Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Archives of the best of past topics For Sale Archive, Non-Petro glo-dial clock

I am assuming this is a glo-dial clock I can see three neon tubes inside through the glass one clear and two white. It has some kind of electrical conections on the side of it I dont know what those are for. The clock is 32 inches and heavy!

I plugged in the clock and the time is accurate to the T!

The neon dont light up though what could be the problem?

What is the value of it also?

Is this for sale?

And this looks almost like a clock I have made by the ever-lite company out of Los Angeles. If it were a glo-dial usually they put their logo between the 6 and where the hands are attached.

No it is not for sale I looked up this clock and it says they were used for bowling alleys back in the day and thats why it has 3 different neon tubes in it.

Here is what it says:
Glo-Dial Company

Large Clocks




The same style as the basic "standard" clock, these clocks are larger, and have multiple rings of neon. Some have an external wiring switch which allows different neon tubes to be turned on at different times.

An anecdotal story mentions that one of these clocks installed in a bowling alley had three tubes of neon, a red, a pink, and a white. During "league" play, when the first game was being bowled, only the red neon would be turned on. When the second game was rolling, only the white neon would be lit. During the third game, all three neon tubes would be lit, glowing pink

Mine only has a single green tube. Mine is also a bank themed clock.

If those are some kind of external switch connections,then the neon may be off since unconnected.need to open the back and see how it is wired.it may be simple to turn them on with some type of jumpers.only recommend doing this if you have some electrical knowledge. Make sure you have power going TO the transformer ,and that all connections are good. Being that there are four terminals,I would guess one is power going out to the switch,and the other three would be sending power back in to each of the neon tubes(three) this would make sense with your description. Glo dials usually go for good money on eBay,but I can't really guess at the value. Nice clock. Ps. You must be single,cause if I put a metal clock like that on one of our leather chairs,my wife would string me up!!

Ok I will open it up and snap some pictures of the inside of it and post them here so I can get some help on the wiring I would love to see it lit up! I have a little electrical knowlege nothing to brag about though I sure dont want to screw this up. No I am married she was taking a nap when I snapped the picture...shhhh.

Just something to maybe study also,BEFORE you plug things in.

http://www.steinville.com/neon_repair.htm

Thanks for that link I will do some reading up on it.

if none light up, it would make sense its either the transformer or the wiring. unless there is visible damage where all three tubes come togther.

Neon/transformers are very dangerous

Dangerous as in how are they dangerous?

Read the first warning of the link! As long as careful and use common sense,you should be good.if you are unsure of messing with it,then don't. Still would like to see pics,even if you decide not to work on it. I have done the arc test described,and it works.and I'm still here to write this. Lol

Oh the little thing about the 4,000-12,000 volts!...yeah that is a bit spooky.
Here are some pics with the cover off the back for you guys to see, what do yall think?

Looks like you have a 24v ? Transformer ( silver)that powers two different relays that would then turn on the power to the high voltage transformers( the heavier black transformers).thing is,it's kinda hard to tell how that works by just the pics.any chance the inside of the back has a schematic on it? Just by the view, things look like in good shape. Can you get a pic of the top of the silver transformer?(where the wires connect?). I think my first guess is close,with them using low voltage to the switch.havent worked on this particular setup(yet) but doesn't seem to complex.Also see if there is a voltage rating on the silver transformer,or the two relays. If it is 24 volts,then it should be relatively easy to check.but also gives the possibility of another bad transformer.

After having studied the wiring, I can tell you that the step down low voltage transformer (silver) is used to activate/ energize the relays. As it is sitting there; currently, there is no mechanism in place to energize the relays. They need to be energized in order for the neon to light up.

The terminals that would energize the relays go directly, to two of the four terminals in the body at the top. The remaining two terminals carry low voltage to activate/energize the relay. This leads me to believe the terminals on the top were connected to external switches that turned the neon on and off.

In your photograph you have four terminals on the body of the clock. It appears that the left terminal and the terminal beside it (to the right) if jumped (connected together) will light one tube. The remaining two terminals if jumped will light the remaining tube.

If I had it in front of me, I could 100% guarantee the foregoing...however I can't see all the leads. If you jump the terminals as I have suggested, the neon tubes should light, assuming that, all the transformers and relays are in good working order.

Good luck and always bear in mind when working with electricity... Electricity is a great servant but a terrible master!

And since it's low voltage at that point,you don't have to worry about getting knocked off your feet. Looking again,I agree with Dave. Try it and let us know!

Ok here is some pics of the top of it.


Ok I am fixing to go to work I will try that tomorrow and see what happens and let you guys know.

Terminals 1 and 3 are hot and common.again left to right. Once you know which is hot, jumping to 2 or 4 should close either relay.try it on the relay that is connected to the good tube,broken tube won't work anyway.Looks like three should be hot,but again only a guess till you get the voltmeter on it.

