Hi s code, Your clock is basically a wind up clock, that winds itself up when the two contacts close. If you carefully lift the movable contact away from the fixed contact you will in a sense wind the clock and it should run without power until the two contacts come together again. If it wont run, I'd strongly suggest taking it to a professional clockmaker and have it checked out. I've repaired (or converted) hundreds of these and if they won't run, once wound, they usually just need cleaning and oiling. (very seldom do they wear out, as it's usually burned contacts or a burnt up coil that stops them from winding) as mentioned above, what usually kills the clocks is letting the battery in the car die to the point where the coil can't generate enough of an impulse to wind the clock and open the contacts. The contacts will will stay closed and either arc and burn up the contacts or cause the winding coil to stay energized, heating up and burning up the coil.
It sounds like the coil in your clock is ok (the tick you heard when you connected voltage to the clock was the clock trying to wind) So if you want to try and fix it yourself get some clock oil from a local shop, and carefully put a drop of oil at the end of each gear where the arbor meets the plate, up to and including the balance wheel (the wheel that rocks back and forth), manually lift the movable contact and see if the clock runs. Be really careful of the small, coiled spring mounted above the balance, if you bend the spring so it touches itself or anything else, or get any oil on the spring, the clock will run fast or not at all. If the clock runs, then clean the contacts and see if it keeps time.. WARNING.... DON'T spray any lubricant (WD40, CRC, ect on) the movement as you'll get oil on everything and you'll have to have the clock cleaned all over again. Parts are not available for the clock so if the coil or the contacts are burned, you'll have to find another, better clock to start with. If it were me, I'd buy a conversion kit from ISI
http://clocksandgauges.com/ if your clock was made by Borg (check the back of the clock) or have them convert it to quartz if it was made by another manufacturer (DIY kits are not available for other manufacturers). It will keep way better time than the old movt, and won't burn up again. If you want your original clock restored (not quarts) they can do that too. They manufacture the kits that most of the clock guys use to restore the clocks and have a huge supply of NOS clocks and parts. Keep in mind that an NOS clock will burn up just as fast if you let your battery die..
Just my professional opinion..... John
