Vintage Westclox transistorized clock. Won't run. Can it be fixed?

[@WhatsUpLand]

After overthinking and fretting my transistorized clock repair, I watched this video and then lubricated the pivots to restore functionality of a vintage Seth Thomas clock of mine. Thank you for this.

[@jazbell7]

I have a Seth Thomas clock of that vintage with the same mechanism for the hands. It belonged to my wife's parents and hung over the fireplace mantle. Mine still works fine after 50 or more years. I suspect yours got dirty in a kitchen. An active kitchen is actually filthy, grease, flour dust, smoke etc.

[@AThreeDogNight]

Nice score, again. Liked the inner workings, looks kind of like the old watches, except they were so darn tiny. Took several apart years ago just to see the inner workings, was amazed with all the tiny parts.

[@12voltvids]

I had a timex electric as a kid. Same type of mechanism. Took it apart. Never went back together.

[@nickfrench7372]

Thanks for this video,very interesting seeing a clock more than 50 years old being restored to it,s former glory after lubricating the mechanism,very similar to a wind up clock,but powered by a single size c battery.

[@Joetechlincolns]

I have a clock on the wall with that same style mechanism. It has been in the house I grew up in since I was born. Thirty nine years later and it's still ticking away. Batteries replaced over the years of couse.

[@Wenlocktvdx]

Nice repair and an interesting clock. Mom and I collect clocks and I've had to fix a few. One had corrosion where fingers from the battery compartment touch the circuit board. Another was a pendulum clock that had crystals on the three fingers that take power to the pendulum circuit and to a lesser extend on the circuit board. Another had little motor that runs a half turn at a time, it was stalled due to hairs wound around the rotor. I managed to get them out with sewing needle. There was a china figurine clock that was jammed. Just a push on the second hand, it came free and has run ever since. Whatever jammed it must have fallen out and to the bottom of the movement case. We have so many miniatures that daylight saving is a real chore and I usually end up with a pile of dead batteries into the bargain.

[@Wenlocktvdx]

I wonder. We have a few chiming clocks including an antique Gilbert which has key from an Ansonia. US made clocks were a common import way back when.

[@nor4277]

Have the same problem I have so many clocks to set twice a year,I buy bulk batteries on ebay .

[@12voltvids]

@@nor4277 The sooner we get rid of daylight savings time the better.

[@nor4277]

@@12voltvids nobody likes setting there clocks twice a year ,and I have a few things to reset .I agree with you

[@Wenlocktvdx]

I have two boxes I organise my batteries in, various button types, N size, AA, AAA. We used to have a Westclox on the kitchen wall back in London UK.

[@RODALCO2007]

Interesting rare WestcloX movement with full metal gears. Similar balance wheels were used in later clocks with a different drive arrangement via a two turn worm type of drive and all plastic gears.

[@ngmtk7t]

Neat mechanism. Like others here, this design concept is new to me. Since you don’t want to disassemble the works further, you could drop the whole thing into an ultrasonic cleaner. That’ll thoroughly clean out of the works without further disassembly. Then add lube, re-install and you’re good!

[@brianday6433]

I worked for Westclox in the70s. I've never seen this model. My plant was still making the windup "Big Ben" and "Baby Ben" alarm clocks. I built a complete clock from parts I picked up around the plant. It had Lexan front and back with brass standoffs on 4 corners and a brass screw over the balance wheel. It was meant to be a test for the spring on balance wheel and escapements. On the last day before the shutdown, an engineer came and took it from my desk!

[@12voltvids]

I have only seen one of these clocks. This one! I have never seen another one anywhere and i collect old time pieces. I have a friend that is a jeweler that also has never seen one but he is more into the Swiss and German movements. This one was in my grandmother's house. I have no idea where it came from but it was from 65 or 66. When she passed it was put in a box at my parents place where I found it not working. It still works today and a single c battery lasts forever. It's mounted on the wall in my hallway and it keeps very good time. About 1 minute a month.

[@brianday6433]

@@12voltvids Westclox had several plants scattered all over the south. Each one made a different style. I worked for about 2 weeks in the Charlotte NC plant where they made automobile clocks. They had a very similar movement. I got 1 made to replace the one in my 66 Chevelle. It ran for a few minutes then you could hear a slight pop as it wound itself up.

[@12voltvids]

@@brianday6433 this doesn't wind itself. That is different. This one uses an electromagnet to kick the Ballance wheel. I have a couple of the the self winding models that use a motor to wind a spring and it cycles about every 20 minutes.

[@hinduhamesa]

I really loved to watch the video. Good and thorough information given. I too have one movement like this. It is made in Japan.I don't know the company, but it is working well.

[@glenngoodale1709]

One of the best parts of your videos is the stories you tell .....

