BILLY WALTON from GEORGIA wrote:

Or do yall upgrade it with the aftermarket clock they put in them now?

I installed the electronic unit from NPD.  Fairly easy to do and it's working just fine.  There is at least one place that repairs them as well.

You may be able to revive yours by making sure that the works are clean and free of goo, then very lightly oil the moving parts with very lightweight oil.  Use emery cloth to clean the points.

 

What usually goes wrong in these old clocks the points stick together and then a small wire overheats and melts.   Everyone I've ever picked up over the years has had the same problem. 

I've gotten a few of them working and regulated for the old Gals, but I've also worked on a cost effiecient electronic conversion.   

I've made a few different ones over the years as a hobby but I've never made one I've truly liked. 

I do have a working clock out of l believe it's an 84 Mercury that's just waiting for me to get bored.  I just haven't hunted down another case to put it in.   

Old clocks are fun to play with.

BobE wrote:

The lightweight to use is called “instrument oil”.  Even ‘3 in 1” oil is too heavy for clocks and other instruments.

Thanks Bob.  I couldn't remember the right term for that oil when I posted (almost too old for this stuff) 

EDIT to ADD:  There's also "watchmaker oil" that's out there.  I suppose that would be the appropriate thing to use if one were to tinker with the clock.  There are sources on eBay and Amazon - just do a browser search for watchmaker oil.

Last edited by John Ha (8/13/2026 5:37 AM)

I've switched to a silicone oil in my pocket watches and it seems to work great.   It's slicker than snot, doesn't clean off easily, but it's not really compatible with conventional oils.   I don't have a long term review, but the few I've used it on run well.    One of the problems with conventional clock oils is as it ages, it hardens a d shellacs.   

I've thought about trying this oil in a more harsh environment, but might need a heavier grade.   I will research today and see is now being used by clockmakers.