Jowett Javelin Electric Clock

[Mike Allfrey]

Good Evening,

Over the past several days I have been 'restoring' Owners' Instruction Books for the Javelin models. The books are dated January, 1951 (with blue cover) and seems to match the PC model, the other book is dated May, 1952 (with plain brown cover) and seems to match PD model.

The 1951 book shows that there is an electric clock on both Standard and De Luxe models. Referring to the Standard model, the book states:

"The Time Clock is electrical and can be set in a similar way to the speedometer trip. There is an adjusting screw for regulation in the centre of the back of the clock. The illuminating lamp for the clock is wired in series with the headlamp and side lamps, and cannot be individually extinguished; thus it acts as a warning device, indicating whether the side lamps are switched on or out."

In the De Luxe section, there is only mention that the clock can be reset in the same manner as the trip numerals in the speedometer.

Then, on reaching the two wiring diagrams, there is no mention at all about the clock in the Standard model diagram. There is, however, only a large circle that is labelled 'CLOCK' and beneath the panel lamp graphic, there is 'PANEL LIGHT'. That is all , there are no graphics showing how the clock obtains its 12-V, and no illustration of the clock's illumination light receiving 12-V from the headlamp and side lamp circuits.

So, what was going on?

The PD model's wiring diagram makes no mention at all about the clock.

All of this makes clock wiring troubleshooting rather difficult! My Jupiter's clock shows the correct time twice in twenty-four hours. Thirty years ago, a clock repairer asked for $A600 to repair - I shied away from that and rely on my wrist watch.

Any advice or comments?

Thank you, Mike A.

[Keith Clements]

The clock needs to be supplied all the time with power or else you need to adjust everytime you power up the car.
The problem is that being on all the time wears out the contacts. Many have swapped the innards for a modern quartz movement.
The usual practice is to bypass any battery cut off with a separate feed for the clock.
Up to you how you feed the illumination.
There is a diode inside the clock which you need to reverse if you change battery polarity. See Early Javelin restoration topic.

[Nick Webster]

I am not aware of a clock being fitted to PD standard models. In the handbook for the PD there is mention of "clock" in the dashboard description but I think this is a fairly clumsy way of describing the instrument dials (as in "I had 100 mph on the clock") The deluxe section does refer to a "time clock" and then later on calls it an "electric clock".

The electric clock in my car does not work and it occurs to me, reading Keith's notes that a previous owner probably fried it when changing the car to negative ground. It was fairly low on the to do list and is probably even lower now!

Nick

[Mike Allfrey]

Thanks Keith and Nick,

I think that for the books I will leave 'as is'.

Having not been closely involved with Standard PC Javelins, I am not at all sure if they had time clocks or not.

Regards,

Mike A.

[Keith Clements]

viewtopic.php?p=22991&hilit=Clock#p22991

[Mike Allfrey]

Thanks Keith,

That looks like a lovely green paint job. The wiper motor looked a real mess when you dismantled it. Same with my Jupiter and opted to install a wiper setup from an Austin-Healey Sprite which works well.

Attached, I hope is a wiring diagram PDF document. I was wrong initially, the clock is shown in the Standard Javelin wiring diagram.

Others are welcome to use if they wish.

Regards,

Mike A.

[PaulRM]

The points in these Smiths time clocks wear out. Clocks4 classics do an excellent kit which replaces the worn points with an infra red sensor and microprocessor. This is not a quartz conversion; it uses the original mechanical movement and balance, giving you the correct tick etc. The kit is reasonably priced and not difficult to install. I have just repaired a Jupiter clock in this way.

https://www.clocks4classics.com

After sales service is excellent with this company.

[David Morris]

Hi all,

My Javelin is a 1952 Standard. She has two instruments, one is the speedo and the other is a composite cluster of oil pressure, water temperature and fuel gauge. Both instruments are fitted to the surface of the dash panel with chrome bezels. There is no clock. I understand that the same instruments were to be used in the CD range.

All the best,

David

[Forumadmin]

I was doing some cross referencing to find new clockwork for my tachometer.
It should be the same as the Triumph TR3 with 2-1 marked on the dial - I
believe the clockwork is the same.

Best of luck!

Tim

[Srenner]

Javelins and Jupiters have a 1" Smith clock. The clock's internals are the same across marques, but the clock case may differ depending upon the case of the larger gauge into which it is fitted. Faces/hands were varied according to the marques requirement.