[@infinitecanadian]

What a well built clock! Mostly metal. Boy I wish they still made these.

[@zx8401ztv]

Smashing quick fix :-D That's a very unusual design, a rare clock made one year before me. I'm wondering if westclox made the big railway clocks on the platforms, i remember the name but my memory offers nothing else. I would make it slightly fast, as being somewhere slightly early is fine :-)

[@thegregolahorologyclub6799]

It's not quite "rare" although it is unusual. As for railway platform clocks, they never made them. They made the "Big Ben" and "Baby Ben" alarm clocks, along with countless other styles of clocks.

[@DeadKoby]

Mechanical stuff is so cool. That's why I bought and keep a Grandfather clock in the house. There's just something neat about the clockwork.

[@danebeck7900]

This is really cool, I've never seen an electromagnetic balance wheel in a mechanical clock before. It would be cool to tap into the transistor circuit with an oscilloscope and tune the clock frequency that way.

[@brucemoyle7610]

Finally! Someone on YT who respects a battery movement, and didn't just butcher the clock with a new bit of quartz junk.

[@12voltvids]

This vintage unit used to hang in my grandmother's house. I inherited it. It keeps perfect time. Actually more accurate then a quartz clock. About 15 seconds a month.

[@pixelflow]

Transistorized balanced movements are the best

[@LazoeJSCREI]

I have an alarm clock with the same type of mechanism, made over here in Europe by Junghans. One transistor and electromagnet. The sound is really the most unique and cool thing about it, a really bass-heavy mechanical clunking, doesn't sound at all like yours. Doesn't have that high pitch rubbing sound. It's got to be from the time quartz mechanism were really new, it seems like the same clock could've been fitted with a quartz or the mechanical system because there's a cutout on the back for "quartz start / stop" lever and below it says for the mechanical model to shake it for starting.

[@12voltvids]

Yes this one will start by shaking too, or pull the time set knob and release it and it kicks the mech.

[@macgvrs]

Back in the 70's, and later, we would have thought that to be just a cheap little clock. Most likely, most of them got tossed when they stopped working which would be why there aren't many around any more. Compared to the cheap little clocks with plastic mechanisms we now have, that was well made, and still working after all this time. Very neat.

[@12voltvids]

And that is the attraction. When this was on the wall over the kitchen table at my grandmothers house I thought nothing of it. I had a diehl electro clock which I thought was much cooler. It uses a motor to wind a spring, and a mechanical arm pulls one of the brushes in the motor away from the armature to turn the motor on and off. Now looking back this one is way cooler. Induction coil to trigger a transistor which dumps a small charge in a capacitor back into the coil that in turn kicks the balance wheel and keeps it running. Most of these were scrapped years ago. Either when the slowed down due to bearings drying out or because people thought they were cheap tacky clocks from the 60s. The ones that are still around command quite a high price. When you think about it there is little if anything to go wrong other than getting gummed up. The parts are brass and steel. Not going to warp or deteriorate like plastic. This thing is 2 years younger than me and will probably outlive me if cared for.

[@nickfrench7372]

And I hope the time stays on track in the next few days after the ticking speed adjustment,very nice to see a working,magnetic balance wheel and cog mechanism too.

[@12voltvids]

Been running almost a year now. Just changed the battery last week when it just stopped. Measures the battery voltage 0.5 volts. New battery and it started right up. It was that Panasonic carbon zinc I showed in the video. An alkaline would have probably run a couple of years but I have some old carbon batteries to use up. It loses about 30 seconds a month. That is quartz clock accuracy. For a mechanical clock made 55 years ago is pretty amazing considering it sat for about 20 years in a drawer not running.

[@nickfrench7372]

@@12voltvids Wow,a carbon zinc battery almost flat as it showed only 0.5 volts. Alkaline batteries are a lot better as they last a lot longer,as I have alkaline batteries in everything I use here on portable power,never really had used a zinc carbon type battery. Good how that clock does really keep the time so well in a month,without falling behind other clocks. To me it will probably keep going as long as u do,,not bad for a 55 year old clock that still works restored like new,after 20 years stored away in a drawer. Not bad how it only loses 30 seconds a month. One of my friends has a clock that may b over 40 years old and it still goes like a new one. It does run from a size c battery.

[@markanderson350]

I have seen a few at Goodwill's over the years and sold them. Some had German movements too. I never really thought of how they worked though. I think some have a mainspring that re winds every few minutes.

[@alvenhchanne]

I just watched this video because I have a clock from 1970 with the exact same ATO movement with the same problem.

[@hectorpinto5683]

Thank u so mch for uploading this video.I too hv a transistor clock, just purchased in December 2022 n it’s approximately 50 yrs old.Just wanted some info on how to regulate the speed of d clock, n you have given it to me.Thank u so mch

[@12voltvids]

With careful calibration this is as accurate as a quartz. Mine is better than 30 seconds a month now.

