Elderly relative handed me an electric clock at Xmas and said, "Can
you make this work?"

Picture he

http://i49.tinypic.com/dg6ia0.jpg

http://i50.tinypic.com/20ie1af.jpg

Those pins are approx 1cm long, 13mm apart and 3mm in diameter.

Does anyone know whether a suitable connector for those pins is still
available / what it's called / where it might be bought?

If it's possible to source the right lead, is there any reason that it
mightn't be safe to use? Is there anything in there that might have
decayed over the years?

Thanks in advance for any info.

On Tue, 25 Dec 2012 11:36:46 -0800 (PST), mike
wrote:

Elderly relative handed me an electric clock at Xmas and said, "Can
you make this work?"

Picture he

http://i49.tinypic.com/dg6ia0.jpg

http://i50.tinypic.com/20ie1af.jpg

Those pins are approx 1cm long, 13mm apart and 3mm in diameter.

Does anyone know whether a suitable connector for those pins is still
available / what it's called / where it might be bought?

If it's possible to source the right lead, is there any reason that it
mightn't be safe to use? Is there anything in there that might have
decayed over the years?

Thanks in advance for any info.

Pretty sure it's a standard 5A female connecter, like these

http://compare.ebay.co.uk/like/26073...ype=pla&crdt=0

http://www.romark.co.uk/itemdisplay.asp?item=EL172.jpg

Something like that is intrinsically pretty safe, I wouldn't worry
unless offering it for sale.

Incidentally there is a knack in starting those synchronous motors,
without a kick-starter, you can get it to run backwards and even at
double speed.



--
Graham.
%Profound_observation%

In message , Graham.
writes
On Tue, 25 Dec 2012 11:36:46 -0800 (PST), mike
wrote:

Elderly relative handed me an electric clock at Xmas and said, "Can
you make this work?"

Picture he

http://i49.tinypic.com/dg6ia0.jpg

http://i50.tinypic.com/20ie1af.jpg

Those pins are approx 1cm long, 13mm apart and 3mm in diameter.

Does anyone know whether a suitable connector for those pins is still
available / what it's called / where it might be bought?

If it's possible to source the right lead, is there any reason that it
mightn't be safe to use? Is there anything in there that might have
decayed over the years?

Thanks in advance for any info.

Pretty sure it's a standard 5A female connecter, like these

http://compare.ebay.co.uk/like/26073...lFixedPriceIte
mTypes&var=sbar&adtype=pla&crdt=0

http://www.romark.co.uk/itemdisplay.asp?item=EL172.jpg

Something like that is intrinsically pretty safe, I wouldn't worry
unless offering it for sale.

Incidentally there is a knack in starting those synchronous motors,
without a kick-starter, you can get it to run backwards and even at
double speed.

Look at the Op's picture carefully ...

--
geoff

Incidentally there is a knack in starting those synchronous motors,
without a kick-starter, you can get it to run backwards and even at
double speed.


Look at the Op's picture carefully ...

I'm not 100% sure what you are getting at, but let me explain further

Here is my clock, similar, but perhaps a later design.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/g3zvt/8...ream/lightbox/

The "turn slowly" knob is what I'm calling the kick starter it gives
the motor a kick with a spring loaded pawl and with a little luck it
keeps going. It cannot be rotated backwards and it cannot impart
sufficient force to make the motor run at 2X.

On the OPs clock the "roll knob" is actually the spindle of the
synchronous motor itself.

--
Graham.
%Profound_observation%

On 25/12/12 19:36, mike wrote:
Elderly relative handed me an electric clock at Xmas and said, "Can
you make this work?"

Picture he

http://i49.tinypic.com/dg6ia0.jpg

http://i50.tinypic.com/20ie1af.jpg

Those pins are approx 1cm long, 13mm apart and 3mm in diameter.

Does anyone know whether a suitable connector for those pins is still
available / what it's called / where it might be bought?

If it's possible to source the right lead, is there any reason that it
mightn't be safe to use? Is there anything in there that might have
decayed over the years?

Thanks in advance for any info.



http://lespook.wordpress.com/synchro.../#comment-3180

may help.

On 25/12/2012 19:36, mike wrote:
Elderly relative handed me an electric clock at Xmas and said, "Can
you make this work?"

