Smiths Delhi Major QEMG Motor movement - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

PBruR24 · 1st Mar 2024, 4:51 pm

Hi Everyone....I need some help from this Community...

I have an old BBC Clock that has lost it's mechanism, I have decided to use the mechanism from a Smiths Delhi Major (UK) that I have... but the QEMG motor does not work at the moment, I've taken it off the face, put a meter across it and the winding is fine so I went on to provide some power(UK mains), well I could see (and hear) the motor trying to rotate but wouldn't rotate more than a couple of revolutions before stopping.... I then noticed the Plate on the end was damaged (not sure why I didn't see that the first time I got it off the Clock??) anyway I have provided a few photos to help... a couple of questions... what is this disc made of? (magnetic material?) and can I replace it? to be fair I'm assuming that this is the issue and the disc needs to be complete for the motor to continuously rotate... I would like not to have to replace the whole motor (not sure I'd find one anyway..) and quite like the challenge of renovating the original if poss.... could anyone help with a bit of advice on this... much appreciated...

Also if anyone has a suggestion on where I can find a new Motor/spare parts from

...if needed of course...

Robsradio · 1st Mar 2024, 9:53 pm

Hello, it seems a shame to strip the movement from the Smiths clock, I’d be inclined to repair it and retain in the Smiths, and look on eBay for a donor movement (maybe from a damaged clock) for the ex Beeb clock. I expect the BBC clock had a slave movement that was controlled centrally from a master clock ensuring uniform time throughout the building.
What make is the BBC clock, Gent maybe?
Enjoy the restoration.
Rob

PBruR24 · 1st Mar 2024, 10:55 pm

Hi Rob… thanks for responding… good idea… I haven’t completely decided to use the mechanism in the BBC clock… at the moment My focus it to repair the QEMG movement and get it working… I need to replace the magnetic disc…

Hi Rob/all
Yes I haven't completely decided to use the Smiths QEMG movement on the BBC Clock but I'm focused on renovating the Smiths QEMG movement first... I'm trying to find a Vintage clock-smith who may have some spare parts kicking around, primarily a magnetised disc I can replace..(if that at all possible) finding a replacement QEMG movement is few and far between...
Yes the BBC Clock did originally use a +- 50v system but the movement was thrown away before I could get my hands on it... if there is anyone who could suggest a donor movement I could use as a replacement I'd appreciate it....it's a large clock so would need an electric movement to cope with the larger than normal Hour/minute/second hands
Thanks...

stevenkw2t · 3rd Mar 2024, 10:59 am

The rotor disk is made of ferrite. I don't think you can repair the broken disk and I think it would be easier to find another working QEMG movement in a donor ebay clock, than to find/fit a replacement rotor.

PBruR24 · 4th Mar 2024, 10:53 am

Thanks Stevenkw2t… to make it more complicated they have x6 poles…. But I have a plan that may or may not work… I found a site that has small ferrite discs that are x6 pole… I may try to replace the disc and see if it takes…. A risk I know but fancy the challenge… onwards and upwards….

??

Hampus · 8th Mar 2024, 8:53 pm

I do have such a movement but no clock to use it with. It has been in a drawer for years, I will gladly gift it to you, if you pay the postal cost, since I don't have any use for it. However, I am located in Sweden and there may be both higher cost for both the postal service itself and eventually some other administrative fees (customs) when shipping items rather than ordinary mail.

I will look into it if you think this movement will help you

It spins when power is applied.

PBruR24 · 9th Mar 2024, 4:22 am

Dear Hampus ….Thank you so much that would be amazing

?? very happy to pay the postage etc… let me know once you have more info…

?

Hampus · 10th Mar 2024, 8:45 pm

Ok I have looked into it today, the movement is yours for £9. Send me a private message with your name and address

stevenkw2t · 11th Mar 2024, 11:58 am

Just an observation from working on QEMG movements - the front and rear plates are made from 'plastic bonded fabric'. I imagine this was cheaper than using brass. At the rotor end the plates are secured with twist tabs. Again I assume this was cheaper than using proper threaded fasteners. From repeated un-twisting and re-twisting the tab can eventually snap off. So I suggest twisting the tab only just enough to remove the plate or to reattach it.
I have one with a missing tab and I bodged it with a tiny cable tie. I've been meaning to come up with a more permanent and presentable solution but I end up just grimacing at it for a while before putting it back on the wall.
Good luck!
-Steven

Nickthedentist · 11th Mar 2024, 12:08 pm

Yes, not really designed to be repaired in the same way the earlier Bijou obviously was.

PBruR24 · 11th Mar 2024, 4:01 pm

Many thanks for the info Steven… Hampus has kindly offered me a working QEMG so I’m going to work with that.. if it all comes together I’ll be sure to post the results on here… once I have the movement I’ll need to fix the original hands to it… that may mean I get a clock smith (friend of my brother) to do the fiddly work….