[@JL-yi1fx]

Mine had an intermittent coil between the magnet wheels as well a lubrication issues . The coil would open and then close the circuit intermittently . I had to rewind the coil to get mine working . I teplaced the 2 electrolytic pulse capacitors ( 0.47 ufd and 10 ufd ) since they were so old just for good measure too . Refurbishing the open coil issue was a nightmare endeavor . I had to make a coil form , unwind the defective coil and then rewind it on the coil form I had made . Fortunately the break was close to the end of the coil . It worked though .

[@electroniquepassion]

👍👍🇫🇷👍👍 Electronic Passion from France

[@marcholbeck3286]

The problem with most of these type of clocks is a lack of lubrication. Most people just run them into the ground,ignorant of the fact they need periodic maintenance,as does any mechanical clock.

[@QoraxAudio]

I'm into electronics and love mechanical timepieces, so this clock is very cool IMO

[@12voltvids]

And it keeps pretty much perfect time. As accurate as any quartz. Gains less than 1 minute a month.

[@QoraxAudio]

@@12voltvids Nice, recently I finished my nixie clock, which has a quartz oscillator inside. It is a cheap chinese crystal I bought from some random hongkong guy on ebay, so my nixie clock is even less accurate than your non-quartz clock! About 30 seconds/day inaccuracy, so I'm thinking of replacing it with al RTC chip that has built in flipflops to devide into seconds and some temperature correction. At the moment, it is mostly made out of discrete components, because I like to tinker around with it, instead of some pre-made all in one driver ICs.

[@12voltvids]

@@QoraxAudio my least accurate clicks are both Nixie tube clocks. One was a 4 digit cheap one bought off tindie and the other was a very expensive one out if the UK. Most accurate of the ones I have built the numitron and the led with all the LEDs that change colour around the display a kit out of Switzerland. The 2 VFD clock kits out of Japan are also good. The very best as far as accuracy the Heathkit panaex plasma clock because it is AC operated and counts the AC line frequency. The AC line frequency is very accurate as power companies have to keep the frequency and phase locked or it would cause big time problems when generating stations are switched in and out of the grid.

[@QoraxAudio]

@@12voltvids Well then at least I'm not the only one with an expensive and inaccurate nixie clock 😜 Somehow, nearly all my home made projects always become more expensive than their mass produced counterparts (even with single layer PCBs, which I can make at home). I've never built an electronics kit, but I've seen the Heathkits on KZbin a few times, those look very decent.

[@12voltvids]

@@QoraxAudio It is always more expensive to build a kit. Some of the more expensive kits are vacuum tube amplifiers. One of the ones I built on my channel a few years ago was over 1000.00 for a box that contained a PC board some bent metal cabinet parts and a bag full of parts. I could have bought a full features home theatre amp with multiple channels, 120 watts per channel for less. This thing puts out 9 watts per channel, or 3 in triode mode. Very low power, but the sound is fantastic, and there is the satisfaction if building yourself. When your friends come over and they see a little amp with tubes glowing they say wow, where did you get that and you can said "I built it"!

[@EldaLuna]

that is really crazy. its like hybrid of a windup clock but powered as if its a quarts clock. ive never seen anything like that yet. aha (sorry for being late just been busy)

[@jorgenavarrete4815]

Did you oil both ends of the pívot? Because I have one líke yours, I only oiled the opposite side to spring because I'm affraid to oil the spring and I can't get it running slower, Can you give me dime tip? Thanks

[@12voltvids]

Yes I did. I did not remove the spring. I put a tiny drop of oil on a needle and vary carefully placed the smallest amount on the end with the spring. That clock works perfectly today. It is hanging up on the wall outside my office and it keeps remarkably good time. Within 1 minute a month. Not bad for a clock that is almost as old as I am.

[@michaelturner4457]

Will there an update in 24 or 48 hours, about the timekeeping?

[@12voltvids]

I will be tracking it over the next few days and tweaking it to get the timing right. So far it is keeping pretty accurate time. Will know in 24 hours.

[@SinsBird]

@@12voltvids You can also try WildSpectra Mobile Lite app for android. It will show right away if the clock is going fast or slow or if it's speed is constantly changing.

[@markmarkofkane8167]

Cool! It's like a battery operated mechanical clock! The regulator (with the fast and slow adjuster) is like what is used in spring powered watches. BTW, do you use clock oil, or something like 3 in 1 oil?

