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Old 31st May 2021, 12:05 am   #1
bionicmerlin
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Default Gents Flame Proof Clock

I got hold of this clock about 6 months ago from a flea market.
I wonder if anyone has any tips for restoring.
Obviously it’s going to be a major job But even in this condition The clock mechanism pulses On a battery. So that’s a good start.
I got 3 main questions .
1 does any one know what colour grey it should be as I’m having trouble finding a good match. (It’s grey under the white gloss paint)
2 next problem is the Gents Flame proof logo is peeling off the plate . Not sure how to stabilise that. I could varnish over but I think it would peal off again long term
3 does anyone know what tool fits the triangle shape bolts. There is very little clearance round the outside.
It’s not going to be a quick project so I’m in no hurry.
Just looking for any ideas Andy
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Old 31st May 2021, 6:10 am   #2
Electronpusher0
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Default Re: Gents Flame Proof Clock

I am sure others will give excellent advice on stabilising the label but personally when faced with a similar dilemma I photgraphed or scanned the label and put it aside to preserve it and then used photshop to clean up the image, fill in the missing bits and cracks and created a new label.

The triangular bolts look exactly like the ones used on gas meter boxes, try a key for one of those.

Peter
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Old 31st May 2021, 6:33 am   #3
Bobdger
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Default Re: Gents Flame Proof Clock

Hi as peter has said the triangle bolts were standard fit to a lot of FLP equipment. You may need to remove some of the outer metal from the key to fit within the bolt sorounds. Bob.
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Old 31st May 2021, 9:21 am   #4
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Default Re: Gents Flame Proof Clock

Surely the grey under the white gloss is just a primer? A similar grey primer will probably be OK. It would be more difficult matching the gloss since that is bound to have faded.
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Old 31st May 2021, 10:02 am   #5
factory
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Default Re: Gents Flame Proof Clock

Have a closer look at the label on the back, the white gloss has run over it, guessing it got repainted in situ at some point in the past.

David
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Old 31st May 2021, 10:09 am   #6
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Default Re: Gents Flame Proof Clock

The grey in the picture looks close to the 'Myford grey' of machine tools which might give you a lead on some.

David
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Old 31st May 2021, 12:23 pm   #7
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Default Re: Gents Flame Proof Clock

Just buy a cheap socket set at the flea market and grind the outside of the socket that fits.
We had a gas meter with a missing key and a six sided socket worked just fine.
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Old 31st May 2021, 12:56 pm   #8
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Default Re: Gents Flame Proof Clock

Regarding the flaking label, I was faced with a similar situation on the scale of a meter a while back. I removed the scale, taking care not to disturb the remaining fragments, then scanned it on a flatbed scanner. I used Paint Shop Pro to touch up and threshold the image, leaving a good clear black-and-white version. I then printed it using a laser printer on to self-adhesive weatherproof white film (Herma type 9500) and cut it out to fit. I washed off the original flaky paint from the metal scale (just water was enough!) and applied the label. It's indistinguishable from the original and still looks good today.

I did a similar job on my R1155 dial to restore the colours, though in that case I kept the original dial separately and applied the label to new piece of metal.

Chris
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Old 31st May 2021, 1:08 pm   #9
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Default Re: Gents Flame Proof Clock

Thanks for the ideas so far. A gas meter key is slightly to small and yes I could grind down a cheep socket . The only thing I’m thinking is the bolts are probably rusty so will probably want a bit of force and heat and a bit of plus gas. If I modify something it might snap.
That’s a good idea with the gray paint but I got a feeling it’s a shade to dark ,I will investigate.
It’s a standard Gent Grey colour so ideally I would like to have as near match as possible Andy
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Old 31st May 2021, 1:22 pm   #10
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Default Re: Gents Flame Proof Clock

Try a google search for 'triangular socket set' (no quotes), it turned up a few possible tools, like the Laser 5683. No idea if that includes the right size but it might do.

