Repairs Archives - All About Time Clock Repair

Installing the hands to the tower clock

Posted on December 7, 2014 by Frank

Finally got the tower clock hands back from the powder coating company. Installed them this afternoon. I love these kinds of jobs!

This one is a four faced clock powered by a single, central motor that drives the four smaller gearboxes. I repaired this one before, back in 1983.

Tower Clock is power washed

Posted on November 5, 2014 by Frank

Four faced tower clock on Hayden Road north of Thomas. Taking all four sets of hands off to be power washed and then powder coated. I’ll post pictures of the completed project. Stay tuned.

Ratio gears are fixed and clock is back in operation

Posted on October 27, 2014 by Frank

Hands and ratio gearing are back on after straightening the bent shaft.

Seems to be doing fine.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DO1lBDX7K_I[/youtube]

The view from the left side between the plates shows a large chrome cylinder or barrel that houses the mainspring. Above it is the more conical shaped cable drum that, together, comprise the “fusee” powertrain. The fusee was invented long ago to provide more consistent power from the mainspring throughout the winding cycle. Mainsprings tend to impart more power when they are fully wound, then lose power as they unwind. The fusee compensates for this. More consistent power results in more accurate timekeeping.

Office clock as control

Posted on October 23, 2014 by Frank

The small “office” clock over the control switch allows the tower clock to be set without having to actually have the tower clock in the line of sight. What is shown on the office clock is what the tower clock will display (assuming I did it right!)

Old movement versus new movement.

Posted on October 22, 2014 by Frank

Challenging tower clock repair

Posted on October 22, 2014 by Frank

This certainly isn’t the tallest or most challenging tower clock I’ve repaired, but it’s another one under my belt. This one is in Mesa, AZ, in an old shopping center that is undergoing renovation. The center was originally built in the 60’s.

Repairing a bent shaft on a clock

Posted on October 7, 2014 by Frank

Is this a cool clock or what??!! The hands are off because I repaired the bent shaft and I’m testing it. I’ll post a video or pic with the hands on later if my repairs were successful.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGC53DElu54[/youtube]

Creating a custom part

Posted on January 8, 2014 by Frank

Making the new axle pin for the pulley. Start with a raw piece of steel rod and turn it into a custom part.

Clock weight pulley repairs

Posted on January 6, 2014 by Frank

First pic shows a badly worn clock weight pulley strap. Next are the bushings I made for the repair. The last pic shows partial assembly. I’m really having fun making use of my newly acquired machining equipment.

My Very First Tower Clock

Posted on July 9, 2013 by Frank

My Very First Tower Clock. Here’s a photo I dug up that was taken back in 1978. At the time, I was the service manager for Ted’s Clock Emporium in Glendale, California. (you can read more about that on my “About” page on my website). The local newspaper must have been having slow news day so they came and did a human interest piece on Ted’s. Yes, that’s me standing precariously on the rails. You can’t see it in the picture, but under my smock is a safety harness.

The story behind this clock is that the movement was originally from a bank building that was destroyed in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. The Mall developer had a new “tower” built for it near the food court. It had been motorized for automatic winding and not long afterwards, it started giving them trouble. Ted’s had a store located in the mall so we were the ones management called to repair it. This was truly “learning on the job” for me.

I chuckle every time I read the caption under the picture, “All repair work is done on Ted’s premises”. Clearly this one wouldn’t have fit on my bench!!

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