As you may know, my British Jaeger watch in the P2 Tourer is unfortunately not running reliably.
I have now found the company 'clocks4classics.com', which offers a repair kit:
https://clocks4classics.com/clock-repair-kits
Has anyone here had any experience with this kit?
British Jaeger Clock Repair Kit for P2 Tourer #179
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ThomasMoRo
- Posts: 23
- Joined: Sun May 05, 2024 4:20 pm
- Location: Lower Rhine Germany
British Jaeger Clock Repair Kit for P2 Tourer #179
Rover P4 . 75 . 1958 & Rover Twelve P2 Tourer #179 - 1948
Re: British Jaeger Clock Repair Kit for P2 Tourer #179
It is a few years now since I bought one of these. It seemed a great concept. I had had various Smiths/Jaeger clocks repaired over the years by JDO and Carl Haworth among others. Carl's was probably the best, still working 23 years at least later although only used when needed. He also repaired the clock on Bruce Nixon's 16 which I have now and it is working perfectly.
Anyway, when I saw this product (do remember it may have changed since I bought it) , I thought - fantastic. Fix them for good. I should say I have had many years since childhood of repairing model railways, cameras, hifi etc, rewired houses, cars etc. - but the bit that beat me with this was the wires in the clock itself.
On the unit I bought it said to carefully push the wires within the clock mechanism into the contacts on the unit where they would click into place. There was no way the wires on mine, severely degraded by time, were ever going to click into the flimsy connectors on the circuit board and repeated attempts to make it work failed because the connectors on the board fell apart.
Unfortunately, I have found that this can be the failing with modern designed and made components. It is not their concept that lets them down but how they interface with the items of the past which are not pristine and usually past their best.
Were all the components new and unsullied by time, I think it would have worked and probably the even better answer would have been to have had the firm do the whole job but I seem to remember they had a long waiting list and were not taking on any more.
In due course I found some new balance wheels and fitted those to a few of these electric clocks.
I did write to Caerbont to ask why, when they can make a complete new clock for about £70, they couldn't make a complete replacement mechanism for this rather poor design which blights so many just postwar decent cars.Austin Atlantics, RM Rileys and Rovers are just a few.
They said they didn't have any drawings, wasn't their thing, etc. Another opportunity for British industry to make and sell us a "fit and forget" product that is blissfully ignored. Carl Haworth told me that the clock he fixed for me had been repaired at least once before the car it was on had actually been registered. Yes, that's how good the original product was.
Were I buying another of these repair kits, I would ask the firm what they would do if my clock wires failed to click into the connectors because the instructions made it clear that there would be no refund if this was , in technical talk, gubbed up by the user. That's why mine hit the bin.
In complete contrast, I had a package from China yesterday . A fuel gauge and sender passing as a decent LED replacement for a Hobson's telegauge. It works and cost under £15. Would that they would make a 12 volt clock mechanism. Just before seeing your question, I was saying to my wife that in the 20s and 30s, someone would write to "the firm" suggesting that they make this or that and, lo and behold, there on the box was a maker's name,Sinco Tech, so I've written to them with a couple of suggestions, 80mm clocks being one. I doubt anything will happen but I have at least tried. Programmable faced and hands, rev counter option as the originals - surely an opportunity to get some money out of us wrinkles for a decent toy - sorry, accessory.
I hope there may be someone who can tell you/us that their Clocks4Classics mechanism fitted and works superbly as the concept was good. Do remember, the product may have improved since I donated my £50 to this charitable cause. The money , I should say, is not the issue as I would happily pay, say, £150, for a mechanism that fitted as a complete replacement and which the original hands could be fitted to. I don't think that's unrealistic looking at the retail price of a new complete clock for a Stag ( part no 159609 £138 with handy remote adjuster so suitable for the Rover dashboard!!) .
The unfortunate bit is, I really doubt that a future generation will be bothered with all this. For the very few who have an old car, it will be as cheap as they can be bought and run till they drop, apart from some prized rarities. This is the last chance for many firms to sell us their products, if they can be bothered.
