Posted 10 years ago
sallynussb…
(2 items)
I have a mahogany veneer mantle clock with a loud wonderful gong. It was a gift from a friend in 1983 and came from his parents' home.
A gold painting of a cornucopia and flowers is painted on the inside glass of this octagon clock.
Recently I lent it to someone and when I got it back it was missing its Atkins Clock Co. Brass windup key and the stem was somewhat dislodged so the brass pendulum hangs too low, actually touching the floor of the case.
I need "a little help from my friends" to get this beloved clock in shape and obtain another brass Ansonia key.
I would appreciate suggestions for a reliable, reasonable place in NYC
to take it for restoration. Manhattan or The Bronx.
Thanks for any help you can give me.
Guessing from the pics, I guess this would be a "wall clock". LOL!
And we all have to take a drink again.
Part of the pendulum problem might be due to the clock creatively mounted on its side. Pendulums are usually designed to function optimally when the "VII" is positioned upwards. Try rotating everything 90 degrees counter-clockwise and let us know if that resolves any of the issues.
In the 3rd photo you're just doing it all wrong - it's no wonder the pendulum is messed up. Perhaps if there was room for five photos you may have finally figured out which side was the base. ;-)
To blunderbuss, fortapache and Kydur...The pictures inadvertently posted sideways except for the one that shows the clock with door closed. The clock stands right side up on a mantle or other furniture and always has. . This was and is a serious request for help. If you can help me with the requests I made in my original message please do. I use IPad and sometimes the photos post sideways or upside down, sometimes correctly. This clock worked for me for many years, until someone I lent it to mishandled it and may have dropped it. I really want to get it shaped up.
Hi Sally,
Welcome to Collectors Weekly. The problem with your clock may be something as simple as the pendulum rod/suspension spring being off of the support. Often one finds that the suspension spring is threaded through a slot in the support and is only held there by a loop of thin brass wire which keeps it from slipping out of the slot. Here's a photo of a replacement part: http://www.ronellclock.com/American-Suspension-Rods-SPR-18-2.htm
You should be very careful handling your clock as is. If the pendulum rod is still going through the crutch wire, you could do damage to the clock's escapement or at the very least knock it seriously out of beat. The clock should never be moved with the pendulum bob (or weight) installed.
We would need to see a good, well lit photo of the clock with the hands and face (dial) removed in order to see what's going on with the suspension.
I found a listing for a Clock Repair shop in Brooklyn, NY on the National Association of Watch and Clock Collector's website. Here is the Shop's Webpage: http://www.theclockrepairpeople.com/
I realize that may entail a lot of traffic and tolls for you but I didn't find anything in the Bronx or Manhattan.
Please post the photo I described if you want us to take a look and be sure to remove the Bob until you can get things straightened out. I hope that helps.
Regards,
Bruce
Do you have any other questions Sally?
To Bruce99: I have the picture for you. What is the best place to send you the picture? Do you have an Email that I can send it to?
Hi Sally, just replace one of your photos above with the new photo. If you have trouble doing that, just start a new posting. I'll be happy to keep an eye out for it but there are a number of us here who might be able to help you.
Something else that you might want to consider is going here: http://mb.nawcc.org/forumdisplay.php?22-Clock-Repair and registering. It's free and you'll get a lot of help on Clock Repair there. Either way, we'll help if we can.
Bruce99 I just added an item showing the inside of the clock. Tell me what you think. I like the idea of the repair shop in Brooklyn. Little bit away from me but I can get there by car. I will try the new site you mentioned also. Thanks a lot.