Anyone familiar with 1966 Seiko Photo Electronic (Solar Clock)?

[steve burgamy]

I recently came upon this Sieko Photo-Electronic clock and can not find any information on this clock. It came from an estate of Physics professor that seem to collect 1960's electrics. It was purchased in Tokyo January, 1966 I have the Seiko warranty and instruction book for the clock. The 11 jewel clock has photo cells on top and thick lucite sides on the case. I have seen German and Patek solar clocks but not one by Seiko.

 

[George Nelson]

Quite interesting... I have never seen anything like it! What could have caused all of that brilliant blue corrosion? I know I should know from the color, but chemistry class was 45 years ago! (Giving away my age, here ) Does the clock still work?

Warm regards to everyone,

George Nelson

 

[Tinker Dwight]

You need to clean up the corrosion.
I suspect is was an alkaline NiCad.
Finding such a button type may be hard.
Use white distilled vinegar on the corrosion.
The corrosion looks like nickel.
The movement is a typical battery movement of that
period.
It will have a single transistor and use a Sulley escapement.
These often need the pivots cleaned on the balance wheel
and I use a light watch type oil.
Tinker Dwight

 

[George Nelson]

Thanks for the chemistry lesson, Tinker- I knew someone smart like you would know!

George

 

[dAz57]

It might but I prefer white vinegar, I can soak plates and circuit boards in it and it removes blue crystals like this completely.

 

[Tinker Dwight]

Plain old bicarb soda works well for removing and neutralising corrosion.

It doesn't work that well is alkaline battery leakage. You need to use an acid. Bicarb of soda
does work well for carbon zinc leakage but that is an acid.
Alkaline cells use potasium hydroxide. A NiCad is an akaline cell.
White vinegar works well because it leaves no active acid when done. It will easily rinse off
an any leftovers will evaporate.
Tinker Dwight

 

[dAz57]

Ok so that's why vinegar works with silver oxide batteries, they use sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide

 

[steve burgamy]

Yes, it is a NiCad battery. 100DK DEAC 1.3Volts. It just came in my possession and have not cleaned the corrosion. The original owner also had 1964 Seiko Crystal Chronometer, Concord early Battery clock and Seiko Transistor battery. Looks like no one on the forum has seen another. The clock came with a three month guarantee.

 

[Tinker Dwight]

I would recommend getting a NiCad ( not NiMH ) cell of between 200 and 100mah
rating. Get one with solder tails ( do not solder to the cell directly ).
Use single strand insulated hookup wire ( not stranded ) to connect it to the board.
Place it to the side in a ziploc type baggie ( not over the movement ).
If the cell leaks replace the entire wire.
Do not go bellow 100mah as the circuit is designed for that as a maximum charge rate.
Multiple NICad cells can be stripped for a single cell. These were commonly used
for hand held remote phones and are often still available with 3 cells. Use only one cell.
Tinker Dwight

 

[steve burgamy]

Tinker Dwight, thanks for the pointers on repairing this clock. I will certainly start working on restoring the movement. Now back to my original question....Has anyone ever seen a Seiko Photo-Electronic clock?