1st Mar 2024, 4:51 pm	#1
PBruR24 Diode Join Date: Feb 2024 Location: Guildford, Surrey, UK. Posts: 5	Smiths Delhi Major QEMG Motor movement Hi Everyone....I need some help from this Community... I have an old BBC Clock that has lost it's mechanism, I have decided to use the mechanism from a Smiths Delhi Major (UK) that I have... but the QEMG motor does not work at the moment, I've taken it off the face, put a meter across it and the winding is fine so I went on to provide some power(UK mains), well I could see (and hear) the motor trying to rotate but wouldn't rotate more than a couple of revolutions before stopping.... I then noticed the Plate on the end was damaged (not sure why I didn't see that the first time I got it off the Clock??) anyway I have provided a few photos to help... a couple of questions... what is this disc made of? (magnetic material?) and can I replace it? to be fair I'm assuming that this is the issue and the disc needs to be complete for the motor to continuously rotate... I would like not to have to replace the whole motor (not sure I'd find one anyway..) and quite like the challenge of renovating the original if poss.... could anyone help with a bit of advice on this... much appreciated... Also if anyone has a suggestion on where I can find a new Motor/spare parts from ...if needed of course... Attached Thumbnails

1st Mar 2024, 9:53 pm	#2
Robsradio Heptode Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Isle of Wight, UK. Posts: 568	Re: Smiths Delhi Major QEMG Motor movement Hello, it seems a shame to strip the movement from the Smiths clock, I’d be inclined to repair it and retain in the Smiths, and look on eBay for a donor movement (maybe from a damaged clock) for the ex Beeb clock. I expect the BBC clock had a slave movement that was controlled centrally from a master clock ensuring uniform time throughout the building. What make is the BBC clock, Gent maybe? Enjoy the restoration. Rob

1st Mar 2024, 10:55 pm	#3
PBruR24 Diode Join Date: Feb 2024 Location: Guildford, Surrey, UK. Posts: 5	Re: Smiths Delhi Major QEMG Motor movement Hi Rob… thanks for responding… good idea… I haven’t completely decided to use the mechanism in the BBC clock… at the moment My focus it to repair the QEMG movement and get it working… I need to replace the magnetic disc… Hi Rob/all Yes I haven't completely decided to use the Smiths QEMG movement on the BBC Clock but I'm focused on renovating the Smiths QEMG movement first... I'm trying to find a Vintage clock-smith who may have some spare parts kicking around, primarily a magnetised disc I can replace..(if that at all possible) finding a replacement QEMG movement is few and far between... Yes the BBC Clock did originally use a +- 50v system but the movement was thrown away before I could get my hands on it... if there is anyone who could suggest a donor movement I could use as a replacement I'd appreciate it....it's a large clock so would need an electric movement to cope with the larger than normal Hour/minute/second hands Thanks...

3rd Mar 2024, 10:59 am	#4
stevenkw2t Triode Join Date: Feb 2020 Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia Posts: 26	Re: Smiths Delhi Major QEMG Motor movement The rotor disk is made of ferrite. I don't think you can repair the broken disk and I think it would be easier to find another working QEMG movement in a donor ebay clock, than to find/fit a replacement rotor.

4th Mar 2024, 10:53 am	#5
PBruR24 Diode Join Date: Feb 2024 Location: Guildford, Surrey, UK. Posts: 5	Re: Smiths Delhi Major QEMG Motor movement Thanks Stevenkw2t… to make it more complicated they have x6 poles…. But I have a plan that may or may not work… I found a site that has small ferrite discs that are x6 pole… I may try to replace the disc and see if it takes…. A risk I know but fancy the challenge… onwards and upwards….??

8th Mar 2024, 8:53 pm	#6
Hampus Pentode Join Date: May 2010 Location: Sandviken, Sweden Posts: 233	Re: Smiths Delhi Major QEMG Motor movement I do have such a movement but no clock to use it with. It has been in a drawer for years, I will gladly gift it to you, if you pay the postal cost, since I don't have any use for it. However, I am located in Sweden and there may be both higher cost for both the postal service itself and eventually some other administrative fees (customs) when shipping items rather than ordinary mail. I will look into it if you think this movement will help you It spins when power is applied. Attached Thumbnails

9th Mar 2024, 4:22 am	#7
PBruR24 Diode Join Date: Feb 2024 Location: Guildford, Surrey, UK. Posts: 5	Re: Smiths Delhi Major QEMG Motor movement Dear Hampus ….Thank you so much that would be amazing ?? very happy to pay the postage etc… let me know once you have more info…?

10th Mar 2024, 8:45 pm	#8
Hampus Pentode Join Date: May 2010 Location: Sandviken, Sweden Posts: 233	Re: Smiths Delhi Major QEMG Motor movement Ok I have looked into it today, the movement is yours for £9. Send me a private message with your name and address

11th Mar 2024, 11:58 am	#9
stevenkw2t Triode Join Date: Feb 2020 Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia Posts: 26	Re: Smiths Delhi Major QEMG Motor movement Just an observation from working on QEMG movements - the front and rear plates are made from 'plastic bonded fabric'. I imagine this was cheaper than using brass. At the rotor end the plates are secured with twist tabs. Again I assume this was cheaper than using proper threaded fasteners. From repeated un-twisting and re-twisting the tab can eventually snap off. So I suggest twisting the tab only just enough to remove the plate or to reattach it. I have one with a missing tab and I bodged it with a tiny cable tie. I've been meaning to come up with a more permanent and presentable solution but I end up just grimacing at it for a while before putting it back on the wall. Good luck! -Steven

11th Mar 2024, 12:08 pm	#10
Nickthedentist Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 17,870	Re: Smiths Delhi Major QEMG Motor movement Yes, not really designed to be repaired in the same way the earlier Bijou obviously was.

11th Mar 2024, 4:01 pm	#11
PBruR24 Diode Join Date: Feb 2024 Location: Guildford, Surrey, UK. Posts: 5	Re: Smiths Delhi Major QEMG Motor movement Many thanks for the info Steven… Hampus has kindly offered me a working QEMG so I’m going to work with that.. if it all comes together I’ll be sure to post the results on here… once I have the movement I’ll need to fix the original hands to it… that may mean I get a clock smith (friend of my brother) to do the fiddly work….