Old clock headed for the trash | ||
| Mantel Clocks480 of 719 |  |  |
ticktocktime100 loves this.
cue606 likes this.
geo26e loves this.
AntigueToys loves this.tom61375 loves this.
smiata loves this.
pw-collector loves this.
Aimathena loves this.
kerry10456 loves this.
officialfuel loves this.
gargoylecollector loves this.
Bruce99 loves this.
DrFluffy loves this.Create a Show & TellReport as inappropriate
Posted 11 years ago
RonM
(126 items)
A friend found this clock headed for the trash. He rescued it and gave it to me. The case looked rough.It came with the key. I hooked up the pendulum. I gave it a shot of wd 40 and some sewing machine oil. It runs fast and I don't know how to slow it down.
Create an account or login in order to post a comment.
First of all, let me give you some friendly advice: WD 40 is one of the worst things you can use on a clock's movement. Some clock makers charge extra to clean a movement which has WD 40 on it since it contaminates and ruins most clock cleaning solutions. While sewing machine oil is not as bad as WD 40, and is good for sewing machines, it wasn't formulated to retain necessary lubricating properties during the day-in, day-out slow constant grind of a clock's operation. You have slow, high-torque rotation of the mainspring pivots all the way up to the relatively fast, low-torque rotation of the escape wheel. A clock worth keeping should be lubricated with clock oils and greases...as a general rule, synthetics will last longer than the older natural or petroleum based lubricants. That's just for your information.
As far as slowing it down, you need a double-ended key and/or an adjustable pendulum bob. A properly sized key will have a small end which fits over the regulation arbor. (found in the small hole around the "12" on the dial). Turn the key in the direction of "S" to slow down the clock. The regulation mechanism should be considered fragile and a winding key is made to apply a lot of torque (to the mainsprings) so don't force the regulation arbor to turn. It should turn very freely without much resistance. If you feel resistance, you're probably at the end of it's operational range. STOP turning at that point. Some clocks such as this also came with an adjustable pendulum bob (or weight). These types of bobs have a "rating nut" on the bottom. Turning the nut counter-clockwise lowers the pendulum bob and makes it hang lower in the case. That slows down the clock. Turning the rating nut clockwise raises the bob and makes the clock run faster. This is a "Sessions" clock so I doubt that it has an adjustable pendulum bob, but it still might have one that is not original to the clock.
I have been unable to identify this specific model in my reference materials but it is similar to clocks manufactured around circa 1905 give or take about 5 years.
There may be a label somewhere on the case bottom or back door.
Thanks for saving and sharing it.
Thank you for the information Bruce. Thanks for looking Dr Fluffy,gargoylecollector, and Geo26e
You're very welcome RonM! :)
Bruce,it did come with the double ended key too!
Yes, a double-ended key for winding the clock and regulating its speed would have been included with the clock's purchase. If you need a double-ended key, measure the width of the two arbors (they have square ends) and you can determine the sizes you need. I've posted a chart of key sizes here: http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/105086-kerry10456-read-please?in=613. You can usually find them on eBay. Clock supply houses carry them but they usually have a minimum order charge so buying one key from them would be relatively expensive. As was pointed out in that other posting by another member, if you have a local clock repair shop, they could size and sell an appropriate key for you too.
Twist the nut at the pentulim clockwise to speed it up. And reverse to slow down. Also small kee helps fine tune.