Anyway, when I saw this product (do remember it may have changed since I bought it) , I thought - fantastic. Fix them for good. I should say I have had many years since childhood of repairing model railways, cameras, hifi etc, rewired houses, cars etc. - but the bit that beat me with this was the wires in the clock itself.
On the unit I bought it said to carefully push the wires within the clock mechanism into the contacts on the unit where they would click into place. There was no way the wires on mine, severely degraded by time, were ever going to click into the flimsy connectors on the circuit board and repeated attempts to make it work failed because the connectors on the board fell apart.
Unfortunately, I have found that this can be the failing with modern designed and made components. It is not their concept that lets them down but how they interface with the items of the past which are not pristine and usually past their best.
Were all the components new and unsullied by time, I think it would have worked and probably the even better answer would have been to have had the firm do the whole job but I seem to remember they had a long waiting list and were not taking on any more.
In due course I found some new balance wheels and fitted those to a few of these electric clocks.
I did write to Caerbont to ask why, when they can make a complete new clock for about £70, they couldn't make a complete replacement mechanism for this rather poor design which blights so many just postwar decent cars.Austin Atlantics, RM Rileys and Rovers are just a few.
They said they didn't have any drawings, wasn't their thing, etc. Another opportunity for British industry to make and sell us a "fit and forget" product that is blissfully ignored. Carl Haworth told me that the clock he fixed for me had been repaired at least once before the car it was on had actually been registered. Yes, that's how good the original product was.
Were I buying another of these repair kits, I would ask the firm what they would do if my clock wires failed to click into the connectors because the instructions made it clear that there would be no refund if this was , in technical talk, gubbed up by the user. That's why mine hit the bin.
In complete contrast, I had a package from China yesterday . A fuel gauge and sender passing as a decent LED replacement for a Hobson's telegauge. It works and cost under £15. Would that they would make a 12 volt clock mechanism. Just before seeing your question, I was saying to my wife that in the 20s and 30s, someone would write to "the firm" suggesting that they make this or that and, lo and behold, there on the box was a maker's name,Sinco Tech, so I've written to them with a couple of suggestions, 80mm clocks being one. I doubt anything will happen but I have at least tried. Programmable faced and hands, rev counter option as the originals - surely an opportunity to get some money out of us wrinkles for a decent toy - sorry, accessory.
I hope there may be someone who can tell you/us that their Clocks4Classics mechanism fitted and works superbly as the concept was good. Do remember, the product may have improved since I donated my £50 to this charitable cause. The money , I should say, is not the issue as I would happily pay, say, £150, for a mechanism that fitted as a complete replacement and which the original hands could be fitted to. I don't think that's unrealistic looking at the retail price of a new complete clock for a Stag ( part no 159609 £138 with handy remote adjuster so suitable for the Rover dashboard!!) .
The unfortunate bit is, I really doubt that a future generation will be bothered with all this. For the very few who have an old car, it will be as cheap as they can be bought and run till they drop, apart from some prized rarities. This is the last chance for many firms to sell us their products, if they can be bothered.
Re: British Jaeger Clock Repair Kit for P2 Tourer #179
I fitted one of these modules to the clock in my 12 some years ago. I don’t remember any major problems installing it and it still works! It provides an optical replacement for the original switching contact. Otherwise the mechanism functions as before.
DavidM
DavidM
Re: British Jaeger Clock Repair Kit for P2 Tourer #179
Cheering news !
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ThomasMoRo
- Posts: 23
- Joined: Sun May 05, 2024 4:20 pm
- Location: Lower Rhine Germany
Re: British Jaeger Clock Repair Kit for P2 Tourer #179
Thank you for sharing your experiences with the kit.
I also posted my question in the RSR Facebook group and have already received some positive feedback there.
Regards
Thomas
I also posted my question in the RSR Facebook group and have already received some positive feedback there.
Regards
Thomas
Rover P4 . 75 . 1958 & Rover Twelve P2 Tourer #179 - 1948
Re: British Jaeger Clock Repair Kit for P2 Tourer #179
I chickened out on the kits as my soldering skills are abysmal! as he was local took my clock over.
He also did myZA Magnette & an XK120 fhc.
All ticking nicely
He also did myZA Magnette & an XK120 fhc.
All ticking nicely