Anybody else old enough to remember the electric arc/spring wind clocks from the 50's and 60's autos? Well, while earning my storage for my MCI, I found myself dismantling a 70's sticks and staples so it could be scrapped. Among my finds was a "Mecelec" brand hour meter originally associated with an Onan genny of some ilk. The meter shows 423 hours. I hooked the thing up and to my surprise it still works. You can hear the arc that causes the clock spring to wind followed by the rachety ticking of the drive mechanism turning the meter. I 'spose it was just meant to be used with Honeysuckle Rose my old skoolie-----. Jack
I might not be as old as you but I do happen to have an arc/spring clock sitting on my mantle. They were also used in some early portable alarm clocks. Mine is about 4 inches across and while the original casing is gone, I still have the clock mechanism.
Ryan.