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Thales GE

Another assignment from the Arithmeum, this machine was acquired after apparently being "restored".

Thales GE picture 1

Thales GE picture 1

The restorer had been a bit clueless too - apart from the mish-mash of incorrect screws, here's the issues that I found when looking at the machine:

  • left holder for the setting register clearing bar had been replaced, but the bar had never been attached to this new part. Setting clearing bar mechanism parts are missing.
  • carriage was stuck
  • revolution counter would not clear - wingnut stuck
  • revolution counter would not count either
  • next to last position on the result register would not clear

    As far as the result register was concerned, it was clear that one of the clearing teeth had broken. When I disassembled the result register, it turned out the whole register had been slathered in grease. Why would you disassemble a result register, NOT repair the broken tooth, and then reassemble it looking like it's been in a foodfight ? That's a bit beyond me, but OK ...I washed the whole mess in petroleum to get rid of the grease on the axle and numeral wheels.

    Thales GE picture 1

    Thales GE picture 1

    Thales GE picture 1

    Then the broken tooth was drilled out, and a replacement tooth turned to fit and assembled with loctite 648

    Thales GE picture 1

    Thales GE picture 1

    Then the tooth was slowly and carefully filed to shape. I got it right the first time this time ... I'm definitely getting better at this!

    Thales GE picture 1

    Thales GE picture 1

    Then it was on to reassembly of the register, verification it would work (it does) and filling in the missing white paste in the zeroes and nines of the counter register.

    Thales GE picture 1

    Thales GE picture 1

    Thales GE picture 1

    Then I discovered why the carriage would block at its leftmost position at seemingly random moments ... yes, a mishmash of screws can come back to bite you - this screw head is much too large!

    Thales GE picture 1

    I soldered the left holder for the clearing bar to the clearing bar, drilled out the relevant holes so that it could also be assembled and disassembled, and put the whole thing together.

    Thales GE picture 1

    Thales GE picture 1

    Finally, it was time to look at a counting tooth. I decided to keep it simple and make use of the existing four threaded holes in the tens carry cylinder for the counter. I made a curved steel plate to fit the cylinder, and bent the tooth at right angles to the cylinder. I reinforced it by soldering another two layers of steel to it to give it some strength and thickness, and then it was a matter of fitting and filing to shape. Once I was happy with it, I marked and drilled the holes.

    Thales GE picture 1

    Thales GE picture 1

    Thales GE picture 1

    Thales GE picture 1

    Thales GE picture 1

    With everything shaped and located correctly, it was time to assemble and test.

    Thales GE picture 1

    Thales GE picture 1

    Thales GE picture 1

    The final piece of the puzzle was the comma indicator bar - clearly the machine spent a large part of its life in an environment populated by heavy smokers - how else do you turn nickel a gold colour ?

    Thales GE picture 1

    And then the machine was finished - some pictures of its final state - the comma indicators at the top register have not been rpelaced, and the left side of the input clearing mechanism looks like swiss cheese, but still it's a pretty machine, and now also functional. I particlarly like how they used red, white and green to group the numbers in the setting register - it gives the machine a bit of Italian flair! Thales GE picture 1

    Thales GE picture 1

    Thales GE picture 1

    Thales GE picture 1