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Mike Murray
Telechron, G.E., General Electric, Herschede, and Revere striking electric clocks
and Ship's bells clocks Service Charges.
Copyright © 1995-2023 Michael P. Murray & Mike's Clock Clinic
Mike Murray Memberships: NAWCC
P. O. Box 562
1151 D Street
Fossil, OR 97830-0562
The P.O. Box is for the USPS only and should be removed for all other carriers.
Please do NOT call or E-mail unless you have read this entire Web page
Telechron, G.E., and Revere striking electric clocks including Ship's Bells.
Assuming that you send the entire clock and it only needs rotor service
and the clock is a striker then the costs are either $250.00, which is $100.00
for the "H" rotor service and $100.00 for labor and $50.00 for shipping or for
the "B-2" rotor the costs are $300.00, which is $150.00 for the rotor service
and $100.00 for labor and $50.00 for shipping or $30.00 if it is a small mantel clock.
The rotor rebuilding or replacement takes care of the clock's problems
about 80% of the time. Shipping for an individual rotor or coil or together
is the same $20.00.
Complete rotor rebuilding information is located at:
http://www.telechron.us/rotor.html
If your Telechron, Revere or G.E. is a striking clock, meaning that it does
strike the hour and sometimes the 1/2 hour, then it would take either an "H-3"
rotor or a "B-2" rotor. This includes "Ship's" and many mantel clocks.
Any 3.6 RPM "H-3" original copper and nickel rotor replacement cost is $100.00.
Rebuilding your "B-2" rotor costs $150.00. Unfortunatelymany old
Telechron, Revere and G.E. electric clocks have had the rotor replaced prior and
therefore will not contain original parts. I can restore to originality or I
can repair what is currently there, your choice.
Another problem area is the coil. In all cases the clock has a coil
and if needed that is $150.00. These are most always 2 watt's. 2 watt
coils cost $150.00. About 5% of clock problems has to do with the coil.
To determine whether or not you need a coil, you can take a Multimeter or
Volt/Ohm meter, these are less than $20.00 at any hardware store, and with no
current on the motor, set the meter to Ohms and touch the two leads to the end
of the wires or the posts where the wires connect and see if you get a reading.
Just about any reading is a good one and if you can see the coil #, that represents
the Ohm reading so if your coil is a # 60 coil then you should get about 60 or 600 ohms
depending on the setting of the meter.
Some have indicated to me a fear of the clock shorting out or becoming a fire hazard.
If that's the case then purchase a power strip and only plug the clock into it.
This way you have a fuse to stop an overload before it feeds back into your household
or office wiring. Honestly, I have never heard of an electric clock causing a fire
but putting in a power strip may ease some fears.
For non Telechron "motored" clock, then the service would be for a clock
motor and that can be handled as well, with motor rebuilding costing $250.00
with all else staying the same.
Please be sure to double box the clock and insure it for at least $200. By double
box I mean to pack the 1st and 2nd boxes as if you were going to ship each independent
from the other one.
Be sure to pack your clock well with minimal tape because when I unpack I try
to save your packing material and a lot of packing tape prevents me from recycling.
Please be sure to ask for 100% biodegradable packing peanuts or purchase them yourself.
Please do NOT use shredded paper because it is extremely messy and drives me crazy.
I use a 24" x 9" x 9" as the first box and then use a 28" X 12" x 12" box for the second.
Eco Box is an on-line business in Texas that allows you to order as little
as one box. So if you're having difficult securing the correct size boxes, then
you have another resource.
UPS sells boxes but you can Google to find someplace to buy boxes. In my opinion there
is no best when it comes to a carrier. I use UPS for convince not because I believe they
are the best. The best insurance is to double box and pack each box well, even if it means
an oversize final box causing an increase in shipping price. If you're a busy type, then
you can use a UPS store to ship it and have them pack it but I have seen them do lousy
packing as well. The goal is to have nothing negative happen shipping both to me and back
to you and why I do my own packing and always double box and always have some packing
material surrounding the clock and surrounding the 1st box. A little more time and a
little more expense will save the large headache of trying to find someone who will work
on the clock and have someone remove the movement, bezel, face and chime block before the
case is worked on. This will fall on you because the carrier will have me return it to
them and then they inspect it before they ship it back to you.
Sometimes there is usually a saw-like 2 blade system in the clock to secure the chime rods
for shipping. Open the back door or remove the back covering and they are usually found
toward the left and near the end of the rods. They turn either clockwise or
counter-clockwise and their job is to secure the rods so they don't rattle during shipping.
They only have to touch and don't need to be "heavy" on the rods. Please be sure that this
is engaged for safe shipping. If they are gone or not there then I use a piece of small
bubbled bubble wrap and fold it over once or more and then weave it in and out of the chime
rods. A one inch wide strip is all that is needed. If that proves too difficult, then
fold the bubble wrap until it is thick enough to put a small amount of pressure on the chime
rods when you lay it on the bottom of the case. Again this is slight pressure to keep the
rods from rattling. This is easy to remove and prevents the chime rods of rattling during
shipping and breaking. If one or more breaks then that adds $150.00 to install a set of
tuned rods which has to be done because replacing only one or two rods throws the whole
tune out of pitch.
My turnaround is 4 to 6 weeks for motor service, 6 to 8 months if the clock is sent
with the motor, or if the movement is overhauled.
I no longer offer expedited service.
The movement will tell me if it needs work once the rotor rebuilding is finished
and I always clean and lubricate the movement before testing starts, so as to eliminate
dirt and a lack of lubrication from preventing the clock functioning properly.
