[Hammarlund] A Hammarlund newbie says hello.

[Barry Hauser]

Hi Craig & gang:

I restored a clock in an HQ-180AC which had a bad motor.  I found a
Telechron alarm clock on the e-place, a simple one for just a few
dollars.  There were just a few variations on the motors in those days,
so it's possible to zero in on an old clock or clock radio that has the
right one.  I forgot the type, but it's one of the popular ones, so that
there is a good chance that a given old Telechron or later GE/Telechron
(GE acquired the company) will match..  There is a two or three letter
code stamped into the motor.  Many of the model numbers of the
GE/Telechron clocks carry a prefix or suffix which matches the motor
type.  

I had to transfer the small gear on the armature shaft from the old
motor, but that wasn't too difficult.  The motor bolted right up to the
mechanism and it also restored the timer function.  The trick is to find
a matching motor that isn't dried out or noisy.  After some use -- and
even some when new -- those synchronous motor clocks used to develop a
low buzz or hum.  The thing is, we got used to it to the point where we
didn't hear it anymore, unless it stopped working or the power failed
when there would be an extra dose of quiet.  Mine hums just a bit -- I
wired in a toggle switch inside the case to shut it off.  

Someone sells a replacement clock, however I understand that it's battery
operated and has no power switching.  It was customary to set the clock
to turn on the receiver about an hour before its intended use to allow it
to warm up fully and stabilize.  Of course, you can do that manually. 
The later HQ-180's kept the filaments of two of the tubes on even when
the power switch or clock timer was off.

If you search the web for "Telechron", you'll learn more than you want to
know about these things.  Last time I looked, there was a guy who
actually rebuilds the motors with selected parts of other motors.  The
price was quite high.  You can still buy an AC synchronous motor clock in
Walgreens for a few dollars, however they are not made the same way --
mostly all plastic, with a few bits of metal -- the motor is integral to
the plastic frame.  I started to re-engineer one before I came across the
old telechron.

Barry








On Sun, 14 Dec 2003 18:32:17 -0500 "Craig Roberts" <crgrbrts@verizon.net>
writes:
> Hiya fellas!
> 
> I've just purchased an HQ-170A as a winter restoration project. It's 
> my very
> first Hammarlund (I've wanted one since I was a novice back in the 
> early
> '60's) and am anxious to get to work on it.  It's alive, but needs a 
> lot of
> cleaning and cosmetic refurbishing and -- probably -- a few 
> components to
> bring it back to specs. As it is, all functions, uhh, function 
> though it's a
> bit noisier and a little less sensitive than my Collins 75S-3. Most
> under-chassis components, including the caps, appear to be original 
> and most
> of the tubes are Hammarlund branded, so this old gal's held up 
> pretty well.
> Some re-capping and re-tubing may be in order. The chassis is filty, 
> but
> there is no corrosion anywhere and it cleans up very nicely with a 
> little
> Green Stuff and elbow grease. One weld on the cabinet has let loose 
> and the
> case needs repainting, but it's undented and complete.  The bezel's
> scratched up and the front panel needs to be touched up in a couple 
> of
> places, but the front largely in good, original condition.  And -- 
> all the
> knobs are original and intact -- except one.
> 
> And that leads me to my first "want list".
> 
> The only knob that's missing is the little guy on the switch under 
> the
> (inoperative) clock.  Does anyone know a source of this knob and, 
> for that
> matter, repair of the Telechron clock itself? (I'm sure that's a 
> question
> asked very frequently). I've ordered a new cover for the timepiece, 
> but
> would like to get the clock operating, if possible.
> 
> Also, does anyone sell cabinet hardware? Most of the original 
> hardware has
> apparently been lost. I'm sure I can assemble a set, but I thought 
> that
> original bits might be available from someone.
> 
> I also need a few tube shields, though a check on Ebay might yield 
> some.
> 
> Anyway, I just wanted to introduce myself and ask about parts sources 
> as I
> start my Hammarlund adventure.
> 
> Happy Holidays and 73,
> 
> Craig, W3CRR
> Silver Spring, MD
> 
> _______________________________________________
> List Administrator: Duane Fischer W8DBF
> ** For Assistance: dfischer@usol.com **
> ----
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/hammarlund
> 
> 

________________________________________________________________
The best thing to hit the internet in years - Juno SpeedBand!
Surf the web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER!
Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today!