VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1946-1948 Clock

What is the correct way to wind up the clock? I have never had a non-electrical clock in a car, and don't want to bust anything. And how does the Fast/slow gizmo operate?

I wind the non-electric clock in my car by turning the stem knob back and forth (clockwise first and then counter clockwise) until it is fully wound.

The fast and slow gizmo is for either speeding up the clock or slowing it down if the clock is not keeping the correct time.

The fast/slow adjuster is on the back of the clock.

I just wind mine clockwise till it stops. Not sure how many days it will run on a wind but I think about three days.

Wind it up until it won't wind no more. You're not going to break anything by doing this. After you get it wound, tap gently on the glass to encourage it to start ticking. Sometimes it takes several light taps for it to get the hint.

Don't worry about the fast/slow thing. It won't run long enough for it to be important anyway. After all, how long are we in the things nowadays. If you want to know the time of day, look at your mobile (phone).

Don't get confused by the winding direction. Although you are upside down, it still works the same was as up here.

To help the clock run better, ease the case off and carefully spray a little lubricant on the gears. It will thank you for it and the spring then may cause it to run a bit longer. Enough for you to get to the store and back with your "Fosters." :aust:

Best,
Charlie

BTW: I hope they find that boating party that is missing.

Thanks for the replies. I have to rely on my clock as i don't own a watch or a mobile (50 years without them and I'm trying for 50 more!).
I got the clock working , it keeps pretty good time, but I will give it a "lube" one day.
By the way, nobody in Australia drinks Fosters, I think it,s only made for export.
Now "Cooper's", there's a good drop!

47Aero:

Just start another hobby like I did. I started collecting antique clocks before I got the old Chevy. With about 15 old clocks going all over the house, I always know what time it is. It is a bit of a chore to wind them all up. Wife tells people I bought an antique Chevy dash clock for the collection - it just happened to have the 48 Chevy Fleetmaster still attached to it! Have fun with your Chevy, and, keep her clock wound up.

Regards:
Oldengineer

This is an "old wives tale"...Same with wrist watchs...No need to do this...

About 28 hours is the norm...At least it is on mine...Be careful winding to the max., you don't want to catch the spring "pawl" on the last click, just go easy...You'll feel it when it gets tight...What's a couple extra minutes vs. an "over wound" spring...

Sometimes, my clock doesn't start-up right away after winding...But, does start running after the first few "bumps" in the road...Like Charlie said, it just needs a bit of lube...I always find more pressing things to be concerned with...

You might want remove the "hood ornament" and replace it with a sun-dial...That way your still "in the good 'o days", without having to buy one of them new fangilled gizmos...

Coopers...Pretty good stuff...But, I have trouble only drinking a drop...

just wind and tap,tap...

Kevin and et al,

A matter of clarification.

I did not mean to imply that you wind the clock so tight that you strip off the knob or otherwise bust it. Mercy!

When I said to wind it until it won't wind no more, I thought that everyone would take that, figuratively, to mean "wind it up unitl it starts to give relatively strong resistance" and then leave the winding alone. Use your head. You don't need to use no stinkin Vice Grips. The only thing left is the tap, tap.

I regret that my post wasn't clear. I can see where somebody might take my advice too litteraly. I doubt that any of our mates down under ever would. Noooo way.

47Aero: As far as I can remember I've never heard of Coopers before. While my travels have been somewhat limited, I have been to west Texas. Sort of like the "out back" I suppose. They do have a beer called "Lone Star" that I reported to be quite good tasting. I don't know if it is allowed to be exported across the state line or not.

Good luck with the clock.

Charlie

I'm sorry Charlie ...I didn't even notice your remarks...Of course Vise-Grips aren't necessary...I use the biggest pliers I can find...

Just yoking...A light touch with your fingers is all that you need...When I start to "feel" some resistents, I quit...After all it is heat treated steel and it does have a "cycle" life, of about, oh, I'd guess a million or so winds...

Like I said before. There is really no need to wind, then back-off...wind some more...It really is an "old wives tale"...Ask any watch repair guy...

Forgot to add that if your clock "hands" are in pretty good shape, try and keep your clock out of the sun...It fades the paint and warps the "hands"...