Telavox images

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A contact with a Telavox has kindly forwarded some stunningly sharp images of the motor from his clock. He is dismantling the clock to clean it and took the opportunity to take some pictures. I was so impressed with John's photography that I thought his images well worth sharing. (after receiving permission of course) I have omitted John's surname to protect his privacy.

I should mention that I have resized the original images in PhotoFiltre to make them more acceptable to those viewers on a slow internet connection. The original images are razor sharp even when viewed full screen on my 23" monitor. Clicking on any of the images in this chapter will provide a superbly sharp 250-300kB enlargement. You may choose to click on them accordingly.

Here the energizing coils may be seen together with the stator and poles. The ratchet wheel is where a springy wire pushes to start the motor to begin the strike.(and simultaneously rewinds the going spring) The motor shaft is connected to a reduction pinion driving a fibre gear.

The view from the other side of the motor. Notice the motor has a number stamped into the end plate. The use of fibre plate for many components of the Telavox clocks is obvious from these fine images. This is a material borrowed from the Telavox radio production facility. A material with which Telavox had decades of experience for use in their domestic electronics.  Until, that is, clock production was introduced as radio valves (tubes) became impossible to obtain during the WW2 German occupation. It is known that the director was a clever and competent clock maker in his own right. This is clear from the ingenuity and skill he showed in designing such a unique clock movement. Which not only ensured the large, existing workforce could manufacture something completely new but also used many of the traditional skills with familiar materials. 

A general view of this clock. I call this the narrow, square, case style. (for want of a better description) I wonder whether Telavox had individual names for their case styles as they did for their radios? The box lining to the lower case and the superb veneering with exotic woods is a touch of pure quality.

The cream chapter ring is quite unusual and rather attractive. Offering superb clarity for reading the time in poor light. As is the sheer size of the dial in comparison with competing spring driven clocks of the same basic style. Many Danish homes had small, multi-paned windows until well after the war when picture windows and bungalows became more commonplace. Indoor, natural lighting levels were often quite poor. The housing stock was typically old, timber framed cottages and farmhouses of the rural scene and many are still found even in many towns and major cities today.  

Note how the clock has been photographed from an angle to avoid a direct reflection of the photographer in the convex glass. Convex dial glass clocks are notoriously difficult to photograph. Often shielding the dial from clear view.

The interior view of the Telavox clock striking on gongs. The rewind and striking motor is on the right of the square movement plates. The springy motor starting wire is visible pointing at the fibre ratchet wheel.

The usual 4.5V battery required by striking Telavox clocks is on the left snuggling into the wooden cut-outs provided.

John has discovered that this is one of the few rubber date stamped clocks. It is dated 10 OKT 1948.

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