These are images of a little Seth Thomas flip clock from a recent ebay listing. It caught my eye because I've recently been into basic flip clocks, - no alarm, no radio.
It's the Model 0858-000 (Cat: 858)
clock measures
height: 5 inches (12,7 cm)
length: 9 3/4 inches (24,8 cm)
depth: 4 inches (10,2 cm)
I was surprised by several things.
First of all: It's not a little guy at all. Compared to the Seth Thomas cube clock you can see a huge difference in the size of the digits.
When comparing this clock to this Copal 227 you can really appreciate the size of this Seth Thomas Catalog number 858.
Now the second obvious thing is that this is a ticking flip clock. Just like the Seth Thomas rolling wheel clock (Model E039-005) and the Seth Thomas wall clock (Model 0849-000).
Not only that, I learned that the clock works for all three of these clocks are the same.
Also, the mechanism in this wall clock is essentially exactly the same except for the position of the battery holder. The mechanisms are basically interchangeable.
The label reads "A Talley Industries Company" so we know this clock was made after 1970. It was 1970 when Talley Industries took over General Time Corporation, which was the holding company for Seth Thomas and Westclox (since 1930s).
General Time is in fact, stamped on the clock works.
The whole clock was made in Japan. Even the clock works, although, like I mentioned, it's stamped General Time who likely held the patent.
The clock uses one C-cell battery.
You have to remove an extension post on the clock speed adjustment.
You can't get the case off until you do that.
The time is measured out by a mechanical clock. It's got a balance wheel, an escapement and a mainspring.
The clocks have characteristic sound, ticking and a whirl every minute when the clock flips. I run the wall clock daily – I’m used to this sound.
Let's try to review what's going on here.
During the rapid movement a rocker arm moves, positioning the end holding a magnet, next to what is known as a reed switch. This causes two metal blades located inside the glass tube of the reed switch to come into contact, completing the electrical circuit that turns on the dc motor.
The whole point of the mechanical clock works is to control when this happens (which is, obviously every minute).
A key component of this situation is a freely rotating triangular shaped plate which has 3 rod extensions that take turns interacting with the magnet-holding rocker arm.
A plastic wheel behind the black plate and a protrusion on the main spring control the position of the rods, which results in turning the dc motor on or off by controlling the position of the rocker arm.
When activated the motor simultaneously advances the flip clock and rewinds the main spring. The purpose of the spring, besides running the mechanical clock, is to move the 3 rod extensions. As the spring was wound, the plastic wheel behind the black triangle, rotates the triangle and its rods, moving one of the rods in a position that moves the rocker arm magnet away from the reed switch, ending the current to the motor.
Once the motor stops, the worm gear acts as a brake, holding the spring in place on the right side by the plastic wheel.
On the left side, the spring is allowed to slowly unwind by the mechanical clock gear train, moving the brass gear clockwise, which moves the rods to drop the rocker arm.
Once the rod slips off the rocker arm, the rocker arm moves the magnet to the reed switch.
The rotation of the rods during the spring winding causes the rod next in line, to move the rocker arm back to its starting position to ready for the next minute drop.
There's a lot going on all at once, but once you follow it through, it all makes sense.
Maybe it's crazy but I really like to watch this work and the sound doesn't bother me.
I have no idea how to name this clock mechanism. Maybe we can call it the
General Time self-winding mechanical clock switched dc motor driven clock works.
or G T S W M C S D C M D C W, for short.
To me, these ticking flip clocks have character and charm.
They're retro to the extreme as far as flip clocks go.
Sure, this is not a great way to flip a flip clock.
But it sure is fascinating
To me anyway.
See The Video
It's the Model 0858-000 (Cat: 858)
clock measures
height: 5 inches (12,7 cm)
length: 9 3/4 inches (24,8 cm)
depth: 4 inches (10,2 cm)
I was surprised by several things.
First of all: It's not a little guy at all. Compared to the Seth Thomas cube clock you can see a huge difference in the size of the digits.
When comparing this clock to this Copal 227 you can really appreciate the size of this Seth Thomas Catalog number 858.
Now the second obvious thing is that this is a ticking flip clock. Just like the Seth Thomas rolling wheel clock (Model E039-005) and the Seth Thomas wall clock (Model 0849-000).
Not only that, I learned that the clock works for all three of these clocks are the same.
Also, the mechanism in this wall clock is essentially exactly the same except for the position of the battery holder. The mechanisms are basically interchangeable.
The label reads "A Talley Industries Company" so we know this clock was made after 1970. It was 1970 when Talley Industries took over General Time Corporation, which was the holding company for Seth Thomas and Westclox (since 1930s).
General Time is in fact, stamped on the clock works.
The whole clock was made in Japan. Even the clock works, although, like I mentioned, it's stamped General Time who likely held the patent.
The clock uses one C-cell battery.
You have to remove an extension post on the clock speed adjustment.
You can't get the case off until you do that.
The time is measured out by a mechanical clock. It's got a balance wheel, an escapement and a mainspring.
The clocks have characteristic sound, ticking and a whirl every minute when the clock flips. I run the wall clock daily – I’m used to this sound.
Let's try to review what's going on here.
During the rapid movement a rocker arm moves, positioning the end holding a magnet, next to what is known as a reed switch. This causes two metal blades located inside the glass tube of the reed switch to come into contact, completing the electrical circuit that turns on the dc motor.
The whole point of the mechanical clock works is to control when this happens (which is, obviously every minute).
A key component of this situation is a freely rotating triangular shaped plate which has 3 rod extensions that take turns interacting with the magnet-holding rocker arm.
A plastic wheel behind the black plate and a protrusion on the main spring control the position of the rods, which results in turning the dc motor on or off by controlling the position of the rocker arm.
When activated the motor simultaneously advances the flip clock and rewinds the main spring. The purpose of the spring, besides running the mechanical clock, is to move the 3 rod extensions. As the spring was wound, the plastic wheel behind the black triangle, rotates the triangle and its rods, moving one of the rods in a position that moves the rocker arm magnet away from the reed switch, ending the current to the motor.
Once the motor stops, the worm gear acts as a brake, holding the spring in place on the right side by the plastic wheel.
On the left side, the spring is allowed to slowly unwind by the mechanical clock gear train, moving the brass gear clockwise, which moves the rods to drop the rocker arm.
Once the rod slips off the rocker arm, the rocker arm moves the magnet to the reed switch.
The rotation of the rods during the spring winding causes the rod next in line, to move the rocker arm back to its starting position to ready for the next minute drop.
There's a lot going on all at once, but once you follow it through, it all makes sense.
Maybe it's crazy but I really like to watch this work and the sound doesn't bother me.
I have no idea how to name this clock mechanism. Maybe we can call it the
General Time self-winding mechanical clock switched dc motor driven clock works.
or G T S W M C S D C M D C W, for short.
To me, these ticking flip clocks have character and charm.
They're retro to the extreme as far as flip clocks go.
Sure, this is not a great way to flip a flip clock.
But it sure is fascinating
To me anyway.
See The Video
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