Electric Chime

Why can't you just repair it? I would keep it as original as possible....

Let me be the first to say that your OP is exceedingly unclear.

First, "what size core or size and length of wire to use with a power supply of a 6V DC transformer?"

Then: "Please don't suggest ,get a regular door bell from the hardware store"

What do you want?

If the clock was built in 1880, you might want to repair it PROPERLY!

Just put an MP-3 player in it with a chime recording, and use that.

Or, fix it properly.

This clock was made in Czechoslovakia. Many clock experts looked at it, result, no idea how to fix it. doorbells have a ding dong sound, imagine noon and midnight 24 ding dong sounds. Let's forget about the clock. Google electro magnetic chimes, you'll see how they are constructed. If you have an answer to this question ,fine if not ,don't reply.I hope this is clear enough.

These guys can probably fix it properly....

http://billsclockworks.com/repair/index.html

Here's an electronic chime mechanism....

http://www.craftimeclockery.com/index1.html

http://www.clockparts.com/clock-parts/chiming-clock-movements/

You can have one of these setups for every note of the chime and a mechanical multi-contact controller.....but I don't think it will fit...

I can put this system together but radio shack does not have anything like it. What are the dimension of the electromagnet and the striker bar. I have a small chime. The hammer inside would make the connection to activate the magnet.

These are materials you could get at your local hardware store...The mechanism can be scaled to desirable size...but I would think about 6" would provide enough striking weight to achieve a respectable level of volume.....The strip would be about 1/2" wide, and the electromagnet you can find on Ebay cheap or build one yourself....

Electromagnet $3...

As for the wire size, you can always find it from the existing wire. If you are changing the operating voltage, then you will need to think about wire resistivity and ampere- turns.

A picture will lead to better solution.

Gajanan Phadte

Do you know if the solenoid is a push or pull stroke to make the chime work?

PED - 44A-220-620-540 - SOLENOID, PUSH, 6VDC

Is a push type from Newark.

Here there search page with all there 6vdc solenoid listed.

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Now a solenoid is nothing more than an electromagnet, here a link to the basic understanding how to make one.

Here another link to Calculate the length of wire needed for a solenoid coil.

Now if you have not gotten rid of the old coil. You can dismantle the old coil and re-wrap it with new Magnet wire. The old wire should be painted with varnish/or shellack. There could be some insulating sleeves on the wires exiting from the coil.

All you need to do is determine the wire gauge "the smaller the wire the larger the number is "18AWG IS LARGER THAN 24AWG"". Next figure out the length you need, you could measure the length after you unwrap the coil. Better measure the coil length, outside width/diameter , then as you re-wrap the core evenly layering the wire over the length as you get close the outside width/diameter go slow till you "get there".

You can make a jig by using a long machine screw/bolt with a couple of washers and a nut to hold the solenoid frame "tight to the screw/bolt" and "chucking" it in a variable speed drill. You feed the wire off the new spool by unrolling it and rolling it onto the solenoid core making sure not to kink, twist, scrape the wire or uneven layers. Make sure you leave enough wire free when you start wrapping to hook the solenoid up. Just depending how much wire you need it should not take too long to do.

Hope this helps.

Charles

You have a one hundred and thirty three plus year old pendulum clock that is broken. You need an appraisal from a reputable antique clock repairman if the clock is worth repairing first. Putting an MP3 player or another electronic chime would almost be a sin. If the mechanism is an old low quality design that is not worth fixing then the repairman can replace the entire mechanism behind the face with an inexpensive quartz movement that will swing the weight and make a sound. You can even fork over some more money to get a complete new fully mechanical movement with bells. But get your clock appraised first to see if you should restore or renew the movement. Tinkering on an antique is the wrong place to start.

Er, it's called "bell wire" for a reason...

I can not imagine a chime circa 1880 that no one knows how to repair! It's all mechanics.

My question is if you use an electric chime how will you activated it off the mechanics of the clock. If you have figured that out. Then why not just repair the mechanism that would ring the existing chime?

"Transformers" are AC not DC. Do you mean solenoid?

Why not remove the broken one, measure every little detail of it, and post a couple photographs of it?

Did you connect an ohmmeter across the leads of the coil(s) to see if there is a break or short?

What provided the 6 volts? A lantern style battery? Did you check for corrosion on the terminals/contacts?

If it's just a matter of rewiring the solenoid, that may not be difficult* to do once you find some bell wire to use [google bell wire].

(*Hard to say since you didn't post a photograph.)

1. Cut the coil in halves (the coil, not the core !).
2. Count the number of tips in one bundle.
3. Measure the wire gauge with a calipper (vernier).
4. Buy magnet wire of the same gauge.
5. Wind the coil with as many turns as tips you counted.
6. Forget about lenght, focus on wire gauge and # of turns.

