Expert: Michael Radi - 12/3/2011

Question
Hi,

I have a cool clock but it keeps losing about 1 min every hour, even with a fresh battery. I've looked on the Internet for replacement movements but it seems people use the same terms to describe different parts of the movement. For example, a 1/4" clock may refer to the total shaft length from one vendor and just the threaded shaft length from another.

My movement is from Young Town Quartz, model 12888 (picture attached). It has a threaded shaft about 1/4" long, and the overall shaft is 1/2" long. All of the hands are push on/pull off. It has a smooth sweeping second hand.

With this information, can you recommend a replacement movement and where I might find it?

Thanks so much for any help.

Lorien

Answer
Thanks for the great photo. You have a movement for "press on" hands. That means that both your hour and minute hands have round holes and press on. The movements I sell use a small nut to hold on the minute hand and the minute hand will have a small nut to hold it on. So your hands will not fit my movements.
Regarding shaft measurements, you are right, there is some confusion. There are three measurements to consider:
Dial thickness: The thickness of the material that the movement shaft has to go through
Threaded length: How long the threaded part at the base of the hand shaft is. This will be at least 1/16" longer than than the dial thickness so you have enough thread to put the washer and mounting nut on.
Total shaft length: The length of the shaft from the front of the movement housing to the tip.
Young Town uses the number 12888 on a variety of products they sell so it does not specifically describe your movement.
You say your movement has a smooth sweeping action. This makes it a continuous sweep. I sell continuous sweep movements but as I said your hands will not fit. The only option I can offer you is a new movement and hands. Here is a link to my continuous sweep movements:
http://www.norkro.com/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=82_145
Here is a link to hands that will fit it:
http://www.norkro.com/index_files/page0004.htm
Michael