Expert: Michael Radi - 11/2/2008

Question
I have a little clock set into a little wooden cabinet.  It is battery operated and the receptacle that the battery fits into is removable.  There is a little dial that enables me to turn the hands of the clock.  The hands fit onto a little pin jutting out from the battery recptacle.  I would like to replace the battery receptacle as it is not working.  Can you suggest where I would get something like this?  It says "Quartz Made in USA" on the surface but there is no other identifier.

Thanks very much.

Answer
It sounds like you want to replace the complete clock movement, not just the battery receptacle.  They are usually held into the clock via a hex nut at the base of the hand shaft on the front. They are called mini quartz movements and run on one "AA" battery. This is the black box that is about 2-1/4" square, and 5/8" thick if it is a time-only movement (no chime, no pendulum) they are less than $5.00 each.
First you must remove the hands. If the clock has 3 hands, simply pull the second hand straight off. The minute hand may be held on with a small nut, or it may just be pressed on. The hour hand is pressed on and you can just pull it off.
Mini quartz movements are made with several different hand shaft lengths. After you remove the hands, unscrew the large hex nut at the base of the hand shaft and the movement should come out the back.
Measure the length of the threaded part at the base, then measure the total length of the hand shaft. This will help you identify the replacement movement.
If your movement had a small nut holding the minute hand on, your original hands should fit any I shaft movement. These are the most common type. If your minute hand has a round hole and was pressed onto the hand shaft, you should order new hands from the same supplier you buy the movement from. There are several suppliers who sell these items but most of them (but not all) have a minimum order amount. Here is one supplier who does not have any minimum order amount: www.norkro.com