GE "Programmer" Clock Radios

[jstout66]

I thought I hit the holy grail at a thrift store last week. Came across a 1981 GE "Programmer" clock radio in the BOX! It was only $6.00.
However... got it home and the push button pad is dead. I know GE only made these for a few years and they had a high failure rate. Does anyone have one that actually works? I see them on eBay all the time and they NEVER work.....

[OvenMaster]

I just saw pix of these somewhere. The reason they fail is that crud gets beneath the switch contacts on the keypads. DeOxiting everything will work for a while. Covering the keypad with a clear plastic baggie afterwards will keep additional crud from clogging the contacts.
Tom

[andy]

Remove the foam pad under the plastic buttons. It gives off a gas that corrodes the contacts. Those radios are pretty hot items on ebay (over $100).

[CUlater]

I collect old clock radios too. I have about 5 of the 4880/4885 series, with a couple of keypads OK, and a couple dead...I've not gotten around to replacing the foam under the keys yet. Sounds like the same sort of effect is in play as rots our speaker surrounds.

Cool find - I've never found one in the box! I do have a manual for one of the models (can't remember which right now...).

[wa2ise]

I did the following to fix mine: Combination digital clock and digitally tuned radio receiver. Keyboard gets dirty quickly, making keys inoperative. Long term fix: disassemble keypad, clean contacts, then place a plastic sheet (cut from a zip-lock bag) between the metal keytops and the black foam holding the plastic keytops in place. Did this 4 years ago, keyboard still works fine.

[matt_s78mn]

Could someone please post a pic of one of these radios and maybe a closeup of the keypad? I'm not familiar with them and would like to see what they look like.

Thanks

[70salesguy]

I had one of those.

It was a heck of a nice unit.

Alas, after I cleaned the keypad contact pads too many times, it got where you couldn't do anything with it. :tears:

Even though it is gone, I think I still have the box it came in ( being used to hold vintage audio brochures ).

If I can find it since my move, I will take a digital picture and post.

[wa2ise]

Could someone please post a pic of one of these radios and maybe a closeup of the keypad?

Thanks

Here's mine: http://www.geocities.com/wa2ise/radios/ge74480.jpg

[Don Lindsly]

WA2ISE solution works. I clean the contacts by sliding thin strips of 1200 sandpaper under the pressure plate and press. It only takes a few times under each contact for the keypad to start working again.

When they are all done you can spray the contacts with some Blue Stuff tuner cleaner. It has some thin grease that keeps the contacts from oxidizing again. If you are a purist, the contacts on the PC board can be replaced with gold contacts. That fix is final.

Don