1955 clocks

[junkyardjeff]

My 55 sunliner came with a electrically wound clock but since I converted to 12 volts it was disconnected,I found a wind up clock and had it gone through and installed until I can get the original converted to 12 volts. I have only seen three of those wind up clocks and wondering if they could be ordered that way or were they the dealer installed clocks.

[50fordcoupeman]

I was told that 12v will not hurt these as the winding happens very quickly. I have not tried this though.

[Merc Cruzer]

You could always just put a voltage reducer on it, like you probably had to do with the gauges.

[scicala]

I believe the clocks were both assembly line options and installed when the car was built. Just had a choice between electric and wind up.


I would do as Merc Cruzer said. Just run a wire from the voltage reducer for the gages to the clock. You could hook up full 12 volts, but I have a feeling time may fly after that.


Sal

[dmsfrr]

"The polarity for the clock must be changed to neg. ground from pos. ground. .... There is a little tab that is designed to be positioned for pos. or neg. ground. .... Major damage will occur if it is powered up in reverse polarity. Install a 125 ohm 10 watt resistor in series with the 6-volt clock to drop the voltage to 6 or 7 V."

quote above from this link...
https://www.ctci.org/gilsgarage/6to12.php

This photo shows the grounding tab.
The 6v '55 clock in this photo was converted to a newer movement by a previous owner.

[junkyardjeff]

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Since it cost me 100 to get the windup clock working it will stay in for a few years but do want to get the original working some day.

[Daves55Sedan]

Back in the early '70's, there were still quite a few '55 Customlines around here and I always looked at them and noticed most of them had the wind-up clocks in them. Most of the Mainline series cars I saw in junkyards just had the plastic delete plate and the Fairlane series cars mostly had the electric clocks.
I always wondered if Fomoco had a Standard like this which could only be changed by a special order (having a electric clock in a Customline as a special order). I did see a few variances, but scant few.
I've had bad experience with one of the popular instrument rebuilder/restorers. I had my '55 electric Westclox converted to quartz movement and gave bold instruction that it should be delivered to operate on 6-volt positive ground electrical system. It lasted just past their limited warranty and died. I ain't playin that game with nobody. It makes me angry and disappointed to spend $110.00 for nothing.

[estout81]

Beware experts! That's why I try to fix everything myself. If I screw it up then I know who to blame. Cheaper too.

[junkyardjeff]

I seen a copy of a invoice of another 55 Fairlane I noticed that dealer charging around 15 dollars for the clock and on the invoice for my 55 Sunliner there is no extra cost for it.