First post on the forum. I inherited my dad's Philco 551 clock radio after he passed away a few years ago. I attached a picture of it. It's in great shape and has the original finials. It's been sitting on my mantel where there is no power source. I've been replacing the movements on some other clocks to get them running and it got me thinking I should do the same to the Philco 551. I'll keep the old electric movement so I can always go back to original.
I was wondering if anybody else has done that and how do you get access to the hands? On the other clocks I have done they all had doors on the front where I could access the hands to remove them. Any advice is welcome.
I think you must have missed what I was asking. I want to access the front face of the clock so I can remove the hands and then the clock movement and replace it with a quartz movement. Then I can put it on my mantel and have the clock working without a power source.
Hi Greg, Welcome to the Phorum!!
I know some of the folks on here have worked on these before so hopefully someone will know the answer to your question.
In-any-case, you'll need to remove the clock assembly and face from the rear of the cabinet. You might have to remove the radio chassis first to gain access.
John KK4ZLF
Lexington, KY
"illegitimis non carborundum"
I agree with John, those do not appear to be the original hands and the clocks shown in the Philco gallery (John's link) also lack a sweep second hand. Perhaps you already have a quartz movement with a dead battery? Also possible someone in the past put an electric clock replacement in there.
Jerry
A friend in need is a pest! Bill Slee ca 1970.
(This post was last modified: 03-30-2015, 04:13 PM by jerryhawthorne.)
In-any-case, you'll need to remove the clock assembly and face from the rear of the cabinet. You might have to remove the radio chassis first to gain access.
Yeah I had noticed my hands looked different from images I had found. Also my movement only has a set knob, not a run knob. I'm going to buy the movement from Clockworks so I'll just have to get some hands that I think will look good since they didn't have any to match the original design. I may post some pictures on here to get others opinions.
I'll try removing from the rear of the cabinet. It looked like the face was behind (or I guess since I am looking at it from the rear, in front) of some wood. Maybe it just looks that way.
I think the guys are right, you'll need to remove the radio chassis first. Note that the radio dial is behind the clock face since you have to view it through the clock face to tune the radio.
Grege, don't forget old clock repair shops. I know they are rare. One in our area has been an asset with replacement glass and a wide assortment of clock hands. Take along your clock mechanism and blow up a picture of the hands. You may be surprised what they can come up with.
Best, Jerry
Yep. That is the way to do it. Once I got the radio out it was pretty simple. Just a lot of screws.
Now would all of you experts give me your opinion as to which hands I should use? I'm attaching a screenshot of the hands that are available from the place I plan on getting the movement from. The minute hand that was in my clock was 3" but when I look at the face, I could probably go up to 3 3/8".
So which hands (there is a number above them) do you think I should use? Would like it to be somewhat like the original hands but I know they are not an option so maybe something else from that time period.
Grege, like John, no clock expert but I would go with H10 as well. My concern is the length of the hands, if I understand the vendor 2.5" is the length of probably the minute hand? Is that long enough?
Jerry
(03-30-2015, 05:33 PM)jerryhawthorne Wrote: Grege, like John, no clock expert but I would go with H10 as well. My concern is the length of the hands, if I understand the vendor 2.5" is the length of probably the minute hand? Is that long enough?
Jerry
Yes it is the minute hand. Also available in 3 1/8" and that would work I think.
My 80 Jr. Colonial Clock. The original clock motor was replaced by a Telechron movement long ago, and whoever did that added the red second hand. The original movement did not have a second hand.
I hate to say it, but your 551 was also stripped and refinished, and those are not the original finials. The finish on my 80 Jr. is original, and the finials on both clocks I linked to are original as well.
None of the hands in the image you posted look exactly like the original, so you might as well use something you like. For what it's worth, the H1 hands in your image are similar to those used on the Philco grandfather clock radio.
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