Where to buy old-style carbon-zinc batteries?

Don't know about USA, but they are freely available here - have you Googled?

 

Instead of using a zinc-carbon "C" size flashlight cell in your Queen Ann Schatz clock, I would suggest substituting an alkaline "AA" size cell. It is the same length but would require a sleeve of wood, plastic or paper so as to be retained by the larger holder clips.

The AA alkaline cell weighs about one ounce and would require a little slug of solder or other material to equal the mass of the "C" size zinc-carbon cell.

I think if you search for an equivalent Ampere-Hour or Watt-Hour dry cell chart, you will likely find the AA alkaline cell has a significant amount of power for the clock and resists leakage when depleted.

 

You can buy AA-Cell to D-Cell Adapters/Converters even at Amazon.com (not a cheap but elegant solution).

Regards from Germany, where you can buy D-Cells at the store just around the corner
Hartmut

 

Wasn't it a "C", not a "D", that the OP required?

 

Ok, Mike. C-Cell. But you can get AA to C-Cell Adapters as well because these cells have almost the same height.

 

Look here.

bangster

 

Hi Bang
These may not work. I think he needs the older C-Zn cells
that don't have the protective cases. The ones that the
zinc was the outside shell and had paper covers.
Most newer cells have added weight to protect from leakage.
Tinker Dwight

 

Try Googling "Carbon-Zinc Batteries" and see what comes up. Maybe something better'n my suggestion.

 

Chris: places like CVS & Walgreens should also sell plain batteries if I'm not mistaken. Look for the packages that don't say "alkaline." Since we can't buy mercury batteries any more, and they sure don't make AAA, AA, C & D in the composition of the small button batteries, if its not rechargable, or alkaline it has to be carbon-zinc.

 

Hi
You missed my point. It is not just C-Zn. It must also
have the right weight. Newer C-Zn cells are wrapped
in a metal protective layer. The cells originally used
only had a thin cardboard layer covering the zinc
electrode. Newer cells will be heavier.
Tinker Dwight

 

Hi Tinker: While I'm not quite as old as dirt yet, I never have seen a carbon zinc battery that came without a metal shell in AA, C or D size. Just recently I opened an old flashlight found in my mothers home that had Everready(Sp) batterys which had deteriorated and they had the "Nine LIves" slogan and a metal shell. Sorry for the confusion.

 

Hello Tinker,
so what's about my suggestion to use "C-sized Adapter Shells for AA Battery" (this is a product name at amazon.com)? You can add some metal parts until the weight fits. AA cells are only about 1mm longer than C-Cells.

 

Hi
That is what I'd try. The only additional problem is surge
current. C-Zn cells provide a higher surge that may be needed
for the clock than alkaline.
If that were a problem, one could add a small supper cap
to it as well. I've seen 0.5 farrads at 3 volts someplace
for a few dollars.
One might still need to add weight to get it within adjustment
range. If so, try to add weight evenly around the cell. The distance
from the fulcrum makes a difference.
Tinker Dwight

 

Hello Tinker,
in general the internal resistant of a Carbon-Zink battrey is about 3 -times higher than that of an alkaline battery (of the same size of course). So using an AA size alkaline cell is comparable to using a C size C-Zn cell. Nevertheless it is a good idea to add a big capacitor in parallel to the battery, to compensate the increasing internal resistant during the lifetime of the battery. But keep in mind that the spark of the contact might alos increase and that there should be a spark suppression resistor in parallel to the coil (about 10 times the resistant of the coil).

Regards
Hartmut