Regards

Herr Vondrus.

In my assessment, it would be a sin to change an old classic clock.

Please, take an ohm/voltmeter, and measure the details according the drawing provided before. Many primitive things can go wrong in a chime, all of them repairable by yourself, with a little patience.

Terminals and contact points can oxidise into uselessness. A little polishing will make them work again.

The coil terminals can be oxidised to the extent, that Ohm readings become difficult.

Clean them carefully, as these old wires are mostly brittle.

The coil is sound, I presume, and why not? But its connecting wires may be broken. Take a turn off, and verrry carefully clean the wire of oxides, and connect again.

I again presume, that the chime was fed from 6Volts big lantern batteries. Well, those are rare, and expensive nowadays, but available. I replaced mine on a 1896 clock with a power supply, without changing the contacts. With that, if it needs be, I slip out the power supply, and slip in the original batteries. Everything is restored.

If it is makes a difference, you can converse with me in Deutsch. I am sure, CR4 will survive it.

Gute Nacht!

Guten Tag Herr leveles, I'm not sure this is your real name , yes we could communicate in German but that would leave out so many other guys that have good ideas and information. For your info this clock does not have any electrical parts at this point.

Since the mechanical chime is a problem , I like to update it with an electrical chime .

Hab noch einen schoenen Tag.

I assume that you mean the coil has burnt up & no longer works & you want to replace it, am I right in assuming this? I ask this because you do not refer to the coil, you only say chime, the chime is normally only the part that makes the noise & the coil operates a striker that hits the chime & the chime produces the noise.

If that is the case & you still have the original coil, the normal way to reconstruct would be to measure the thickness of the wire & count the number of turns on the coil & rewind it the same as the original.

Am I on the right track of what you are trying to achieve ?

After my last post & rereading your OP I just had the thought that some of us may be misinterpreting your OP

Is my last post correct or do you mean you want to convert a mechanically operated striker for the chime over to an electric operated striker for the chime by putting a solenoid into it?

If you are converting a mechanical to an electrically operated striker I would just buy a solenoid that is pre manufactured. Do some searches on Google & the various auction sites it will be a lot easier than trying to make it from scratch.

If you have a original electric operated striker then see my last post.

If you have the original chime you only need to locate a reputable local apparatus/motor winding shop and take the chime in for rewind and repair.

They can measure the coil size, identify the correct coil wire size, count the number of turns, and duplicate the coil.

If you cannot find a local shop that can perfrom the work, here is the contact info for a shop in Tucson, Arixona that I have used many times when working on antique equipment.

They provide exceptionl custom service at a very reasonable price and they go out of their way to meet expectations and requirements.

Bestway Electric Motor Service Co. Inc.

www.bestwayelectric.com

Attn: Raymond W. Kothe

rkothe@bestwauelectric.com

728 S. Campbell Ave

Tucson, AZ 85719

Phone: 520-884-9141

Fax: 520-884-1850

Thank you for all your info but let me clear up a few things.

The clock must have been made before there was an electric chime. A hammer was striking a spring that made a raspy sound. That came loose and nobody knows how it was mounted on the inside of the back wall. that is why I want to put an electric chime on it. The hammer will make the contact for the solenoid.

Since you have posted no pictures. The chime a spring similar to the one at the bottom of this clock was used? Most are just mounted fast to the wood. Should be able to determine where the hammer struck. A clock that old should have left a mark. Just need to make sure the hammer swings free doesn't hang up on the back stroke.

The spring on the bottom looks exactly like what I have. The inside end has a 1 in section that is straight and bend toward the center . It's uniform brown without a shiny spot. No hole,hook, clamp on top, bottom or back wall would indicate a mounting spot. The spring is a little smaller than the 4x4in back wall and the hammer moves about the center .

Back to find the parts for the electric system.

You might be able to find a similar clock on Ebay that is not working for cheap to use for a model or spare parts.....

http://www.ebay.com/sch/Antique-Pre-1930-/13851/i.html

The clock mechanism works fine but the spring type chime was a scratchy sound . I'd rather put a small solenoid chime system together . The face is big enough so you wont see what's on top of the housing.

FWIW...

http://www.fathertimeclock.com/id57.html

Up to you what you do.

Personally I would not devalue an antique clock.

The value of an antique clock is , if everything is original. The glass and roman numeral dial was damaged so were the hands and had to be replaced. the housing was not square anymore and the shafts fell out of the bushings. Two angles will keep it square. The round frame holding the glass was cut through on one side. Soon as I know ,I will post a picture

U can always sense the number of strokes the hammer does to repeat in your solenoid, using a reed switch or some other proximity sensor.

Gajanan Phadte