Copal RP-160

[davidm]

Just bought a Copal RP-160 in white, said to be in good condition and working order, it's on it's way.

I've seen local sellers asking $45 for just the Copal motor + mechanism recently, I paid a tad more for the complete clock.

So now I have a Sopranos, a Mad Men, and I dunno what show the QP-214 featured in, maybe The Addams Family.


Not too much patina!

[flipoclock]

I like this one, I like the black front. I prefer this one over the clock which is completely in one colour!

[davidm]

I like the black front

Yes I agree, I wonder how many different colour combinations there were, I hope it's as good as the pics indicate.

[flipoclock]

According to this scan of an original Copal leaflet, even some colours which I have never seen before, but this could also be because they were never sold in spite of being in a leaflet...

[RetroFlip]

Yes I agree, I wonder how many different colour combinations there were, I hope it's as good as the pics indicate.

According to a copal brochure of the time, for cases white, red and woodgrain. I wonder if it's been given the front from a woodgrain.

[davidm]

According to this scan of an original Copal leaflet,

Thanks for the leaflet link, not sure if I've seen it elsewhere, so much new information means I've got to forget something now to fit that in.

I wonder if it's been given the front from a woodgrain

Could be or they've used the front off the RP-170

[Mackey]

I like the look of this clock too. It's Jazzy.

[davidm]

It's Jazzy.

Well I hope it doesn't need any repairs then, I could never figure out Jazz.

Have you seen any Rock n Roll flipclocks, don't mind if they're AC/DC

[Mackey]

Well I hope it doesn't need any repairs then, I could never figure out Jazz.

Have you seen any Rock n Roll flipclocks, don't mind if they're AC/DC

You're a mess. But seriously, Jazz is the only form of music that I can't stand to listen to.
But in a serious note ... Perhaps you could consider the "Back to the Future" flip clock a rock and roll flip clock. It did play Huey Lewis and the News in the movie.

[davidm]

I watched that movie again, is this the clock you mean?

Yes that Rock n Roll all right.... but not many for sale

[Mackey]

There have been reproductions of that time machine clock made. The original would probably go for thousands, but probably doesn't exist anymore.
But anyway, I'm of course I'm referring to the Panasonic RC-6015.

[davidm]

Well the postie delivered my Copal RP-160 today, it was bubble wrapped then packed with a scrunched up Adelaide Times inside the box so I was chuffed about that as I enjoy crosswords.

Spun through the minutes, they were all there this time and plugged it in. Sounded like a bunch of hungry pigs waiting to be fed so cut the juice and disassembled with lump hammer and chisel as per the Mackey method .

I aimed the tube of my spray can of isopropyl alchohol through a rotor hole in the general direction of the axle and loosened it up. Then the main course was oil de jour 'Valvoline Handy' in moderation according to the Mackey manual.

My new laser tachometer had recently arrived so was duly aimed at a spot of reflective tape on the rotor and the speed measured at, wait for it, 333.3 RPM

So for all those who have been waiting with bated breath for the answer as to how fast a Copal 2 motor spins on 50Hz 240v the science has been done.

[flipoclock]

That's actually not as much as I was expecting! Nice experiment!

[davidm]

In hindsight I can't recommend using that 'Valvoline Handy' oil for these motors, as after a couple of hours the motor got noisy again but quietened down after another spray of isopropyl alchohol.

So I think it was too thick to get into the bearing without being thinned down by the alchohol. I'll have to buy some alternative oil as suggested in other threads.

Given the accuracy rating of the tachometer, that RPM figure of 333.3 could be plus or minus 0.2 so the actual RPM could be anywhere between 333.1 and 333.5

Using the formula RPM = (f*60)/(n/2) where f = mains frequency and n = number of motor poles

333.3 = 3000/(n/2) which gives 18

So if that's correct & I'm no mathematician, these Copal II motors have 18 poles.

Anyhoo, she's polished and all back together now, job done.