Posted 12 years ago
MCPHERSONJS
(1 item)
Friends;
This is a Herman Miller Mantel clock. Pre 1930
The clock works are Miller-Germany and was assembled in Zeeland Michigan.
There is no brand name on clock face is white and has golden piping with Arabic numerals.
This is a 8 day clock, 3 key wind-up and chimes Westminster theme on the quarter hours and the hour.
Case is walnut with burl inlay. L 21.75" x W 6.25" x H 13.50" to top of spindle.
Stamping on the clock works plates are as follows : D.R.P.a; D.R.G.M. no.
916380; 968156; 968157
MILLER GERMANY No.110; 4 1548
The clock runs well and keeps good time, +/- about 10 seconds every month. I can trim the pendulum a bit to greatly reduce this time
loss but, I don't like moving it around much. I can live with it the way it is.
This Herman Miller clock makes an attractive mantel display which preceeds the more common Howard Miller Clocks.
That's pretty accurate. Usually one has to work with very expensive, time-only high grade wall or floor regulators to get that kind of mechanical accuracy.
Bruce99;
All it takes is a lot of time, of which I have in abundance, for now.
Small careful adjustments over a long period of time.
A stable platform on which to work.
Accurate recording, in detail, of the adjustment (singular) that
was made. Then, set back and monitor and analyze the results.
Jack
I do have a life and many other interests.
Hi Jack,
I'm well aware of what it takes to regulate mechanical clocks. What you've achieved usually requires a weight driven, temperature compensated, high grade movement with a deadbeat escapement. I'm not even sure that my Citizen Eco-Drive quartz watch has that kind of accuracy. :) Congratulations.
Laboratory grade equipment, for the professional, is necessary to produce a result, in a short period of time, that will allow a watch user the use of same or, a quick turnaround.
On the other hand, my results are the from patience over a longer period of time, a hobby if you will.
Thanks for the kind words in your postings.
By the way, I thought you may find this interesting, an anomaly I discovered from my notes that has given me the most trouble. This clock will gain on wind-up and loose on wind-down. Of course you would know that. What I determined is the mid-point, average, of that wave. And determined that was the optimum point to make an adjustment. Also, the thread pitch of the weight adjustment nut determined the length of weight travel based upon the rotation of said nut. This degree of rotation was most difficult to determine, being visual and a best guess at best. But, again I stress that the long term of note taking has given nothing me more than averages. Time is all it took.
Jack
Ah, so you are averaging the time over the entire week? The nut you refer to is often called the "Rating Nut". The high-quality clocks that I've referred to often used ultra low friction jeweled movements and were commonly found where accuracy over the entire wind period was necessary. Jewelers used them to set watches and clocks. They were often used as master clocks for banks, train stations, light houses. No doubt they were used in scientific pursuits as well...Astronomers most definitely need the most accurate timekeeping available.
Usually folks regulate their mechanical clocks at the end of the wind period, especially if the clock is driven by mainsprings. The mainspring's power-curve is not always symmetrical. Often the fall-off is rapid at first, then flattening out. If a clock is accurate to within 3 minutes or less when it is time to rewind, that is usually considered to be acceptable. When a mechanical clock can not maintain that degree of accuracy, it is most likely an early sign that it needs maintenance.
Regards
We just inherited this same mantel clock. Is it ok to know the value of it.