Repair Course for NAWCC and have always warned everyone about the dangers of working on this clock if you don't know how to do it.

Your photo is worth many thousand words, and with your permission I would like to use it for my future courses.

I also agree with the advice to wear protective gear when working with mainsprings of any kind, minimum heavy gloves and a face shield.

John Hubby, Instructor
F105 Suitcase Repair Course
400-Day Clocks

PS: To Phil, could you copy this thread to the 400-Day Forum?

[Len Lataille]

Len
From one Len to another Len, I'm sorry to read about you bad experience with this clock. Under my former pseudonym of David Filby I did as much as I could to warn members of the dangers of this clock. My injuries were not as bad as yours, but I came enough to losing an eye as I care to. The shock of parts flying in all directions, the mainspring hitting me in the head and left arm, the dust as everything on my workbench was tossed around, is an event that I will never forget.
I have collected as many of these clocks as I can find at yard sales in order to prevent accidents as you have had. Imagine if it had been a curious child.
It amazes me that so many of these clocks continue to be sold on eBay and at prices that I dont understand.
As far as I'm concerned these clocks have no redeeming value whatsoever.

Hi Folks, the problem with this clock seems to be finding out how to let the power down. Separating the plates of any spring driven clock without doing this invites disaster. That seems to be what happened here. The question is, how does one let the power down on this clock. I have one and have tried to figure out how to do this without success. Victor Tang posted some photos of this clock time ago with the clock fully dissasembled so it can be done. Does anybody know how?

[any400day]

Hello Michael,

Firstly I must re-emphasize that you must be very careful when working with this clock. Heavy gloves and face/eye shield is a must. Please exercise extreme care.

I am not saying that this is the best or only way to go about doing it but I managed to let down the mainspring without having it explode in my face.

CAUTION !!! DO NOT remove the eight screws holding the front and back plates together before the mainspring is fully let-down.

Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Step 5
Step 6
Step 7

Vic

[RobertG]

Vic:

Maybe it is just me or my monitor, but I can't read the captions on the photos. Is there someway you could post these in a larger format?

Thanks.

RobertG

Redeeming value? not a great clock but it could have been. look at the interesting features. a new type of stop works to prevent overwinding, negator spring providing consistant power, magnetic suspension, elimination of suspension error, etc. many fascinating concepts, too bad this clock was made on the cheap!