[@12voltvids]

I just used 3n1 electric motor oil. I got that tip from an old jeweler and clock/watch maker. (Old swiss guy that ran a clock shop) I was working in his store many years ago fixing his video surveillance system. Recorded onto a time lapse VHS tape. In his shop he had many bottles of 3n1 electric motor oil he was using on mechanical clocks. I asked him why he didn't use special oil and he words were. It's the same. Oil is oil. Automotive engine oil is different. It has detergent and will damage a clock but 3n1 electric motor oil is the perfect viscosity for mechanical clocks. It is straight 20 weight pure oil with no additives. Exactly what is needed to lubricate these mechanisms. I figure if an old swiss watch / clock maker who spent his entire career building clocks by hand (he did that when he lived in Switzerland) said it was good then I take him at his word. I found a grandfather clock at the side of the road about 9 years ago and it wouldn't run. I took it all apart and oiled it with same oil. Still working today. This was before I started the channel so I didn't film the procedure and I am kicking myself for not documenting it back then.

[@markmarkofkane8167]

Thanks!!

[@williamsquires3070]

I suppose you could always hook this up to an OCXO and 74LS90/92 divide-by-N counters and use that to fire the coil! 😎

[@aneeshvasudevan3033]

I have a this type of clock. But the transistor leg rested and brocked. Please give the transistor details that is easily available in market

[@12voltvids]

Have no idea and not taking mine apart to check.

[@nor4277]

Do you think a high detergent oil ,like marvel mystery oil would work on.this kind of problem ,now days you can get a quartz clock motor for under two dollars,on ebay,in many different sizes ,I am amazed,you fix it so fast ,haven't seen motor like that in a long time ,great video and repair.

[@12voltvids]

The oil I used was very light non detergent oil. I have never opened one of these before. I have a few that have a DC motor that winds the main spring.

[@nor4277]

@@12voltvids I think your clock repair was a great save,zI would have taken the easy way out and spent two dollars for a quartz motor,but I understand why you save that one it has family history,I dont think I have ever seen you fail to repair something ,I watch and I learn from you thanks.

[@12voltvids]

@@nor4277 Not so much for family history, but to preserve the technology that made these unique, and today quite rare. It's like an old synchronous motor electric. Sure one could put in a quartz movement. They even have them now with a sweep second hand, but they are not the same. Heathkit have their new clock out, first one in 40 years. Looks vert similar to the panaplex clock including the orange LEDs, but it is not a panaplex display. The old panaplex display holds a much higher value to me. Part of the experience with this old clock is the sound it makes. The ticking of the regulator is distinct and shouts "I'm different, listen to me" from across the room. Totally different than the click, click' click every second of a traditional quartz movement.. The workmanship of those brass gears in the movement is also something you will never again see.

[@nor4277]

@@12voltvids I remember the watch that used a tuneing fork ,acutron ,I think I loved that watch,I think it had a sweep second ,I also went broke buying one of the first l.e.d watches and one of the first lcd watches,I just check my stuff a friend gave me clock motor like yours ,I have no Idea what I could do with it . The clock kits the v.a. gives there vets are all quartz motors ,My latest thing is collecting a few tube radios and trying to repair them ,I try to buy when I can afford them restored tube radios, but I love watching you fix them ,you have repaired some nice ones,I am sure your fans live those too ,I love those videos thr best.

[@yusufalirowtherHayan]

Can you give the transistor number used in this circuit?

[@12voltvids]

No. It would be a gernamium for sure as silicon transistor had not been devoloped.

[@cretan911]

neat

[@jasonhumphries]

what oil do you use

[@12voltvids]

Non detergent 3 in 1 electric motor oil.

[@bbmlukastudio]

幾つかコンデンサがあるはずなので、恐らくそれらが故障しています。 抵抗も計測してください。駄目なら交換です

[@MrRadiobeacon]

Hatot system, aka ATO

[@jasonthejawman5442]

Better than the Chinese junk you buy today I like cool 60's stuff made better

[@LiLi-or2gm]

Ohh, Hocus Pocus by Focus- an all time fav of mine!! Here's a slightly different live version: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aYClq6iEm693hKc (You can thank me later ; ) )

[@12voltvids]

This is what happens when rock musicians thing they can play Jazz. They do however get better. I have a performance by Jan Ackerman and he can indeed play jazz. Killed it at the North Sea Jazz Fest 2011. kzbin.info/www/bejne/momYnnyfnbF1aM0

[@shaun9107]

If I can get one of these clocks . Providing it looks reasonable . Quarts are crap and they are FAKE , all of them are now

[@dieterkolb898]

Alo ein Uhrenmacher bist du nicht wenn ich dein WERKZEUG anschaue das gehört einem AUTOmechaniker

[@infinitecanadian]

The cheap plasticky Chinese clocks would not last nearly as long as this.

[@12voltvids]

We call those BPC or black plastic crap.

[@infinitecanadian]

@@12voltvids Ha! That's a good one.