Bulle clock contact material - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Dickie · 12th Jan 2013, 5:29 pm

I'm posting this in trepidation that it might not be allowed but my justification is that it's an electrical problem, not mechanical

I have a Bulle clockette from roundabout 1930 I'm trying to restore and I need to replace the silver contact because it has worn down to the mounting yoke surface. All the silver sheet or strip I can find in the right thickness (~0.5mm) is supplied "fully annealed" and is for the jewellery market. Is this going to be too soft for an electrical contact?

ianm · 12th Jan 2013, 5:59 pm

Hi Richard,

Although I can't help with your question directly, it might be worth contacting Peter Smith, who is a Bulle clock repair specialist and parts supplier:

http://www.horologix.com/

http://www.horologix.com/parts.html

Darren-UK · 12th Jan 2013, 6:08 pm

Yes, I too would recommend contacting Peter Smith.

Annealed silver of the type intended for jewellery would be no good in a Bulle clock. You need the correct part, correctly prepared, or you'll have endless problems trying to get the clock running properly.

Dickie · 12th Jan 2013, 6:46 pm

Thanks guys. I have been all over Peter's website, and refer to it often. It seems to be the only web resource that deals with these clocks in any detail. I was looking for some other opinions and possibly peoples experiences. In one of his featured restorations he does say he gets his silver from a jewellery supplier, so it looks like I need to contact him.

Darren-UK · 12th Jan 2013, 7:01 pm

It's the heat treatment of the silver that's tricky, in particular when it needs hardening.

I don't know if silver supplied to jewellers has to be softened by them or if it's already supplied softened. That in turn means I don't know if Peter has to treat the silver he acquires, hence the recommendation to contact him.

Mike Phelan · 13th Jan 2013, 10:38 am

Richard, I'm assuming the silver is worn so it's sometimes missing the silver pin?
When I had a Bulle I managed to file the notch slightly to correct that, and it ran perfectly for years.

I also had to re-magnetise the magnet as they weaken over the decades.

Dickie · 13th Jan 2013, 11:10 am

Yes, Mike, the contact point has worn down to the point where it's at the same level as the (steel?) yoke, and according to Peter Smith's site, the yoke will start to wear a slot in the silver pin.

But your suggestion is just the lateral thinking I was looking for! Leave the contact alone and file the yoke down a bit. Wonderful! I suspect some would regard it as a bodge but sometimes needs must.

I think I'll try and re-magnetise the magnet just for fun. I'll get that spare car battery on charge...

Many thanks,

12th Jan 2013, 5:29 pm	#1
Dickie Octode Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: St. Albans, Hertfordshire, UK. Posts: 1,478	Bulle clock contact material I'm posting this in trepidation that it might not be allowed but my justification is that it's an electrical problem, not mechanical I have a Bulle clockette from roundabout 1930 I'm trying to restore and I need to replace the silver contact because it has worn down to the mounting yoke surface. All the silver sheet or strip I can find in the right thickness (~0.5mm) is supplied "fully annealed" and is for the jewellery market. Is this going to be too soft for an electrical contact? __________________ Regards, Richard, BVWS member

12th Jan 2013, 5:59 pm	#2
ianm Hexode Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, UK. Posts: 341	Re: Bulle clock contact material Hi Richard, Although I can't help with your question directly, it might be worth contacting Peter Smith, who is a Bulle clock repair specialist and parts supplier: http://www.horologix.com/ http://www.horologix.com/parts.html __________________ Regards Ian McLaughlin, BVWS member

12th Jan 2013, 6:08 pm	#3
Darren-UK Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Blackpool, Lancashire, UK. Posts: 4,061	Re: Bulle clock contact material Yes, I too would recommend contacting Peter Smith. Annealed silver of the type intended for jewellery would be no good in a Bulle clock. You need the correct part, correctly prepared, or you'll have endless problems trying to get the clock running properly.

12th Jan 2013, 6:46 pm	#4
Dickie Octode Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: St. Albans, Hertfordshire, UK. Posts: 1,478	Re: Bulle clock contact material Thanks guys. I have been all over Peter's website, and refer to it often. It seems to be the only web resource that deals with these clocks in any detail. I was looking for some other opinions and possibly peoples experiences. In one of his featured restorations he does say he gets his silver from a jewellery supplier, so it looks like I need to contact him. __________________ Regards, Richard, BVWS member

12th Jan 2013, 7:01 pm	#5
Darren-UK Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Blackpool, Lancashire, UK. Posts: 4,061	Re: Bulle clock contact material It's the heat treatment of the silver that's tricky, in particular when it needs hardening. I don't know if silver supplied to jewellers has to be softened by them or if it's already supplied softened. That in turn means I don't know if Peter has to treat the silver he acquires, hence the recommendation to contact him.

13th Jan 2013, 10:38 am	#6
Mike Phelan Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Near Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK Posts: 4,609	Re: Bulle clock contact material Richard, I'm assuming the silver is worn so it's sometimes missing the silver pin? When I had a Bulle I managed to file the notch slightly to correct that, and it ran perfectly for years. I also had to re-magnetise the magnet as they weaken over the decades. __________________ Mike.

13th Jan 2013, 11:10 am	#7
Dickie Octode Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: St. Albans, Hertfordshire, UK. Posts: 1,478	Re: Bulle clock contact material Yes, Mike, the contact point has worn down to the point where it's at the same level as the (steel?) yoke, and according to Peter Smith's site, the yoke will start to wear a slot in the silver pin. But your suggestion is just the lateral thinking I was looking for! Leave the contact alone and file the yoke down a bit. Wonderful! I suspect some would regard it as a bodge but sometimes needs must. I think I'll try and re-magnetise the magnet just for fun. I'll get that spare car battery on charge... Many thanks, __________________ Regards, Richard, BVWS member