NuTone L36 Elite “Built-In” Clock-Chime
NuTone L-36 Elite Clock-Chime ~1958
The L36 Elite was introduced in 1958 as NuTone’s first recessed clock-chime. The anodized aluminum clock face featured a series of 48 holes with four between each red and/or black five minute divisions. These holes served as markers for the sweep second hand and enabled the sound from the recessed tone-bars and resonators to radiate.
The L36 is a “Chord-Tone” chime with two pairs of tuned tone bars stacked with a correspondingly arranged pair of solenoids. For the primary call, the L36 simultaneously strikes two bchime bars on the left side before recoiling and striking the other pair on the right. This produces a chord for each note of the “ding-dong” melody.
For the second door, only one of each pair of tone-bars are struck in sequence. This provides a non-chord, and higher pitched, “ding-dong.” This contrasts to the majority of chimes that strike only one note for the second door.
The L36 was introduced in the 1958 NuTone Catalog:
“Built-In Elite” “Built-In” Chord Chime and Clock. Homemakers fall in love with this new idea. It’s a combination Kitchen Clock and Door Chime. Stunning design plus Chord Tones. Pleasing to the ear…attractive to the eye.
Simplified installation — no clock outlet needed. Completely recessed, flush with wall. Copper Anodized with markers in Black and Red… Also in Gold or Silver Anodized. Two chords for front door, 2 notes for rear door.
| Manufacturer | NuTone Inc. |
| Location of Manufacture | Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Date of Manufacture | 1958 |
| Cover | Anodized Aluminum. Available in Copper, Gold or Silver. |
| Mechanism | Stamped steel |
| Resonators | Plastic |
| Tone bars | Painted steel |
| Height | 7 7/8 inches |
| Width | 7 7/8 inches |
| Depth | 4 5/16 inches including recessed portion. 1 1/4 inches from wall. |
| Notes | ElectraChime Collection. Original Condition. |
I recently moved into a house with this awesome door chime but it’s missing one red screw and one black ball where could I get replacements?
On occasion, I’ve seen these NuTone clock faces turn up on ebay, sometimes incomplete without the chime mechanism. A while back I saw one with what you need. In the mean time you might fabricate what you need from some round wood beads from an artist supply store although you’d have to replace them all so it doesn’t look odd. They can be difficult to remove as they were assembled with press on nuts. I’m sorry, I don’t have any spares.