Picture he

http://i49.tinypic.com/dg6ia0.jpg

http://i50.tinypic.com/20ie1af.jpg

Those pins are approx 1cm long, 13mm apart and 3mm in diameter.

Does anyone know whether a suitable connector for those pins is still
available / what it's called / where it might be bought?

If it's possible to source the right lead, is there any reason that it
mightn't be safe to use? Is there anything in there that might have
decayed over the years?

The thing that would concern me is if it is electrically safe given the
age. I might be being very pessimistic but if someone were injured or it
caught fire then I would not want it on my conscience.



--
Regards Peter Crosland

"Peter Crosland" wrote in message
o.uk...
On 25/12/2012 19:36, mike wrote:
Elderly relative handed me an electric clock at Xmas and said, "Can
you make this work?"

Picture he

http://i49.tinypic.com/dg6ia0.jpg

http://i50.tinypic.com/20ie1af.jpg

Those pins are approx 1cm long, 13mm apart and 3mm in diameter.

Does anyone know whether a suitable connector for those pins is still
available / what it's called / where it might be bought?

If it's possible to source the right lead, is there any reason that it
mightn't be safe to use? Is there anything in there that might have
decayed over the years?

The thing that would concern me is if it is electrically safe given the
age. I might be being very pessimistic but if someone were injured or it
caught fire then I would not want it on my conscience.

Its not hard to check that its electrically safe.

On 25/12/2012 22:25, Rod Speed wrote:


"Peter Crosland" wrote in message
o.uk...
On 25/12/2012 19:36, mike wrote:
Elderly relative handed me an electric clock at Xmas and said, "Can
you make this work?"

Picture he

http://i49.tinypic.com/dg6ia0.jpg

http://i50.tinypic.com/20ie1af.jpg

Those pins are approx 1cm long, 13mm apart and 3mm in diameter.

Does anyone know whether a suitable connector for those pins is still
available / what it's called / where it might be bought?

If it's possible to source the right lead, is there any reason that it
mightn't be safe to use? Is there anything in there that might have
decayed over the years?

The thing that would concern me is if it is electrically safe given
the age. I might be being very pessimistic but if someone were injured
or it caught fire then I would not want it on my conscience.

Its not hard to check that its electrically safe.

Assuming that the OP has access to the test gear and knows how to use
it. The fact that he asked suggests that he might not. It would be
foolish not to get it tested before expending money on a new plug and
cable.

--
Regards Peter Crosland

"Peter Crosland" wrote in message
...
On 25/12/2012 22:25, Rod Speed wrote:


"Peter Crosland" wrote in message
o.uk...
On 25/12/2012 19:36, mike wrote:
Elderly relative handed me an electric clock at Xmas and said, "Can
you make this work?"

Picture he

http://i49.tinypic.com/dg6ia0.jpg

http://i50.tinypic.com/20ie1af.jpg

Those pins are approx 1cm long, 13mm apart and 3mm in diameter.

Does anyone know whether a suitable connector for those pins is still
available / what it's called / where it might be bought?

If it's possible to source the right lead, is there any reason that it
mightn't be safe to use? Is there anything in there that might have
decayed over the years?

The thing that would concern me is if it is electrically safe given
the age. I might be being very pessimistic but if someone were injured
or it caught fire then I would not want it on my conscience.

Its not hard to check that its electrically safe.

Assuming that the OP has access to the test gear and knows how to use it.

Nope, its easy enough to do a visual inspection and fix
anything that looks like it might be electrically unsafe.

Stuff of that vintage isnt normally double insulated,
so all you really need to do is make sure the exposed
metal is connected to the earth line in the cable if it
has one or just ensure that nothing is likely to come
off an make any exposed metal live if it isnt earthed.

The fact that he asked suggests that he might not. It would be foolish not
to get it tested before expending money on a new plug and cable.

Easy enough to inspect it visually. Its unlikely to
be electrically unsafe if it looks fine and it can
always be tested if you are mindlessly paranoid.

On 25/12/2012 23:57, Rod Speed wrote:


"Peter Crosland" wrote in message
...
On 25/12/2012 22:25, Rod Speed wrote:


"Peter Crosland" wrote in message
o.uk...
On 25/12/2012 19:36, mike wrote:
Elderly relative handed me an electric clock at Xmas and said, "Can
you make this work?"