Looking at the new close up pictures that you have attached. I need a bit of clarification as the photographs of the low voltage output side of the transformer are blurry.

Does the bottom/lower terminal have three wires attached? One going to each relay and one going to the terminal #1 on the clock body. The top terminal has one wire going to the #3 terminal on clock body?

If this is the case, then the jumpers will need to be attached differently as noted below.

Terminal #1 = Is a low voltage output.

Terminal #2 = Feed to energize relay #1.

Terminal #3 = Is the voltage feed for the relays.

Terminal #4 = Feed to energize relay #2.

To light the one of the neon tubes you need to jump a lead from terminal #3 to terminal #2 and this will energize relay #1. At this time you will hear relay number #1 click and you will be able to see the contact move. If the neon tube and the high voltage transformer is good then the neon tube will light.

To light the second neon tubes you need to attach another jumper lead from terminal #3 to terminal #4 and this will energize relay #2. At this time you will hear relay number #2 click and you will be able to see the contact move. If the neon tube and the high voltage transformer is good then the neon tube will light.

You will not be attaching any leads to terminal #1.

I think we said the same thing.

Ok I took the sign out in the sunlight to snap some better pics I hope these help out somewhat. I looked on top of the transformer and there are no markings on it to verify which the hot side and the neutral side if that makes sense.

Looks like its still #3. Light er up!

WOOHOO!! it works. Here she is in all her glory!.....I appreciate you guys helping me get her lit up...here is a pic....when I went 3 to 2 and then 3 to 4 they both light up the same tube should I even bother with replacing the other tube then?

Be yu ti ful!!!! Your choice if you want to replace it,but I know I would! Real nice clock! I think I need one!

Ps... That clock is in amazingly clean condition inside!

Looks great!

Congratulations-Nice clock. I'm usually not that lucky. lol

Thanks guys! if it was not for you guys help I would have never figured it out. What kind of toggle switch should I use to rplace thos conectors so I can turn it off and on?

Any type of switch will do.you can run a low voltage line down the wall from the outside terminals, and hook to regular wall switch(3 to one side of switch,and 2-4 to other side.) or you can put a pull chain type switch and do your connections inside the clock.i would only do this if there is a hole to mount the switch( don't like to drill holes in clock bodies). I have put "touch" switches in some of my clocks,that way you don't have to drill a hole,and it's easy to turn on and off.( if I left all the lights on all the time,my electric bill would be sky high!) once you figure out where you are going to put the clock,it may be easier to decide what type of switch to install.

What does a touch switch look like?

A touch switch mounts on inside of the clock body,and is wired into the light circuit only.you would have to check and see if it could be used to turn the low voltage transformer on.not sure on that.in a Pam clock,you are turning on two regular light bulbs,and the switches I have in a couple of mine actually have three settings.touch once,light on,touch twice,brighter,touch third time brightest. This would not work on a transformer.also you would have to have a bare metal spot on the clock,a screw that was unpainted , that you would have to touch.I buy mine at Menards ,but lowes or home depot would have them too.might want to do a little Internet research before you buy one,just to make sure it's feasible with your clock.Works well on Pam clocks,cause the bodies are unpainted.

Oh ok I get what your saying now. I really dont want to leave a bare spot on the outside I may just just use a set of toggles to run them then.

Ok to my amazement there are actually 4 neon tubes in the clock. Two white ones and the two clear ones. The clear ones light up red and neither one of the white ones are lighting up. I checked both relays and the clock work perfectly clicking like old car points.

The little white tube that surrounds the face flickered a couple of times just at one of the short stems that go through the hole like a lightning flash and buzzed a bit but did not light up plus I noticed where the tubes turn and go back into the clock the tubes are blackened does this mean the tube is burnt out because the two tubes that do work look silver in that same area?

The larger white tube of course is broken where it bends and goes through the hole. I got in touch with that Waynes clock parts and they were on the road and said they would get back to me.

I am going to try and strip that brown paint off somehow and get it back down to that original blue I like it! Any tips on getting it off is much appreciated!

Here are some pics to show what I am talking about.

First thing I would do is replace the broken tube,and see what happens.black does not mean that the tube is ness bad

The tubes are hooked in series, meaning that if one tube is defective then both will not light. The electrodes are suppose to be black and they don't usually burn out.

If you live in a larger center/urban area than I would have that neon tube repaired versus replacing it. More ecomonical. In my area I could have that tube repaired, both electrodes replaced, regased and bench tested for about $50.00.

Most neon tubes at Wayne's are 55.00

When and if Waynes gets back to me and in the meantime I will check around locally to see if anyone here does that sort of thing I will keep you guys updated.

Well the clock has been stripped down to the original paint and I got the neon tube replaced that was broken and the new switches installed and she is hanging on the wall. She is 99% finished I have got to find the second(s) hand and nut to finish it, I hope I can find them!

This is a three color clock...BLUE, RED, PINK...they look awesome in person!