I have not found anywhere "Post your Eureka Clock Here" therefore I intercede here some pics of my last purchase.
Eureka Clock two ball bearings ,enamelled shield 1,5V.mising glas dome,running.SN 2501 -1907 ?
SN 2501.
janekp, thanks for posting your Eureka clock here. Actually there is a set of Eureka threads in this forum that can be found by clicking on the "Eureka" prefix name found at the beginning of any thread title that is related to the Eureka clock. It looks like this:
Eureka: Eureka Clock
I have highlighted the "Eureka:" prefix in blue so you can see exactly what I am describing. I have added the Eureka prefix to this thread. I do need to point out that when you are creating a new thread you can select the prefix from the header menu when you are typing in the thread title.
When you click on this prefix, it will create a kind of mini-forum that contains only Eureka clock related threads. That allows you to go through everything there is about Eureka in the Electrical Horology main forum without needing to hunt for other threads.
With regard to your clock it is a model No. 1 with the short movement and round dome, brass base. Regarding when it was made, that is a very difficult thing to do. My data, as well as information found in Alan Shenton's book and in contemporary trade journals show that commercial production of the movements started about mid-1908 and was completed by mid-1910. It is evident from dated presentation inscriptions that both the short and tall movement versions were produced in parallel, and also from the fact that exhibition examples of both types were presented to the public in late 1908 and during 1909-1910. We also know that once the movements were made they were kept in inventory and later installed in cases, some as late as 1913 only a few months before the company went out of business in 1914. Only one case design is known to have been made in a single run, being the No. 14 Cromwell English Lantern Clock model. To date, all of these that have been documented fall between serial numbers 2124 and 2247 inclusive, with no other models found within this series. This indicates that perhaps 150 of these were made in total.
Replacement domes are not easily found and they are expensive as well since they are not a standard size. However, you can improvise using a standard dome. For example, you can use a 10 inch x 12 inch glass dome on a separate wooden base, these are about 1/3 the cost of a hand blown dome of the correct size. Just set your clock on the base and cover the whole clock with the dome.
The battery voltage should be 1.5 V. Running on 3 V will burn the balance contact pin and contact flag even with a diode installed, although it doesn't appear to harm the coil winding. Jim commented that these clocks should make 360 degrees rotation on 1.5 V, and as I recall that is what Alan Shenton reported. My experience is that the best I have achieved is about 290 degrees, with the more usual performance being between 220 and 270 degrees. That is with having serviced more than 60 of these over the past 20 years. Using 3 V will give 310 to 380 degrees rotation, however I also find that regulation of the clock with the higher rotation is more difficult as it will tend to run fast and the balance spring may not have enough length to slow it down to time.
When servicing these look in particular at balance pivot condition. Even the slightest irregular wear at that point will cause irregular regulation and can reduce rotation significantly. Also be sure that the motion works advance mechanism is completely free to oscillate on the balance wheel cam and there is no groove on the cam. Make absolutely sure the coils of the balance spring (some call it the "hairspring") do NOT touch each other at any point of rotation, if they do the clock will run fast and also can be irregular. The condition of the balance contact pin and insulator as well as the contact flag must also be without any significant wear or erosion.
One last thing: Jim, it will be appreciated if you could post photos of your 4-glass model here for documentation purposes. We will look forward to seeing the photos.
