Antique and Vintage Clocks

Are you looking for an accurate clock? Well, do not ever buy a 400 day clock

This is a two part series. The first part describes my most recent purchase, a 400 day Kundo anniversary clock. Part II involves the installation of the suspension spring, cleaning and testing/adjusting.

Are you looking for an accurate clock? 400 day clocks are notoriously inaccurate though they are very pretty and interesting to look a. A minute lost a day compounds to many minutes (hours perhaps) over a one year period. I love them just the same.

A brief history

400 day clocks have been with us since about 1900. There were torsion clocks produced before 1900 but in limited numbers from about 1894 onward but the real push was after 1900. The Kundo model you see here was made in the late 1950s or early 1960s, probably the peak and subsequent decline of the anniversary clock era. Once quartz clocks were introduced mechanical versions declined precipitously. Kundo is one of many companies making anniversary clocks in the 1950s and 60s. Kundo is a combined form of Kieninger and Obergfell. The company exists to this day as Kieninger a subsidiary of Howard Miller.

This particular clock is a good example of a typical anniversary clock of the period. There are signs of wear as one might expect, dents on the base where an unrestrained pendulum did its damage and a snapped suspension spring but all the parts are there, complete with its dome.

The clock was purchased at a local antique store. It is not in running condition. These clocks typically sell for around $50 to $100 and more on EBay. Domes are often chipped or missing entirely. This dome on this one is free of chips.

I have ordered a Horolovar spring  (.0032″) and will report on the installation, cleaning and testing of this 400 day clock. Look for the second part of this series.