vintagestang Posted June 20, 2012 Posted June 20, 2012 Does anyone here know anything about old advertising clocks? I got a 50's? Dr. Pepper Pam square clock that needs to be restored.
Harry P. Posted June 20, 2012 Posted June 20, 2012 Like this one? http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/36874-dr-pepper-clock-10-2-4-1950s
vintagestang Posted June 20, 2012 Author Posted June 20, 2012 No. More like this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/dr-pepper-soda-cola-advertising-pam-glass-face-clock-sign-/290729648617?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43b0d661e9 I take it back it's not Pam. The back is plastic unlike that one and the motor says Graham. I know it's not a Reproduction because my garandfather had it in his TV shop back in the 50's/60's.
gbdolfans Posted June 20, 2012 Posted June 20, 2012 I don't know a lot about clocks,but,If you were going to restore it for yourself only,then do it!!! If you were trying to restore it to sell it,most collectors of vintage items want it in the condition it is in now. They want the patina on it and might not like the way you restore it.You might just clean it a bit with soap and water but nothing abrasive. Just my 2 cents worth!! :D
vintagestang Posted June 21, 2012 Author Posted June 21, 2012 I want to restore it for myself. I can't get the back of it open. It was glued with something strong.
Junkman Posted June 21, 2012 Posted June 21, 2012 The only thing I know about clocks is that they always show a later time than the deadline was set for.
SuperStockAndy Posted June 21, 2012 Posted June 21, 2012 They actually sell whole new universal gearboxes, you can get them at Dollar General or the like.
vintagestang Posted June 21, 2012 Author Posted June 21, 2012 The clock still works It is just loud because there is dirt and stuff inside it.
Junkman Posted June 21, 2012 Posted June 21, 2012 The clocks used in old Rolls-Royces were way too loud too, I've heard.
vintagestang Posted June 21, 2012 Author Posted June 21, 2012 This is just a Dr. Pepper advertising clock not a Rolls clock. If someone could tell me how to get the back off of it I would appreciate it. I tried heat and that didn't work.
crazyjim Posted June 21, 2012 Posted June 21, 2012 What about putting the clock and water in a baggie and putting it in your freezer for a few days? That might make the glue brittle enough to snap apart.
vintagestang Posted June 21, 2012 Author Posted June 21, 2012 Jim, there's a problem: this clock is pretty big.
crazyjim Posted June 21, 2012 Posted June 21, 2012 Jim, there's a problem: this clock is pretty big. No problem - bigger bag and freezer If it glued together, there must be a seam. Get a slit going with an Xacto blade and then switch to a razor saw?
Harry P. Posted June 21, 2012 Posted June 21, 2012 Something like that would generally not be glued. The cover either is a snap fit, or there are some screws on the back. Look it over carefully. Try removing the back cover and see if that exposes any screws. Somebody put it together... somebody can take it apart.
vintagestang Posted June 22, 2012 Author Posted June 22, 2012 There is definitely some glue on it. It is the backplate I'm trying to get off. I don't have a razor saw but xacto is a good idea.
mikemodeler Posted June 23, 2012 Posted June 23, 2012 There is definitely some glue on it. It is the backplate I'm trying to get off. I don't have a razor saw but xacto is a good idea. Try using a blow dryer to gently heat up the glued section to see if that helps. If you don't have a razor saw, try a hacksaw blade and go slow. Continue researching this piece on the internet, you may find someone who is selling one that they repaired and you might be able to get them to share their secrets!
1930fordpickup Posted June 23, 2012 Posted June 23, 2012 If it has a stickers or plugs in the back they can hide the screws . Or start from the front .
vintagestang Posted June 23, 2012 Author Posted June 23, 2012 Try using a blow dryer to gently heat up the glued section to see if that helps. If you don't have a razor saw, try a hacksaw blade and go slow. Continue researching this piece on the internet, you may find someone who is selling one that they repaired and you might be able to get them to share their secrets! I tried heating it. It didn't work and I almost sawed through it with a hacksaw blade. I have not found anything on the internet.
Art Anderson Posted June 23, 2012 Posted June 23, 2012 Two things: For starters, that clear clock cover is a blow-molded or vacuum-formed plastic part, and given how clear it still is, it's likely acrylic plastic, more commonly known as plexiglas (those weren't high-production items, BTW, unlike clocks you would have bought for your own kitchen wall back in the day). As such, it's very likely that the face and clear cover are glued together with liquid cement, such as Weld-On #3, which BTW is still used in plexiglas fabrication. Once glued in that manner, it's virtually impossible to get the two pieces apart from each other without some breakage around the mating edges. Second, electric clock motors in those days were what was called "synchronous motors", which means that the motor turns at a constant speed, it's rpm's figured in multiples of 60 cycles per second, or the frequency of US Alternating Current. That's what made them so reliable for keeping time. When new, they were virtually silent, but as the hours/days/years of use add up, they begin to get noisy, due to wear internally, and there really isn't any way to repair them that I have ever seen--typically, they are sealed against contamination, so more than likely it's not dust or dirt inside the mechanism that's causing the noise--those motors and their gear train are of such low power output that any significant dirt contamination will just stop them cold. Probably the only way to get rid of the noise would be to replace the movement with a modern quartz crystal unit, which you can find at almost any Michael's, Hobby Lobby, or similar craft supply store, even online with a bit of Googling. Art
lordairgtar Posted June 24, 2012 Posted June 24, 2012 Jim, there's a problem: this clock is pretty big. ...and not water proof
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