Anyone Fix Clocks?

[prime minister]

I got a lovely, wind up , Art Deco clock today, that might be in need of some servicing. I wound it up, and it actually works and seems accurate over the last 6 hours. However, I doubt it has been cleaned/oiled in a long time, so I'm just wondering what should be fine with it.

In the "Don't Build 'Em Like They Used to" category, I'm shocked something 80 years old works and keeps time!

And the construction of this thing is wild. It's a glossy burl veneer, over what looks like mahogany! Go figure!!!

 

[fiddlefye]

I got a lovely, wind up , Art Deco clock today, that might be in need of some servicing. I wound it up, and it actually works and seems accurate over the last 6 hours. However, I doubt it has been cleaned/oiled in a long time, so I'm just wondering what should be fine with it.

In the "Don't Build 'Em Like They Used to" category, I'm shocked something 80 years old works and keeps time!

And the construction of this thing is wild. It's a glossy burl veneer, over what looks like mahogany! Go figure!!!

Back in the summer I restored a 19th century oak dresser. It has very thick quarter-sawn oak veneer over a hard maple carcass. They just had access to so much good hardwood back then they hardly knew what to do with it!

As to the clock - you can probably lube that up yourself just fine if it is already running well. Maybe a little of the same sort of stuff as for a turntable would suit?

 

[Dan ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ]

I would carefully remove the mechanism and visually check it for dirt/sludge build-up.
If you see a lot of that...I would have it cleaned. If not...get some lightweight oil...such as mineral..
and add a dab at each pivot point hole. If not properly lubricated, the pivots will wear eccentric holes into
the plates and it will no longer run without an expensive repair.

 

[mhardy6647]

We collect clocks
(Imagine that?!)
Like a 1952 Vincent Black Lightning, an Altec Duplex, and an SE 2A3 amplifier, antique, mechanical (wind-up) clocks have got souls.

clockfront by Mark Hardy, on Flickr


Good "clock guys" (and I use the term 'guy' generically as a substitute for person) are increasingly hard to find.

We are also fortunate enough to have a good clock guy, who also happens to be an avid ham and one of the local vacuum tube hifi gurus. I doubt he'd be a cost-effective solution in this case, though.
http://hochstrasserclock.com/
Ross is the kind of person who doesn't run screaming for the door when he encounters a Herschede clock like the one above. They have sort of a reputation.

absent a good clock guy, Celt's advice/suggestions are most apropos, methinks.

 

[Dan ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ]

Here is my 1869 E. Howard tall case clock.

 

[mhardy6647]

A beautiful clock.

 

[prime minister]

I would carefully remove the mechanism and visually check it for dirt/sludge build-up.
If you see a lot of that...I would have it cleaned. If not...get some lightweight oil...such as mineral..
and add a dab at each pivot point hole. If not properly lubricated, the pivots will wear eccentric holes into
the plates and it will no longer run without an expensive repair.

Turns out it has a lovely, and very high quality English movement in it. It also has about 80 years worth of accumulated crud in it, even if the movement is actually in nice shape. And, someone tried to assist it operation by liberally spraying with WD40. Which didnt work, or help.

To that end, it is getting a cleaning by the local clock repair guy.

 

[mhardy6647]

Turns out it has a lovely, and very high quality English movement in it. It also has about 80 years worth of accumulated crud in it, even if the movement is actually in nice shape. And, someone tried to assist it operation by liberally spraying with WD40. Which didnt work, or help.

To that end, it is getting a cleaning by the local clock repair guy.

You haven't posted a photo of it (yet), have you?

 

[prime minister]

You haven't posted a photo of it (yet), have you?

Ummmm. Nope.

 

[prime minister]

To give you an idea of the size...

 

[prime minister]

And yes, I guess I'm getting my clock cleaned.

 

[mhardy6647]

ooh, beautiful.
you fellers are giving me clock envy.

 

[prime minister]

ooh, beautiful.
you fellers are giving me clock envy.

It looks even better in the flesh. The baked, high gloss veneer finish looks incredibly rich.

I can see this becoming an expensive hobby for me.

To the surprise of no one on the Haven, I'm sure, I'm a big fan of Art Deco. I think a beautiful Art Deco mantle clock, with westminster chimes of course, would be a great addition to the collection.

 

[mhardy6647]

I just like clocks that go tick, tock and have carefully crafted, precision parts made of brass and other stuff inside 'em.
None of ours is a pretty as yours or the one Ernie showed in this thread.

We have some friends from Harvard (now living out on Cape Cod) who collect and restore clocks. They have some amazing ones.

 

[Ernie]

the one Ernie showed in this thread

Did you mean the Howard Regulator that Dan showed? I like that one a lot, and would have posted a picture of it, were it actually mine.

Sadly, it is not.

 

[Dan ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ]

My name is Ernie!!!

 

[Ernie]

What a coincidence.

Two for one, in the coincidence department, my grandfather emigrated from Ireland, so I guess that makes me

Celt

 

[mhardy6647]

Did you mean the Howard Regulator that Dan showed? I like that one a lot, and would have posted a picture of it, were it actually mine.

Sadly, it is not.

Whoops! Yes the Regulator.
I apologize to you both!

 

[Ernie]

No apology owed to me.
On the other hand, Dan, whom you thought was me, might be traumatized.

 

[mhardy6647]

No apology owed to me.
On the other hand, Dan, whom you thought was me, might be traumatized.

yeah -- maybe I should make a donation to a charity or somethin' in his honor