Picture he

http://i49.tinypic.com/dg6ia0.jpg

http://i50.tinypic.com/20ie1af.jpg

Those pins are approx 1cm long, 13mm apart and 3mm in diameter.

Does anyone know whether a suitable connector for those pins is still
available / what it's called / where it might be bought?

If it's possible to source the right lead, is there any reason that it
mightn't be safe to use? Is there anything in there that might have
decayed over the years?

The thing that would concern me is if it is electrically safe given
the age. I might be being very pessimistic but if someone were injured
or it caught fire then I would not want it on my conscience.

Its not hard to check that its electrically safe.

Assuming that the OP has access to the test gear and knows how to use it.

Nope, its easy enough to do a visual inspection and fix
anything that looks like it might be electrically unsafe.

Stuff of that vintage isnt normally double insulated,
so all you really need to do is make sure the exposed
metal is connected to the earth line in the cable if it
has one or just ensure that nothing is likely to come
off an make any exposed metal live if it isnt earthed.

The fact that he asked suggests that he might not. It would be foolish
not to get it tested before expending money on a new plug and cable.

Easy enough to inspect it visually. Its unlikely to
be electrically unsafe if it looks fine and it can
always be tested if you are mindlessly paranoid.

You are naive to think that a visual inspection of any mains powered
electrical equipment is sufficient to ensure that it is safe. This is
even more crucial with vintage equipment such as the OP has.
--
Regards Peter Crosland

On 25/12/2012 23:57, Rod Speed wrote:


Easy enough to inspect it visually. Its unlikely to
be electrically unsafe if it looks fine and it can
always be tested if you are mindlessly paranoid.



Isn't it just mains into a motor? Nothing sophisticated and no
electronic components to go wrong.


--
mailto:news{at}admac(dot}myzen{dot}co{dot}uk

I think the weirdest clock I was ever given was what they called an
atmospheric clock. Basically there was some kind of cylinder and a wire that
got hot which expanded the air and the piston went up and pushed an
escarpment, there switches and at least one valve in it and it kept terrible
time!
I gave it to a clock nutter in the 70s.

Brian

--
From the Bed of Brian Gaff.
The email is valid as
Blind user.
"mike" wrote in message
...
Elderly relative handed me an electric clock at Xmas and said, "Can
you make this work?"

Picture he

http://i49.tinypic.com/dg6ia0.jpg

http://i50.tinypic.com/20ie1af.jpg

Those pins are approx 1cm long, 13mm apart and 3mm in diameter.

Does anyone know whether a suitable connector for those pins is still
available / what it's called / where it might be bought?

If it's possible to source the right lead, is there any reason that it
mightn't be safe to use? Is there anything in there that might have
decayed over the years?

Thanks in advance for any info.

On Tue, 25 Dec 2012 23:11:09 +0000, Brian Gaff wrote:

I think the weirdest clock I was ever given was what they called an
atmospheric clock. Basically there was some kind of cylinder and a wire
that got hot which expanded the air and the piston went up and pushed an
escarpment, there switches and at least one valve in it and it kept
terrible time!
I gave it to a clock nutter in the 70s.

Strangest kind of clock I've come across was a Congreve clock. First
found out about them when I read "Trustee from the Toolroom" as a boy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congreve_clock

--
Use the BIG mirror service in the UK:
http://www.mirrorservice.org

*lightning protection* - a w_tom conductor

"Bob Eager" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 25 Dec 2012 23:11:09 +0000, Brian Gaff wrote:

I think the weirdest clock I was ever given was what they called an
atmospheric clock. Basically there was some kind of cylinder and a wire
that got hot which expanded the air and the piston went up and pushed an
escarpment, there switches and at least one valve in it and it kept
terrible time!
I gave it to a clock nutter in the 70s.

Strangest kind of clock I've come across was a Congreve clock. First
found out about them when I read "Trustee from the Toolroom" as a boy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congreve_clock

--
Ah.. a Congreve Rolling Ball clock.
A truly appalling time keeper but fascinating to behold.
I bought a good quality repro about 30 years ago. Still running and always
makes me smile.
Nick

On 26/12/2012 15:21, Nick wrote:
Ah.. a Congreve Rolling Ball clock.
A truly appalling time keeper but fascinating to behold.
I bought a good quality repro about 30 years ago. Still running and always
makes me smile.

