Philharmonic -Glass retainer spring replacement

[David C. Poland]

This type glass retainer is scarcer than hens teeth!  The old coil retainer springs out of production for decades according to a local clock shop. 

So, advised to make a spring retainer.  From your local hardware buy a 3 ft piano wire - I chose .078 Music Wire.

Cut to length with a mallet and cold chisel. Seriously - hard spring wire!

Then bend into a circle. Start bending using progressively smaller paint cans. Avoid kinking the wire.

You want it to be a little larger circle than the brass dial ring it fits into. Also, about  1/2 inch from one end, put a bend you can grasp using pliers, because you want to be able to trial fit the spring a couple times and need one end you can grasp to remove the spring. Do not add the glass until your spring is finished.

I painted my spring with gold paint.  I also polished and lacquered the dial ring to brightness to match the gold control escutcheons. Finally, instal the glass and carefully install the spring you made.

*

Two photos:

-an original coil spring glass retainer - dark looking.

-my spring made from .078 Music Wire, painted gold.

[mike hadley]

Don't forget this method.

https://ehscott.ning.com/forum/topics/philharmionic-bezel-wire

Mike

[Scott Seickel]

I purchased the bronze guitar string as Mike used.  Now I am waiting for proper replacement glass from Ronell Clock.  I measured escutcheon to require 7-3/4" glass, so I ordered that size.  I got 7-7/8" glass.  I sent them a picture and told them that I need 7-3/4" max dia.  They sent me 2 more and they are 7-13/16" after saying they carefully measured with a steel ruler....ugg.  My choices are to try grinding the diameter down slightly, or just order new 7-5/8" diameter glass seeing as though they seem to run large.  For $22 delivered, I think I will just order the smaller size. 

[David C. Poland]

The vintage General Cement glass # 72 that I located is 7 3/4 " and fit perfectly.

[David C. Poland]

Yes - see the above thread for bezel wire - using a bass guitar steel string.