I'd give those bolts a good shot of penetrating oil, and then try 'rocking' them (alternately loosening and tightening) untill they come free. I find the slidling T bar handle used with both hands is the best way to turn such bolts. You can apply a pure torque with no sideways bending motion which seems to help a lot. Once you have them out you can clean up the threads with the appropriate tap and die I guess
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Old 31st May 2021, 2:02 pm   #11
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Default Re: Gents Flame Proof Clock

Quote:
The clock mechanism pulses On a battery. So that’s a good start.
So why dismantle it, just jazz up the case. I think these where made for 300mA current drive, a small dial will drop about 0.8V at that current. For my series loop of clocks I just found the current that made them all work and added 20%, keeps them quiet but reliable for a domestic setting.
 
Old 31st May 2021, 4:56 pm   #12
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Default Re: Gents Flame Proof Clock

Triangle headed locks are widely used in street lighting and street furniture. This company supplies a wide range of keys. https://www.pudseydiamond.com/keys/tri-head-keysand their chart might help you find the right size.

Each batch of street lighting columns comes with a key or a number of keys so local authority lighting departments tend to have a ready supply and don't buy keys separately very often.

CEF sell one size of key https://www.cef.co.uk/catalogue/prod...ghting-columns and the branches near to you seem to keep some in stock. If you took the clock there, you would be able to check the size.

PMM
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Old 31st May 2021, 9:12 pm   #13
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Default Re: Gents Flame Proof Clock

Some may be wondering why anyone would want to read the time in a burning building but I guess the flame proof clock was used in environments where there is a risk of explosions and is better known today as 'intrinsically safe'.
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Old 31st May 2021, 9:26 pm   #14
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Default Re: Gents Flame Proof Clock

PJL,

Sorry to disagree.

Flameproof (Ex d) equipment will not allow flame or hot gas to pass from its interior to the potentially hazardous external atmosphere in which it is used. It is one of several techniques used to prevent igntion of hazardous atmospheres.

Intrinsic safety (Ex i) is a technique which depends on the equipment being designed and constructed to be incapable of supplying sufficient energy to cause a fire or explosion under the assessed conditions and in relation to the likely hazardous flammable material.

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Old 3rd Nov 2021, 11:02 pm   #15
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Default Re: Gents Flame Proof Clock

Finally got the clock up and running. Been quite a bit of hard work.
Not ideal but I got the bolts out by giving them a gentle tap with a blunt screwdriver. Turned out they were not to tight. In the end I couldn’t get a correct paint colour to match the original. So I got a spray paint mixed special from a existing paint sample. Surprisingly not that much more than a normal spray paint. I put a 3/4 to 20mm conduit adapter And fitted a flex gland for the new cable. Not a flameproof gland ,but that won’t matter to me.but this clock had armoured cable going in to it before I think this should of been mineral insulated cable in the first place. It’s going to end up outside my summer house in the spring.
It does look a bit to clean and I don’t normally like over restoration but it was so bad I had no chose . I’m sure it will dirty up easy outside Andy
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Old 4th Nov 2021, 10:18 am   #16
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Default Re: Gents Flame Proof Clock

If the unit was originally grey, it is likely to have been of Naval origin. I had the same query when restoring a lamp post from a Naval cordite factory and was advised that it would have been 'battleship' grey. Nice restore.
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Old 4th Nov 2021, 11:09 am   #17
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Default Re: Gents Flame Proof Clock

Looks fantastic! Sometimes a total strip and respray is all you can do, and it does look better for it!

Regards
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Old 4th Nov 2021, 5:46 pm   #18
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Default Re: Gents Flame Proof Clock

Wonderful, I love the way the fixing screws are disguised as label holders (must remember that one!). It may/will be worth chucking in a few silica packs inside to remove the moisture in the contained air to save it fogging/frosting up in cold weather.
 
Old 4th Nov 2021, 9:52 pm   #19
bionicmerlin
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Default Re: Gents Flame Proof Clock

Thanks guys glad you approve. That’s a good idea about the silica. I won’t be using it to the spring but a good tip. I bought 2 spray cans thinking I had to right grey when In fact in daylight it was the wrong colour. In the future I will get any paint specially made to match as it was only a few quid extra and would of saved me getting the wrong colour in the first place . Andy
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Old 4th Nov 2021, 10:54 pm   #20
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Default Re: Gents Flame Proof Clock

That's stunning, well done!

Presume it uses one of the standard Gents impulse movements? Have you got any pics?

Cheers,

Nick.
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