VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1929-1932 31 Clock?

Today by chance I stopped at a yard sale to check out some metal cabinets on display. On a table surrounded by costume jewelry, toys, and kitchen ware was a small clock. No hands or lens but the face was 50% legible. A small bowtie above the 6. The bowtie has the horizontal lines above and below the VRO in CHEVROLET. $3 and it was mine. The outside diameter is 2 5/16", the bezel and face unscrew as a unit and fits perfectly in the small hole on the passenger side of my 31's dash. I can read "Sterling Electric" on the face and stamped on the back is "Sterling Clock Co, La Salle, Ill." with 2 patent numbers. One threaded stud and setting knob on the back. What do I have? Did I get my money's worth?

Dennis

You did well except the lens is special. The lens is convex.

If you had a complete clock, in usual condition for a swap meet, it would sell for around $100.00

If you would describe the outer ring of the clock it could be identified as a 1932 or 1933.

(You are in my old stomping grounds. Was an engineer at the radio station in Springdale).

The ring is 2 5/16 O.D. x 5/16 deep. I.D. is 1 7/8". side and face of ring are flat.

Dennis

What you have there is definitely a 1931-32 genuine Chevrolet accessory electric clock.

what year did chevy(if ever) place the clock in the interior rear view mirror? i looked at a 1 1/2 ton mid 30's chevy truck last year and it had the clock as part of the mirror.mike

The mirror clock was an accessory in 1932. I don't know about previous or later years.
It was a wind up clock that ran for 30 hours, non-clare, and cost $3.75 installed.

Dad31.
If you find a source for the lens, please let us know. That is a sweet deal you found!

By the way, does anyone know were the wire for the clock gets attached? (light switch? What terminal?)

1931 was the first year for the accessory mirror clock.

The wire for the Sterling Electric clock was connected to the battery terminal on the back of the ammeter.

Dennis - Does it look like this one?

http://img171.imageshack.us/my.php?image=31220chev1cs3.jpg

Roger

Roger,

yep, that's it! in it's better days anyway.


I also have a Westclox rear view mirror clock that came with the car. the clock is in pretty good shape except the hands and numbers are yellowed/brown. the mirror will have to be replaced or resilvered. the hands adjust easily. the nub at the bottom is part of the winding mechanism? do I dare try cleaning the hands and numbers or leave them alone? I sure don't want to erase them.

Dennis

The accessory catalog for 1932 lists the mirror clock as being "gunmetal".
The picture in the catalog show the winding "nub" to the right side, but no mention of the manufacturer.
Don't even try to clean the face if you plan to keep it original. With mine the text lightend up as soon as I touch it. I believe a replacement face is sold by the FS, but I can't find the hands and the glass.

I don't think that the Filling Station has the 1931-32 mirror clock or the 1931-32 Sterling Electric clock faces. The first year that they list for a clock face in their new catalog is 1937. About 20 years ago the mirror clock face was being reproduced however.

By the way, the 1931-32 mirror clock was made by Phinney-Walker.

The '31-32 clock mirror part number 363448 was manufactured by Pinney Walker.

The Sterling electric clock has at least three different hands depending on when made and if the Chevrolet version or the after market. After much searching I have failed to find the glass. It can be made but the cost for one or a couple is higher than is justified. If there are enought people who want an new one then the project might be worth the effort. Basically what is needed is to take a standard size and have them edge ground to the exact size required. Anyone need a new glass?

"The '31-32 clock mirror part number 363448 was manufactured by Pinney Walker."

I think I mentioned Phinney-Walker in the posting above.

Here is one possible source for a glass lens:

http://www.norkro.com/index_files/page0002.htm

:p

Sorry that my typing the posting at the same time got your tail in an knot.

The possible glass source would be really nice if they supplied glass 1/32" under 2" diameter.

"Sorry that my typing the posting at the same time.........."

My posting was at 07:37

Your posting was at 07:45

I don't think that is the same time. I kill me.

That glass company has a lot of really cool glass lenses for various other applications. However, as you mentioned above, custom making a glass lens would be to prohibitive.

:( :(

as far as clocks go if I had my druthers, I druther have the Sterling electric. I'll just have to keep an eye out for a decent face and hands. I took the case apart and the movement is pristine. I'll hook some power to it to see if it runs. I'm going to order a 2" lens from norko. My uncle does stained glass so maybe he can grind to fit. it may never be used again but I didn't want to see it trashed for $3

Sounds like it is worth a try, and Norkro may be able to grind the glass to fit. Heck, for $3 you have nothing to lose and much to gain.

Good luck!

I just placed my order online and inquired about trimming the glass. we will see. thanks for your help dog, you are the man.... or, thanks man you are the dog?

Dennis

Let me know if you are successful in getting a glass to fit I need several for clocks that I have without glasses or ones that are scratched.

Chipper,

I will. Norkro already emailed saying they couldn't alter the diameter. I'm going try using a fixed belt sander to make it smaller. we'll see what happens. you never know untill you try. all it can do is destroy itself, right?

Dennis

Let us know how the grinding works out. I've seen glass edge sanded using a lot of water to cool the piece while its ground.

Yes Chipper, I need both two lenses and two sets of hands.

I had figured that hot-melt gluing a stud on the glass might allow spinning in a lathe or on a drill motor so the result was round. To get it round by hand would be really tough to do. At least for me.

I'm thinking now a water cooled tile cutter by using the side of the blade. hot glue or a glob of silicone to hold a wooden dowel to hold onto. I think I get this "see if I can do it" attitude from Dad.

My daughter does stained glass and has small grinders to shape glass so your uncle should be able to shape it for you without a problem. If he can't check out local glass companies or professional stained glass artists or classes at CC.

A Dremel tool with the glass grinder attachment should work also.

Good luck....however it looks like you already have good luck, LOL.

Dennis, If you start with a round lens then it should be very easy. I have made round clock lens before. If you use very fine sand paper on the belt sander and plenty of water you can hold the glass without it getting to hot. If you take your time and have the bezel handy just mark a spot on the glass and go around once, try the glass and keep going until it just drops right in. It really is pretty easy. Good luck