I saw one once. Fascinating device. It was for sale... but I didn't
want to pay the thousand quid. (IIRC)

Andy

"Brian Gaff" wrote in message
...
snip
there switches and at least one valve in it, and it kept terrible time!

I gave it to a clock nutter in the 70s.

Wasn't richard branson was it? would explain the running of his train
service perfectly

"Brian Gaff" wrote in message
...
I think the weirdest clock I was ever given was what they called an
atmospheric clock. Basically there was some kind of cylinder and a wire
that got hot which expanded the air and the piston went up and pushed an
escarpment, there switches and at least one valve in it and it kept
terrible time!
I gave it to a clock nutter in the 70s.

Brian

Are you referring to an Atmos clock? Patented by Jean-Leon Reutter in the
late 1920's.
Early clocks were powered by mercury to wind the movement. Ths worked by
temperature changes. LeCoultre took over in about 1935 and redesigned the
clock using an expanding, gas filled, metal bellows to wind the movement.
This works by atmospheric pressure changes. Jaeger-LeCoultre still make
them.
Older clocks are very collectable and highly sought after. They can be
hideously expensive. IIRC J-LC produced a one-off Atmos a few years ago that
sold for $1.8 million. That one contained 2kg of gold and 500 diamonds, not
my style!
I have collected Atmos for many years.

In one of his books, possibly 'The Ascent of Man', Jacob Bronowski refers to
the Atmos clock as the closest thing on earth to perpetual motion.
Fascinating machines. Completely silent with no visible power source. They
will usually operate for up to 20 years between services. As for time
keeping, they are not the best. A well maintained and regulated clock
however can be excellent. I have one that has lost 2 minutes over a five
year period. I start to worry if one of my clocks is more than six hours out
over a twelvemonth.
Nick.

On Tue, 25 Dec 2012 11:36:46 -0800 (PST), mike
wrote:

Elderly relative handed me an electric clock at Xmas and said, "Can
you make this work?"

Picture he

http://i49.tinypic.com/dg6ia0.jpg

http://i50.tinypic.com/20ie1af.jpg

Those pins are approx 1cm long, 13mm apart and 3mm in diameter.

Does anyone know whether a suitable connector for those pins is still
available / what it's called / where it might be bought?

Just use a pair of insulated crocodile clips.
A 1A fuse in the mains plug, and the usual RCD in the CU should
protect you.

--
Frank Erskine

On Wed, 26 Dec 2012 14:13:28 +0000, Frank Erskine
wrote:

On Tue, 25 Dec 2012 11:36:46 -0800 (PST), mike
wrote:

Elderly relative handed me an electric clock at Xmas and said, "Can
you make this work?"

Picture he

http://i49.tinypic.com/dg6ia0.jpg

http://i50.tinypic.com/20ie1af.jpg

Those pins are approx 1cm long, 13mm apart and 3mm in diameter.

Does anyone know whether a suitable connector for those pins is still
available / what it's called / where it might be bought?

Just use a pair of insulated crocodile clips.
A 1A fuse in the mains plug, and the usual RCD in the CU should
protect you.

It also helps if you tell your partner that CPR is best performed to
the rhythm of Stayin' Alive.

--
Graham.
%Profound_observation%

Graham. wrote:
On Wed, 26 Dec 2012 14:13:28 +0000, Frank Erskine
wrote:

On Tue, 25 Dec 2012 11:36:46 -0800 (PST), mike
wrote:

Elderly relative handed me an electric clock at Xmas and said,
"Can you make this work?"

Picture he

http://i49.tinypic.com/dg6ia0.jpg

http://i50.tinypic.com/20ie1af.jpg

Those pins are approx 1cm long, 13mm apart and 3mm in diameter.

Does anyone know whether a suitable connector for those pins is
still available / what it's called / where it might be bought?

Just use a pair of insulated crocodile clips.
A 1A fuse in the mains plug, and the usual RCD in the CU should
protect you.

It also helps if you tell your partner that CPR is best performed to
the rhythm of Stayin' Alive.

Just clamp the croc clips to the nipples.


--
Adam