Wanted Smiths Clock
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Austin Healer
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Keep in mind that Smiths clock destined for Sunbeams have the reset knob and speed adjustments on the bottom half of the clock. Smiths clocks were used in lots of Brit cars. Sunbeams have red hands. Tiger clocks are always negative ground.. regardless of series. Series 4 Alpines are positive ground. Early clocks have the 3 and 9 figures laid on their sides.. later clocks, the figures are all vertical.
Clocks can be repaired, modified with quartz movements and their polarities altered By Mike Eck... Jaguar clock guy on the interweb. The cost when I had mine repaired was $100, quite reasonable, I thought.
The clocks appear from time to time on ebay... I have found that US based vendors are a LOT more expensive than the UK vendors. I sourced a correct clock for my Mk2 Tiger on Ebay UK for $100USD...
Clocks can be repaired, modified with quartz movements and their polarities altered By Mike Eck... Jaguar clock guy on the interweb. The cost when I had mine repaired was $100, quite reasonable, I thought.
The clocks appear from time to time on ebay... I have found that US based vendors are a LOT more expensive than the UK vendors. I sourced a correct clock for my Mk2 Tiger on Ebay UK for $100USD...
The CE- number on the dial differs depending on the car. What do you have, and do you seek the correct clock?
Yes...thanks. I'm now on my 4th Tiger [arrives this week] and I've gone thru the clock exercise on all but one. I've used all the regular vendors to fix/convert to quartz.
Specifically looking for 3131-01, but I'll take a 3030-00...as long as the pointers are red.
Thanks again!
Specifically looking for 3131-01, but I'll take a 3030-00...as long as the pointers are red.
Thanks again!
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The hands can easily be painted the correct red . So don't fret a correct looking face with white needles
Just a note, last weekend I took my "wanting to work" 3131/01 clock and installed the "clocks4classics" kit in it and in came out working wonderfully. I have no affiliation, I just felt it is a well done kit and it now I have a like new clock again. BTW, it is not a quartz conversion. It utilizes modern circuit board to fire off the stock clock movement, still retaining original mechanism and very faint tick, like stock.
Mike
Mike
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Austin Healer
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I believe that this is the "kit" that Mike Eck (Jaguar clock guy) uses. I had him reconfigure my clock last year and I am very happy with it.
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Rootes used 4 different Smiths clocks from 1959 thru the end of production of the Alpines and Tigers. Granted the Tigers used the clocks with red hands as did the series 4 Alpine. The judging guidelines for Tigers show that the MK 1 used the clock with the 3 & 9 being horizontal and the MK 1A and MK ll used the clock with the vertical 3 & 9 numbers. Early Alpines used two different clocks with white hands with the series 4 Alpine having a clock like the MK 1 Tiger. Series 1 Alpines had a clock with adjustment knobs at the top. Were the clocks sensitive to polarity? I'm asking this because two of my Harringtons have been changed to negative ground and they have the correct clock. There are many clocks already out there in both Alpines and Tigers that were converted over the years by using quartz internals. These were done by Tiger Tom in Pa.
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I have two correct 3131/01 clocks that I would sell. A little dusty from decades of storage
One clock is NOS in the original box, never used, never installed, tested and works. Comes with bracket, hardware and light pigtail. Perfect for concours.
The other clock is in very nice condition, but does not work. Comes with light pigtail. Ideal candidate for conversion.
I’m aware they are valuable. Shoot me an offer for either
One clock is NOS in the original box, never used, never installed, tested and works. Comes with bracket, hardware and light pigtail. Perfect for concours.
The other clock is in very nice condition, but does not work. Comes with light pigtail. Ideal candidate for conversion.
I’m aware they are valuable. Shoot me an offer for either
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Incase anyone is misled the series I/II clocks had the white hands. The series I also had the adjusters at the top of the bezel (same as Aston db4 and early cobra) the II moved the adjusters to the bottom. That's the 2194 clock with /09 indicating white hands.
Series 3 used the red hands to match the switch to the red needle gauges. That the 2194 clock.. with /09 indicating red hands. The numbers on all the early clocks to SIV and MKI Tiger have larger fonts and the 3 and 9 are horizontal.
The later clocks as per the posters photos are the SV and MKIa and MKII tiger clocks with smaller fonts and the numbers all vertical per the later style gauges
The IA also used this clock but the font doesnt match the other gauges as they maintained the earlier font style... So the earlier clocks are a better match
Series 3 used the red hands to match the switch to the red needle gauges. That the 2194 clock.. with /09 indicating red hands. The numbers on all the early clocks to SIV and MKI Tiger have larger fonts and the 3 and 9 are horizontal.
The later clocks as per the posters photos are the SV and MKIa and MKII tiger clocks with smaller fonts and the numbers all vertical per the later style gauges
The IA also used this clock but the font doesnt match the other gauges as they maintained the earlier font style... So the earlier clocks are a better match
Austin Healer
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yes, the clocks are polarity sensitive for the original electronics. Repaired clocks can be configured for whatever the polarity of the car is.
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The original clocks in two of my Harringtons work even though the cars are now negative ground. I'm not saying they work correctly. They do show the correct time two times a day.
All this info and photos concerning clocks are listed in the judging guides along with all other areas of the cars if anyone has any questions about what should have been correct for either Tigers or Alpines. All sections of the cars are shown. There have been exceptions to the rule found over the years.
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I installed the clocks4classics kit and it works perfectly.
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Are the clocks4classics units fairly accurate? I have a question for owners. How many disconnect the battery when the car is parked in the garage for several days or longer periods? Most cars have the original Lucas wiring installed 60 years ago. I had a wiring harness melt the wire insulation probably 40 years ago so I have ways to quick disconnect the battery on all of my Beams.
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The kit from clocks4 classics just excites the balance wheel instead of the unreliable electromechanical method originally used. The accuracy is as good as the original. It can be sped up or slowed down with the adjustment screw in front of the clock.
So far, its pretty accurate.
So far, its pretty accurate.