Repairing 1950s dime store 110v electric bells

[hotrodjohn71]

I found these 'Bells of St. Nicholas ' electric Christmas decoration bells at an antique store and am hoping to get them working to be a occasionally usable novelty gift for my wife.
I have done some testing but still haven't got them to 'ring'.
There are 4 bells, each with a wire wound coil and a plunger inside attached to the bell.
I have tested for 110v AC across the whole setup and it seems ok.
I also sprayed a contact cleaner/lubricant on the plungers.
What would you suggest?
Thank you

 

[aliarifat794]

Check each coil for continuity with a multimeter. If a coil is open (infinite resistance), it is likely burned out and needs to be rewound or replaced.

 

[hotrodjohn71]

Thank you.
The magnet wire on these coils appears to be .005" so im assuming 36awg.
If im not 100% accurate in my count of the number of windings when I remove the old wire and install the new wire with a couple extra windings, will it make any difference in the function of the bells ringing?

 

[Nigel Goodwin]

Thank you.
The magnet wire on these coils appears to be .005" so im assuming 36awg.
If im not 100% accurate in my count of the number of windings when I remove the old wire and install the new wire with a couple extra windings, will it make any difference in the function of the bells ringing?

No, there's a good margin for error - 10% or more error won't make any difference.

 

[hotrodjohn71]

Thank you.

 

[hotrodjohn71]

I found that 2 of the coils were bad so I wound them with 36 wire. It was 2600 loops per bell spool.

I plugged it in and the bell coils buzzed but not enough to cause the steel center pin to vibrate enough to ring the bells.

Each of the 4 coils has about the same resistance, (about 122 ohms).

What would you suggest?
Did AC power have 60 cycles back in the 1950s?

 

[jason022]

What a charming project! These "Bells of St. Nicholas" sound like a fantastic find and would make a wonderful nostalgic gift. Based on what you've described, here are a few suggestions to troubleshoot and hopefully get them ringing:

1. Check the Coils: Use a multimeter to test the resistance of the wire-wound coils. If the resistance is very high or infinite, the coil might be broken and may need rewinding.
2. Inspect the Plunger Mechanism: Ensure the plungers are moving freely without sticking. Sometimes even a tiny bit of debris or corrosion can cause issues, even after using a contact cleaner.
3. Alignment: Check if the plunger is aligned correctly with the coil. If the plunger isn’t moving in and out properly when energized, the magnetic field may not be fully engaging it.
4. Connections: Inspect all the wiring connections for frayed wires or weak solder joints. A loose connection could be preventing the necessary current flow.
5. AC Voltage Test: While you mentioned testing for 110V AC, confirm that the voltage reaches the coils when powered on. A fault in the switch or wiring could interrupt the circuit.

You’re already on the right path! Keep us updated on your progress—these bells will be a delightful addition once restored.

If you're unable to pinpoint the issue or need professional assistance with the wiring or electrical aspects, reaching out to
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can save time and ensure safety. Keep us updated on your progress—these bells will be a delightful addition once restored!