Neon Lighted Tower Clock

[ElectricTime]

From our archives (maybe 1940's/1950's) - a 10' diameter tower clock for Dawson Ale and Beer - located on South Huntington Avenue - Boston, Massachusetts USA - Neon-lighted clock hands and dial markings. I believe our #4 Tower Clock Movement.

 

[PatH]

Great picture with the clock/sign seeming to float in the dark. Thanks for sharing it!

 

[Schatznut]

That is an awesome photograph - a still cut from film noir.

 

[Robert Gift]

From our archives (maybe 1940's/1950's) - a 10' diameter tower clock for Dawson Ale and Beer - located on South Huntington Avenue - Boston, Massachusetts USA - Neon-lighted clock hands and dial markings. I believe our #4 Tower Clock Movement.

View attachment 724163

How did they get the high voltage to the moving hands?
Commutators and high voltage carried inside the stems of the hands?

Or was it done with many stationary neon tubes switched on and off?

Thank you.

 

[ElectricTime]

How did they get the high voltage to the moving hands?
Commutators and high voltage carried inside the stems of the hands?

Or was it done with many stationary neon tubes switched on and off?

Thank you.

Carbon brushes and polished brass slip rings (part of a commutator) - 115VAC was brought to the clock hands which then feed neon step-up transformers also used as counterbalance weights on the tails. We still make Illuminated tower clock hands albeit with LEDs and DC power supplies (which are much lighter and more efficient).

 

[Robert Gift]

Carbon brushes and polished brass slip rings (part of a commutator) - 115VAC was brought to the clock hands which then feed neon step-up transformers also used as counterbalance weights on the tails. We still make Illuminated tower clock hands albeit with LEDs and DC power supplies (which are much lighter and more efficient).

Thank you.
I prefer neon, though theon glass tubes are vulnerable to hail, etc.
Clever use of theavy high voltage transformers as counterweights!

 

[Raymond101]

Who repairs the tubes .. ?
That must be a challenge.

 

[Robert Gift]

Who repairs the tubes .. ?
That must be a challenge.

If there are still neon companies around, they can replace the tubes fairly easily witheir equipment and experienced personnel. Manyears ago I visited a neon sign shop.
Assume thathey are now doing everything in LED. No morexpen$ive transformers making dangerous high voltages.

At a thrift store just found a SHELL Oil quartz clock witheon tube around the dial.
No transformer so need to make one I have, work. Probably 12 VDC to thelectronicircuit inside which generates the high voltage for the tube. (Actually not neon. Likely has mercuryapor which produces UV light which makes a phosphor powder coating the inside tube fluoresce.)