NuTone L39 Musical Door Chime
The NuTone L39 Madison is a four or eight note musical chime that plays the Westminster sequence on three tone bars. This Madison is styled like a fanciful traditional wardrobe with ornamental bails on decorative drawers beneath a grille cloth panel topped by a segmented arch.
A common practice among manufacturers is to preserve the equity established with particular model names while updating the product to meet market conditions. The Madison name had previously been been assigned to a striking clock derived from the successful NuTone Jefferson Chime-Clock.
Two years after the introduction of this iteration of the L39, an updated solid state sequencer replaced the Telechron Motored sequencer seen here. I believe this was NuTone’s first solid state sequencer. Solid State should not be confused with electronic chimes which synthesize audio signals or relay the percussive sound of tone bars or long bells. Electronic Chimes were available from NuTone as early as the late 1950s. The Madison example exhibited here plays on tone bars:
The then new, L39 Madison was featured on the cover of the 1965 NuTone Catalog. Within it was described:
L-39N “Madison” — Rich, new Walnut or Blond Elm wood-grain finish. Traditional styling. Basket-weave grille cloth and Gold ornaments. Eight or 4 notes for front door. 1 note for rear door. different note for third door.
Manufacturer | NuTone Inc. |
Location of Manufacture | Cincinnati, Ohio |
Date of Manufacture | 1965 |
Cover | Styrene Plastic with Blond Elm Wood Grain |
Mechanism | Stamped steel |
Resonators | Plastic |
Tone bars | Painted steel |
Height | 12 inches |
Width | 8 1/4 inches |
Depth | 3 1/8 inches |
Notes | ElectraChime Collection. Original condition. |
Hello, I recently purchased a home that has a Nutone L39 with walnut finish. I am working to restore it but running in to a few road blocks with finding parts. Is there somewhere I can go online to find parts for this?
Hello Steven, I am aware of no new parts for vintage NuTone chimes. They usually must be scavenged from donor chimes or custom manufactured. if you use the contact page and send photos of specifically what you need, I might be able to help.