1941 Cadillac 6 volt Jaeger Clock Repair/Convert

[J. Russo]

Looking for recommendations specific to the 1941 Jaeger clock.

I've seen a lot of older posts related to the 1941 Jaeger clock repair.

I currently have 3 of these clocks that don't work. I had 1 repaired that only worked for a couple months.

Can anyone recommend a clock repair company they had experience with where this model clock ran reliably for a long period of time or they had the clock converted to quartz successfully and didn't have issues changing out the batteries without removing the clock.

This has been the biggest frustration I've had with restoring my Series 63 Sedan.

Thank you

[Jay Friedman]

I have a '49 whose clock had the same problems.  I had it converted to quartz using a single AA battery.  Every 2-3 years I have to change the battery which does require removing the clock from the dash, but it's not that difficult on a '49. I wouldn't know how difficult it is to remove a '41 clock.) In any case, I now have a reliable clock. 

[J. Russo]

Jay,

It's difficult to remove on the '41 in that you have to position yourself upside down under the dash to loosen the bolts that hold the clock in place. You would have to do that anyway to replace a battery, but it would be much easier not to remove the entire clock.

Who converted your clock?

[Jay Friedman]

I had it converted many years ago and don't remember exactly. 

I think it was this firm: www.bobsspeedometer.com.

[J. Russo]

Bob's worked on my gauges, speedometer and clock a few years ago. They did everything well except for the clock. I had to send it back at least 3 times and even then it only worked for a few months.

[Alan Harris CLC#1513]

I converted my 1940 LaSalle clock to quartz years ago. The battery replacement is easy because you only need to open the glove compartment and reach up. Similar, I recall, to 1949. In a 1941, wouldn't it be possible to   
install the movement in the clock and then have a couple of remote lines coming out of the clock to a more convenient location and put the battery there? It would be a lot easier than removing the clock every year or two to replace the battery.

[J. Gomez]

Folks,

Have anyone look at a DC-DC step down converters in particular the "lm317 dc-dc converter buck step down converter". These can be adjusted down to around 1.2V with a range of 5-40V input. One will need to take a long time to adjust the trimmer down to the 1.7V that would be needed.

Just a solution. 

[bcroe]

Just a few thoughts on quartz clock conversion.  These came in a lot of varieties. 
I started using a fluorescent digital display, to save power the display only came
on with the ignition, or when you pressed a momentary button.  This one had
dimming when the lights were on. 

Yes I certainly recommend it, have used them since the 70s.  The ideal might be
a car clock, of course they all work on + 12V.  There are converters that can
change this to 6V of either polarity.  One problem with these is they must have
some filter circuits for protection against car supply transients (esp when cranking),
and to avoid radio interference.  Another is, the drain of such a device might be
too high and result in dead batteries. 

Some clocks use an internal dry cell, usually an AA needing annual replacement. 
What I have long done with these is parallel some D cells, extending replacement
time up the the shelf life of the batteries, some 7 to 10 years.  Extension time will
be mostly proportional to the the amp hour battery capacity, or simply the weight. 
With some meticulous soldering, a brand new AA cell is wired in parallel with 2 or
more brand new D cells. 

What about powering the above type clock from the vehicle battery?  This type clock
has an extremely low average and peak power requirement, to run that long on an
AA.  I do not have numbers, but suggest that using a simple linear regulator could
avoid all the above mentioned problems.  It is isolated, so any polarity vehicle could
work.  Use a bridge rectifier input, to avoid any concern with hookup polarity.  A
linear reg could burn off all the extra vehicle voltage, 6V or 12V, minus 1.5V lost in
the bridge.   This at a power level probably below any of the other options.  All that
is needed is a reg circuit (using extremely efficient field effect devices) that does NOT
have a lot of wasted idle standby current.  Linear does not generate radio noise, can
easily operate at extremely low power, and with all the voltage being thrown away,
transient protection is easy.  Someone ought to make one that plugs into the AA
battery space. 

More recently I have changed out radios to get newer features such as media
playing, digital tuning, and yes a clock.  My latest has a pull out to also give GPS
mapping AND a backup camera.  The original clock position is useful for
more gauges or switches. 

�BRUCE ROE
5719 EAST SKINNER ROAD,
STILLMAN VLY, IL 61084-9215 Phone 815 234-8039
K9MQG since 1958     solar powered since 2013

[J. Russo]

I'm learning a lot about these clocks. One thing is the warranty on repairing the original movement is only 30-90 days at some repair shops that agree to work on them. The reason for the short warranty is due to the delicate nature of the original parts/springs involved.

I reached out yesterday to RS Gauge Works and Instrument Services to ask some questions about converting to quartz.

Both vendors will convert the clock to quartz so that it works on the car's 6 volt electrical system. No AA battery needed.
The front exterior of the clock will not change. The main difference is the way the clock's time is set. Each vendor offers a 1 year warranty.

I appreciate all of the input. However, I'm not skilled enough to attempt the work myself.

I will most likely go the conversion route moving forward. I could have had 3 clocks converted to quartz with the money I wasted on buying/repairing the clocks I have with original movements.