Your problem could also be the caused by wear in the movement (mechanism)
from usage. About 15% of the time this is necessary and this would require
an overhaul. An overhaul on striking electrics is $500.00 plus $50.00
shipping. The movement overhaul does NOT include the rotor or coil, so
that would be added to the cost of the overhaul and that would be the worse
case scenario.
I realize this may all be confusing but I never do more than is needed and
the clock always stays original, as sent to me, or I refuse the work.
Here's some possible scenarios if you send the entire clock:
H3-rotor rebuilding $100.00
Labor $100.00
Shipping via UPS ground $50.00 maybe $30.00
Total $250.00
B2 or B-13-rotor rebuilding $150.00
Labor $100.00
Shipping via UPS ground $50.00 maybe $30.00
Total $300.00
All aluminum "B-13" rotors are replacement rotors. Meaning that they were
manufactured after your clock was made in order to save production costs on replacements.
For an extra $150.00, I can replace your aluminum cased "B-13" rotor with
an older nickel cased "B-2" rotor. The "B-2" has copper plates and will
generally last 2 to 4 times longer then their aluminum counter parts ($450.00 total).
This is by far the most popular choice.
B-3-rotor rebuilding $150.00
Taking a "B-3" from inventory $150.00
Labor $100.00
Shipping via UPS ground $50.00
Total $450.00
If a coil is needed then add $150.00 to each of the above.
This is rare.
If the movement needs rebuilding then add $500.00. A movement overhaul is very rare.
I do my best to ascertain whether or not you need an overhaul upon initial examination.
If I feel it does need to be overhauled, I contact you in case you want it returned with
nothing being done. I charge $100.00 for my time and whatever the shipping happens to be
either $50.00 or $75.00 depending on the size of your case.
Please do not send any money or check with the clock. However, if you are
sending a Telechron rotor only, prepayment is always welcomed because of the
relatively short turn around time.
When you send the entire clock a new electric cord and plug is
included, if needed, with the color choices of clear, black, white, or brown
and in the length of your choice.
Now I do have a policy that allows for a "Rush" job. If you really want your
electric clock moved to the very next project that I'll work on, it will cost you triple. I
will contact you within a few days of it landing. I must first disassemble it in order to
ascertain what it needs. Once done then everything triples except return shipping. In
general your costs will go from $325.00 to $825.00 plus parts and those parts will also triple.
I realize that this is outrageous but if I'm going to deal with all those in house customers
that will have to wait longer because you need the project done as soon as possible then I
must be compensated for that future aggravation. It may bring no additional work but we'll
see what we'll see. Including the bench time and testing it should leave here in 3 weeks
and 5 weeks on the outside but I'll need a check for that to happen. Please make it out to
Mike Murray at P.O. Box # 562, Fossil, OR 97830 but wait until I have disassembled it and
contact you via E-mail with an exact amount. I'll not proceed until the check lands or a
Pay Pal payment is made which will be 3% higher. The only parts the an electric may need are
a coil (now $450.00) of a set of chime rods (now $450.00).
An example for a Rush job with you sending the entire clock is: (First the regular price)
B-3 rotor rebuilding $150.00 (An "H" rotor is $100.00)
Overhauling the movement $600.00 (A time only movement is $400.00)
Shipping via UPS ground $75.00 (A time only will be around $30.00)
Total $825.00 (A time only clock is $530.00)
If the above becomes a Rush job, then (as an example):
B-3 rotor rebuilding $450.00 (An "H" rotor is $300.00)
Overhauling the movement $1,800.00 (A time only movement is $1,200.00)
Shipping via UPS ground $75.00 (A time only will be around $30.00)
Total $2,325.00 (A time only clock is $1,530.00)
This is the most expensive example and assumes a movement overhaul which most don't need.
All Rush jobs must be requested and when I receive a clock I assume it is a regular job and there
will be no mention of a Rush job in all my E-mail contact with you.
All checks must be made out to Mike Murray because I gave up my business checking.
I would like payment by money order, certified check, personal check,
business check, or through Pay Pal or Square, which is the only way I take
credit cards. I do prefer a check over Pay Pal or Square because Pay Pal and
Square take 3%.
The 3% is added to the total bill if you use a credit card.
With either Pay Pal or Square, I will send an invoice to your E-mail
address. Here you are dealing directly with either service and not me.
You do not have to be a member of Pay Pal or Square in order to issue a payment but
the 3% will be added to your total bill.
All of the added fees are exactly what either service charges me for taking your
credit card.
Respectfully,
Michael P. Murray
Memberships Include:
National Association of Watch & Clock Collectors
An Internet private E-mailing list called Clocksmiths
N.A.W.C.C. National 400-day Clock Chapter # 168
A service from, E-mail address: Mike@telechron.us
Mike Murray Founder of Clocksmiths
A specialist in Atmos and 400-day clock repair.
Also, I overhaul most plug in electric clocks.
In continuous service since 04/01/1982.
Mike's Clock Clinic Memberships: Clocksmiths & NAWCC
P. O. Box 562
1151 D Street
Fossil, OR 97830-0562
Phone: 541-370-2440
My main Web site is located at http://www.atmosman.com/
Main FTP site is located at http://www.atmosman.com/earthpdf.html
Memberships: Clocksmiths & NAWCC
N.A.W.C.C. International 400-day Clock Chapter # 168
Published in Chapter 168's "Torsion Times"
Published in AWCI's "Horological Times"
Formally AWCI's 400-day (Anniversary) clock Bench Course Instructor!
Back to Mike's Clock Clinic's Telechron Web Page
Copyright © 1995-2023 Michael P. Murray & Mike's Clock Clinic
Created in December of 1995 and last updated January 02, 2023.