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GE15WATTS and 1970s Flip-Clock!
I've always been fascinated by 15w bulbs so when I saw these at Goodwill I just had to have them for onlu 99 cents! And the clock-radio was 5 bucks at a yard sale this summer...it has very good reception (Otherwise VERY weak stations come in clearly!) and the dial is backlit with a neon which still works flawlessly...the only thing that's finnicky is the volume control knob...anyone else here into vintage radios besides me?
Keywords: Miscellaneous

GE15WATTS and 1970s Flip-Clock!

I've always been fascinated by 15w bulbs so when I saw these at Goodwill I just had to have them for onlu 99 cents! And the clock-radio was 5 bucks at a yard sale this summer...it has very good reception (Otherwise VERY weak stations come in clearly!) and the dial is backlit with a neon which still works flawlessly...the only thing that's finnicky is the volume control knob...anyone else here into vintage radios besides me?

CATH_IMG_7293.JPG DSC00208.JPG PICT0099.JPG DSC06534_Penn_Plax_15W_T8_Aquari_lux.JPG Regent MV Fixture 175w.JPG
File information
Filename:PICT0099.JPG
Album name:GEsoftwhite100watts / incandescent bulbs
Keywords:Miscellaneous
Company and Date Manufactured:GE
Wattage:15w and about the same I'd guess...
Lamp Type:Incandescent/Neon
Filesize:117 KiB
Date added:Nov 07, 2013
Dimensions:640 x 480 pixels
Displayed:777 times
Color Space:sRGB
Contrast:0
DateTime Original:2013:06:22 11:37:36
Exposure Bias:0 EV
Exposure Mode:0
Exposure Program:Program
Exposure Time:1/60 sec
FNumber:f/3.2
Flash:Red Eye, Auto-Mode
Focal length:9.7 mm
ISO:200
Light Source:Unknown: 0
Make:Minolta Co., Ltd.
Max Aperture:f/3.2
Model:DiMAGE Z1
URL:http://www.galleryoflights.org/mb/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=16540
Favorites:Add to Favorites

Comment 1 to 15 of 15
Page: 1

LampLover84   [Nov 07, 2013 at 03:34 PM]
I'm also into vintage electronics
If you can get to the volume control (Potentiometer) you can try a spray called Caig De-Oxit. The stuff is fairly expensive though but it works great
GEsoftwhite100watts   [Nov 09, 2013 at 01:36 AM]
Oh so you think oxidation is to blame?
LampLover84   [Nov 09, 2013 at 07:23 PM]
Yes and also dust
rlshieldjr   [Nov 09, 2013 at 08:09 PM]
I had a clock radio similar to this with flip numbers and neon light.
GEsoftwhite100watts   [Nov 09, 2013 at 08:50 PM]
There's tons of videos of this model on YouTube...
migette1   [Dec 20, 2013 at 08:33 PM]
Yes noisy pots can be restored by WD 40 but be careful not to wet the drive cord as this will cause slipping. Got some old valve sets also and telephones. Like those 15w lamps Andy, brought some back from my aunts in the 50s inside etch by G-E.
joe_347V   [Dec 20, 2013 at 11:30 PM]
I use this stuff on noisy pots.
GEsoftwhite100watts   [Dec 21, 2013 at 01:53 AM]
What are "Noisy Pots"? Really bad connections? I'm assuming (Pardon my ignorance) that the volume control is a rheostat of sorts hooked up to the speaker, kind of like a dimmer switch on a light fixture? Or am I totally wrong here?
It's not like I can do anything with this radio right now anyway; it's a few thousand miles away right now and I may very well never see it again unfortunately the way things are going right now... Rolling Eyes But I'm always interested to learn!
joe_347V   [Dec 21, 2013 at 05:41 AM]
It's when the pot makes a characteristic scratching noise (on the speakers) when you adjust it. A pot is short for potentiometer which is basically a variable resistor that controls the gain of the amplification circuit.
GEsoftwhite100watts   [Dec 21, 2013 at 02:16 PM]
Okay so the volume control then...yeah it was a little finicky. It didn't "scratch" so much as it was just finnicky at certain levels...either that or maybe the speaker is partially blown? I'm kinda doubting the latter is to blame since it didn't look to have much use on it; the neon backlight worked flawlessly, the clock worked perfectly and kept excellent time, the radio had EXTREMELY sensitive reception yet was pretty selective between, say, two stations RIGHT next to each other, etc.
migette1   [Dec 21, 2013 at 08:56 PM]
Sorry Andy should of explained I hate abbreviations as well, Joe is exactly right, WD 40 works well but you must get it into the unit normally you will find a little slit but not too much as it may go on the drive cord which would cause it to slip. Volume controls are a variable resistor and are Log as the ear hears logarithmic this means the change of resistance is not linear but changes, sorry cannot be clearer. The clock relies on the mains frequency 60 Cycles in US and will keep spot on time, if this was taken to the UK and run on 120V it would run slow due to our 50 Cycles. Hope this helps.
joe_347V   [Dec 21, 2013 at 09:51 PM]
Yeah, on mine I always open it up and squirt some de-oxit in the slits on the controls to clean them up and to lubricate them.
GEsoftwhite100watts   [Dec 22, 2013 at 12:42 AM]
I kinda figured Hz had something to do with the speed...what about voltage? Would high/low voltage make it run fast/slow as well?
joe_347V   [Dec 22, 2013 at 05:30 AM]
IIRC, the clocks in those have what's called a synchronous motor driving it so I think only frequency changes the speed. But yeah, running them on 50hz will make them run slower.
GEsoftwhite100watts   [Dec 23, 2013 at 01:19 AM]
Hmm interesting...common sense suggests it'd be otherwise/both. I always figured digital LED clocks rely on frequency; am I right? I have one that will run fast on modified-sine-wave inverter electricity; even the blinking "12:00" mode when first plugged in is faster!

Comment 1 to 15 of 15
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