Smiths Sectric Hand Set knob - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

frglee21 · 15th Jan 2011, 11:38 pm

Hi All,

Does anyone have a spare "Hand Set" knob that goes on the back of a Smiths Sectric CA electric clock?

There's a picture of the back of the clock here: https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...ad.php?t=64246

Thank You in advance, Lee Standley

Station X · 15th Jan 2011, 11:44 pm

Is the shaft threaded, or does it have a squared end. If threaded I assume it's a left hand thread. Can you check the thread diameter and pitch?

Mike Phelan · 16th Jan 2011, 1:33 pm

The Smiths Autocal/Autolarm hand set knob is black plastic and has a LH thread; I have such a clock (not for sale) so I can get you dimensions and pictures.

frglee21 · 16th Jan 2011, 2:52 pm

Ahh! it could be then that the threaded part of the shaft has been broken off at some point. There seems to be just a tiny bit of thread left at the top of the shaft.

I'm sorry, this is starting to drift away from parts wanted to repairs.

Regards, Lee.

Mike Phelan · 16th Jan 2011, 3:25 pm

I'd guess that it's broken, Lee. The length of the arbor from the back plate and with the knob removed is 21.5mm.

If there's not enough thread left and it was mine, I would file a square on the end of the arbor (it would have to be dismantled) and make a knob from black plastic like the original, then make a piece of brass or alloy and bore it smaller than the arbor; two sawcuts will attach it to the square and it can be roughened and Araldited into the knob.

I'll move the thread to Other Vintage Household - thanks for the suggestion.

Darren-UK · 16th Jan 2011, 4:01 pm

The thread is indeed L/H and looks like 6BA and is about ¼" long.

In front of me right now is a spare Autocal movement, complete with 'that' knob and threaded arbor. The Autocal and CA movements differed in layout but I'd think the threaded arbor is common to both. To replace the arbor, you will need to dismantle the movement.

You can have this movement, complete, if you want it, or I'll remove the arbor and you can have that and the knob. If you want the complete movement, I should point out the field coil is duff.

frglee21 · 16th Jan 2011, 5:08 pm

Thank You for your kind offer Darren.

I don't know that I've got the skills to dismantle the movement. I've managed to remove the AM/PM Tell-tale and one wheel ( I'm learning - movement not mechanism, wheel not cog

) but there are another two wheels that will need to come off and they are very tight; I'd hate to do any damage by trying to remove them.

I might try Mike's suggestion to find something that will fit onto the existing arbor.

Darren-UK · 16th Jan 2011, 6:10 pm

Well, I thought you might want to dismantle it and give it a proper clean anyway but not to worry.

What exactly do you mean in stating that the wheels are tight? You're not trying to remove them from their arbors, are you? Unless there's some damage somewhere, you shouldn't need to do that.

frglee21 · 16th Jan 2011, 7:46 pm

Hello Again Darren,

I've managed to safely remove the damaged Hand Set arbor - Phew!

Telephones to clocks is like going from Chunky Lego to Meccano in one jump

Can I PM you to sort something out about the arbor and knob?

Regards, Lee.

Darren-UK · 17th Jan 2011, 12:09 am

PM received, reply sent!

15th Jan 2011, 11:38 pm	#1
frglee21 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Manchester, UK Posts: 160	Smiths Sectric Hand Set knob Hi All, Does anyone have a spare "Hand Set" knob that goes on the back of a Smiths Sectric CA electric clock? There's a picture of the back of the clock here: https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...ad.php?t=64246 Thank You in advance, Lee Standley

15th Jan 2011, 11:44 pm	#2
Station X Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK. Posts: 21,286	Re: Smiths Sectric Hand Set knob Is the shaft threaded, or does it have a squared end. If threaded I assume it's a left hand thread. Can you check the thread diameter and pitch? __________________ Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.

16th Jan 2011, 1:33 pm	#3
Mike Phelan Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Near Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK Posts: 4,609	Re: Smiths Sectric Hand Set knob The Smiths Autocal/Autolarm hand set knob is black plastic and has a LH thread; I have such a clock (not for sale) so I can get you dimensions and pictures. __________________ Mike.

16th Jan 2011, 2:52 pm	#4
frglee21 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Manchester, UK Posts: 160	Re: Smiths Sectric Hand Set knob Ahh! it could be then that the threaded part of the shaft has been broken off at some point. There seems to be just a tiny bit of thread left at the top of the shaft. I'm sorry, this is starting to drift away from parts wanted to repairs. Regards, Lee. Attached Thumbnails

16th Jan 2011, 3:25 pm	#5
Mike Phelan Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Near Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK Posts: 4,609	Re: Smiths Sectric Hand Set knob I'd guess that it's broken, Lee. The length of the arbor from the back plate and with the knob removed is 21.5mm. If there's not enough thread left and it was mine, I would file a square on the end of the arbor (it would have to be dismantled) and make a knob from black plastic like the original, then make a piece of brass or alloy and bore it smaller than the arbor; two sawcuts will attach it to the square and it can be roughened and Araldited into the knob. I'll move the thread to Other Vintage Household - thanks for the suggestion. __________________ Mike.

16th Jan 2011, 4:01 pm	#6
Darren-UK Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Blackpool, Lancashire, UK. Posts: 4,061	Re: Smiths Sectric Hand Set knob The thread is indeed L/H and looks like 6BA and is about ¼" long. In front of me right now is a spare Autocal movement, complete with 'that' knob and threaded arbor. The Autocal and CA movements differed in layout but I'd think the threaded arbor is common to both. To replace the arbor, you will need to dismantle the movement. You can have this movement, complete, if you want it, or I'll remove the arbor and you can have that and the knob. If you want the complete movement, I should point out the field coil is duff.

16th Jan 2011, 5:08 pm	#7
frglee21 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Manchester, UK Posts: 160	Re: Smiths Sectric Hand Set knob Thank You for your kind offer Darren. I don't know that I've got the skills to dismantle the movement. I've managed to remove the AM/PM Tell-tale and one wheel ( I'm learning - movement not mechanism, wheel not cog ) but there are another two wheels that will need to come off and they are very tight; I'd hate to do any damage by trying to remove them. I might try Mike's suggestion to find something that will fit onto the existing arbor.

16th Jan 2011, 6:10 pm	#8
Darren-UK Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Blackpool, Lancashire, UK. Posts: 4,061	Re: Smiths Sectric Hand Set knob Well, I thought you might want to dismantle it and give it a proper clean anyway but not to worry. What exactly do you mean in stating that the wheels are tight? You're not trying to remove them from their arbors, are you? Unless there's some damage somewhere, you shouldn't need to do that.

16th Jan 2011, 7:46 pm	#9
frglee21 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Manchester, UK Posts: 160	Re: Smiths Sectric Hand Set knob Hello Again Darren, I've managed to safely remove the damaged Hand Set arbor - Phew! Telephones to clocks is like going from Chunky Lego to Meccano in one jump Can I PM you to sort something out about the arbor and knob? Regards, Lee.

17th Jan 2011, 12:09 am	#10
Darren-UK Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Blackpool, Lancashire, UK. Posts: 4,061	Re: Smiths Sectric Hand Set knob PM received, reply sent!