Morris Minor Owners Club

Try looking at

http://www.hswalsh.com

They supply 'standard' hands for quartz movements in various lengths. I think wall-clock hands are about a fiver a pair. They're too long for a Moggie clock but can easily be cut down using a pair of toenail clippers

Finally fitted the refurbished clock with AA battery powered quartz movement and one original hand. Minute hand had to be replaced and both hands were resprayed with BMW Zinnobar red which was the closest match to the original colour.
Second pic shows a unit recently listed on Ebay for £345.00 which had been fully restored with its original electro mechanical movement but the item was withdrawn for some reason.
I think mine looks OK in comparison and only set me back around £80.00.

Looks great. The only difference seems to be the minute hand has been used as the hour hand (has the bit of hand extending beyond the collar). I would rather have an AA battery to replace every two years than a complicated overhaul that the smiths original clock seems to need.

One caution though is that the chrome bezel that has to be twisted off to access the mechanism has rather fragile clips - the bent bits that engage with the slots of the steel cup. Mine has lost 2 of the 4. Also the rubber ring of tubing behind the glass goes hard, and this is probably what strained the clips, so a new ring would be a good idea.

I've always like fiddling with clocks and watches, so spent hours making the smiths mech work when i got it. I had to partially unwind the coil to get to good copper as the lead out had corroded. It ran fairly continuously for several years after that but then the balance wheel contact wore a notch.

Boomlander wrote:Finally fitted the refurbished clock with AA battery powered quartz movement and one original hand. Minute hand had to be replaced and both hands were resprayed with BMW Zinnobar red which was the closest match to the original colour.

Great job! Looks really good

Thanks chaps, I knew you'd spot the hand difference but it was the only way I could keep one of the original hands so I will probably leave it as is. The Smiths hand is not a very good fit so if it drops off the spindle I will go to plan B.
Plan B... Another movement on order that comes with perfect fitting hands that will only need respraying so watch this space.....

Apparently you can just buy the spares so my friend told me

I'll have to ask the wife - she's sort of adopted it.

Plan B now in operation, the Smiths hand came off the spigot after a few hours as I suspected it would.
Now waiting for the paint to dry on a set of hands for a larger diameter spigot.
These started out as black spade type hands but have had the spade tips removed leaving just the straight bits to form the new hands and they are definitely a good tight fit on the stepped drive spigot.
A bit of a compromise but should look the part and won't fall off!

irmscher wrote:Apparently you can just buy the spares so my friend told me

I have found at least three different sizes of spindle diameters on quartz clock movements none of which are compatible with the original imperial hands on the Smiths clock. (German UTS - Too large, Microbore - too large, Standard Push fit - too large.)
Attempts to increase the hole diameters on the original hands is virtually impossible due to their tiny size so the best solution is to use a mechanism with 5mm and 3mm stepped spindle (Push fit type) and dedicated hands cut down and repainted.

Plan B complete.
Now running on standard quartz movement with repainted push fit hands and keeping perfect time.
Not a flawless reproduction but it will do just fine for us.
Back in the glove box lid and job finished!....

Looks pretty damned good to me. Especially when you consider originals are likely to be broken and good ones are as rare as rocking horse poo!

Seconded! Very good job

Thirded!

Thanks Chaps!.......I think it's the best solution for a car like mine which is not used every week and has its battery isolated when the car is parked up.
Saves resetting the clock every time you reconnect and the clock's new AA battery should last at least 12 months.

Having followed boomlander's clock-making adventures, I thought I'd add this.
Max is a late Series 2 (later dashboard with no provision for clock etc). My dad died in 2002. Shortly afterwards, my sister gave me a box with a lot of his belongings that were of no use or interest to her. I retrieved dad's old camera, a Kodak Retinette from the box and put the rest in the loft. The box has come through a couple of house-moves without ever being opened again, until yesterday. In among the reminders of dad's life, I found... ...a Smiths 'Motorists Watch'. Many of you will be familiar with these. Basically a pocket-watch with a magnet on the back for attaching to a good old-fashioned metal dashboard. They were also supplied with a self-adhesive metal disc, to aid attachment to non-magnetic surfaces. I reckon this one has been lying around unused since 1971, the year dad traded his Hillman Super Minx (metal dash; no built-in clock), for a Humber Sceptre (wooden dash; factory-fitted clock).
It's a bit knocked-about but it still works and keeps time. I think it'll look rather nice on Max's dashboard

looks very nice and period too.There is nothing like it on a quick search of the usual retailers so it may be quite rare.

I am tempted by one of these. It is not quite right for the one I have in my car, but still. Price good but international shipping horrendous compared to purchase price, and I am unsure how long it would keep working !!!

firedrake1942 wrote:looks very nice and period too.There is nothing like it on a quick search of the usual retailers so it may be quite rare.

There are half a dozen or so currently on flea-bay. Priced between £60 and £120.

Love the Minor speedo wrist watch. Citizen movement apparently, so could do worse! I'd be worried about postage costs and safety in transit as well. I'll just keep my 1958 Smiths Empire wrist watch I think!

Ordered the wristwatch anyway. Needed cheering up ! Can't find the Motorists watch on Fleabay!

Here's a selection. Well hidden in amongst the pocket watches and nearly all misdescribed as 'magnetic pocket watch', 'magnetic pocket dashboard watch', 'magnetic rally watch' and various combinations.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Smiths-pocket ... SwbopZfGy1

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Smiths-pocket ... SwuxFYznx8

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Smiths-pocket ... Sw4YdYznjh

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Smiths-pocket ... Sw9NdXucFr

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Smiths-pocket ... SwA3dYcnQ9

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Smiths-pocket ... SwTuJYxXYN

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Smiths-pocket ... Swi0RX1a-h

The smaller the winding crown, the older the piece is. Finishes were chrome on brass, or painted matt black. Polished brass usually means it was originally black, but old paint has been rubbed off and the brass polished up.