Info. on TIMLEC clock - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

brunel · 15th Aug 2011, 12:05 am

Does anyone have any info. on this TIMLEC clock.

Especially the approx. year of manufacture.

The case is Bakelite.

Have tried all the usual suspects.

Mike Phelan · 15th Aug 2011, 8:31 am

Never heard of one of these, but as for age, I'd say mid-late 1930s, with the stator type and manual start quadrant.

Darren might know.

Is it complete and working? (so we know it's UK mains voltage)?

brunel · 15th Aug 2011, 10:03 am

Thanks for the info.

Yes it is now working, was seized up with what looked like hardened grease
on the rotor bearings, also same on the fibre wheel bearings.

Just need to rewire a safe mains lead.

P.S. It does state MADE IN ENGLAND on the face.

brunel · 26th Aug 2011, 9:12 pm

Some further info has turned up here.

http://lespook.wordpress.com/synchronous-clocks/timlec/

http://lespook.files.wordpress.com/2...6-timlec-a.pdf

Darren-UK · 26th Aug 2011, 11:26 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Phelan

Darren might know.

I'm afraid I don't know much more than what's already been said/shown in the pictures.

All I can add is that they turn up from time to time, often with horrible sheet-metal cases painted in various colours. Some had a cast base, others a pressed steel base. The Timlec name seems to have vanished by WWII. They might have originated as a rival to Smiths, who began producing domestic clocks in 1931, but I just don't know for certain.

Sorry to be of little help.

neosodium · 30th Sep 2011, 9:35 pm

I have this model, but with a more art-deco style dial. I think this is the later version but it may be the other way round.

BassoonBloke · 23rd Apr 2015, 2:56 pm

Hello All,

I recently brought myself one of these clocks. I wasn't sure if it was Bakelite or early plastic, but everyone seems to say Bakelite, so that's sorted!

My clock now seems to work OK, but after quite a few hours of use it begins to whine / groan quietly to itself, which is quite annoying.
I have cleaned bearings that I can get to and re-oiled using proper clock oil, but the problem persists.

The dial on my clock seems to be well and truly stuck to the frame and as two of the retaining screws are under the face I can't undo them.
Can anyone tell me what is connecting the face to the frame?

I don't want to bend or distort the face if I can help it trying to break the bond between the two surfaces. I need to remove the dial to be able to dismantle the movement properly and do a proper clean and oil.

Thanks for any help or info.

Cheers,
Alan.

Mike Phelan · 23rd Apr 2015, 5:07 pm

I'm assuming your "face" is the dial - sometimes people refer to the glass or perspex front as the "face".
It might not have been originally stuck but you may not need to do that much dismantling.

Seems like either the rotor pivots (bearings) or if there's a fibre wheel geared to the rotor it's causing the noise as it has to be due to a fast-moving part.

Unlike spring or weight driven clocks, the fast running wheels (usually just the first one) do need lubricating with a thick oil, rather than clock oil.
I use turret clock oil on all synchronous motor clocks except for any sintered bearings in the rotor but car engine oil will do the job.

HTH.

BassoonBloke · 24th Apr 2015, 8:42 am

Hello Mike,

As I can't (at the moment) get the dial off I cannot actually clean out the old gunk from some bearings, so all I can do is add new onto old and see if things free up ok.
Thanks for the info on the type of oil to use. I will try a more substantial oil on the main drive bearings and see what results I get.
The bearings on the fibre wheel look like they may have a fibre/wool oil reservoir type of effect, but again, I can't remove the bearings to have a look !!
Thanks for your help and info.

Cheers,
Alan.

15th Aug 2011, 12:05 am	#1
brunel Heptode Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: LEEDS.......North of the River Aire. Posts: 872	Info. on TIMLEC clock Does anyone have any info. on this TIMLEC clock. Especially the approx. year of manufacture. The case is Bakelite. Have tried all the usual suspects. Attached Thumbnails

15th Aug 2011, 8:31 am	#2
Mike Phelan Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Near Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK Posts: 4,609	Re: Info. on TIMLEC clock Never heard of one of these, but as for age, I'd say mid-late 1930s, with the stator type and manual start quadrant. Darren might know. Is it complete and working? (so we know it's UK mains voltage)? __________________ Mike.

15th Aug 2011, 10:03 am	#3
brunel Heptode Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: LEEDS.......North of the River Aire. Posts: 872	Re: Info. on TIMLEC clock Thanks for the info. Yes it is now working, was seized up with what looked like hardened grease on the rotor bearings, also same on the fibre wheel bearings. Just need to rewire a safe mains lead. P.S. It does state MADE IN ENGLAND on the face. Last edited by brunel; 15th Aug 2011 at 10:08 am. Reason: added P.S.

26th Aug 2011, 9:12 pm	#4
brunel Heptode Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: LEEDS.......North of the River Aire. Posts: 872	Re: Info. on TIMLEC clock Some further info has turned up here. http://lespook.wordpress.com/synchronous-clocks/timlec/ http://lespook.files.wordpress.com/2...6-timlec-a.pdf

30th Sep 2011, 9:35 pm	#6
neosodium Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Oxfordshire, UK. Posts: 66	Re: Info. on TIMLEC clock I have this model, but with a more art-deco style dial. I think this is the later version but it may be the other way round.

23rd Apr 2015, 2:56 pm	#7
BassoonBloke Pentode Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: East London, UK. Posts: 231	Re: Info. on TIMLEC clock Hello All, I recently brought myself one of these clocks. I wasn't sure if it was Bakelite or early plastic, but everyone seems to say Bakelite, so that's sorted! My clock now seems to work OK, but after quite a few hours of use it begins to whine / groan quietly to itself, which is quite annoying. I have cleaned bearings that I can get to and re-oiled using proper clock oil, but the problem persists. The dial on my clock seems to be well and truly stuck to the frame and as two of the retaining screws are under the face I can't undo them. Can anyone tell me what is connecting the face to the frame? I don't want to bend or distort the face if I can help it trying to break the bond between the two surfaces. I need to remove the dial to be able to dismantle the movement properly and do a proper clean and oil. Thanks for any help or info. Cheers, Alan.

23rd Apr 2015, 5:07 pm	#8
Mike Phelan Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Near Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK Posts: 4,609	Re: Info. on TIMLEC clock I'm assuming your "face" is the *dial* - sometimes people refer to the glass or perspex front as the "face". It might not have been originally stuck but you may not need to do that much dismantling. Seems like either the rotor pivots (bearings) or if there's a fibre wheel geared to the rotor it's causing the noise as it has to be due to a fast-moving part. Unlike spring or weight driven clocks, the fast running wheels (usually just the first one) do need lubricating with a thick oil, rather than clock oil. I use turret clock oil on all synchronous motor clocks except for any sintered bearings in the rotor but car engine oil will do the job. HTH. __________________ Mike.

24th Apr 2015, 8:42 am	#9
BassoonBloke Pentode Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: East London, UK. Posts: 231	Re: Info. on TIMLEC clock Hello Mike, As I can't (at the moment) get the dial off I cannot actually clean out the old gunk from some bearings, so all I can do is add new onto old and see if things free up ok. Thanks for the info on the type of oil to use. I will try a more substantial oil on the main drive bearings and see what results I get. The bearings on the fibre wheel look like they may have a fibre/wool oil reservoir type of effect, but again, I can't remove the bearings to have a look !! Thanks for your help and info. Cheers, Alan.