[PTurney]

Hi Mort,

On the rear of the clock mechanism there should be two knobs. One is in the center and is labelled 'set' - that turns the hands to the correct time. The second (located below the first) is a starter knob that is turned to start the clock when it is powered on (the early synchronous motors were not self starting). It has to be turned the correct way or else the clock will run in reverse!

I have two 551s and on both the clocks run noisy, though I haven't attempted to service the mechanisms. I have restored one of the radios but unplug the clock when I use it (which I have to admit is not very often). I have considered replacing the original mechanism with a modern battery unit that I would leave running all the time - this should not be difficult to do (I would of course pack the original and attach it somewhere inside the case).

On one of my clocks, the lower two shafts protrude only about 3/8" and look to be original; the upper one (tuning) is longer. On the second clock the shafts are longer but look to be not original (there is evidence of them having been cut to length). The Philco rosettes, as on my website, are the correct knobs.

I don't know of a source for the speaker washers.

The words on the clock face are Philco with Electric printed below it in much smaller font.

Hope this helps,

Paul