Fleet Time replacement movement needed – calling all clock parts collectors

This Fleet Time mantel clock is a generic mantel clock with a walnut finish, flat front, a slightly domed top, and step-side features. Simple but attractive. Fleet assembled clocks sourced from German parts in the Montreal area for 4 years prior to WWII.

While the case looks great after refinishing, I was oh so close to having a fully functioning clock when disaster struck.

This is a call-out for anyone who can sell me or donate a replacement movement or otherwise direct me to where I can locate one. I am in need of a mainspring barrel and second wheel on the time side. As much as possible I would like it to be exactly the style of movement that came with the clock.

Fleet Time case
Fleet Time case, refinished

My clock passion is collecting clocks made or assembled in Canada and I would love to see this clock in working order

Fleet second time wheel
Fleet second wheel, a bent leaf cannot be unbent

Here is my story

The movement looked to be in reasonably good condition but needed a good cleaning.

Fleet time barrel
Fleet time barrel
Fleet time movement
Fleet time movement

The mainsprings can be removed without disassembling the movement, handy for such things as replacing a broken mainspring.

The movement was completely serviced with several new bushings installed. The mainsprings were removed, cleaned, and returned to their barrels.

Through the testing phase, the mainsprings were partially wound. Once I was satisfied that the movement was running well I installed it back into its case. I then wound the strike side fully and then wound the time side. Just as I was feeling resistance, CLUNK, and then the arbour turned freely.

Hoping it was only a broken mainspring I was not prepared for what I discovered when I opened up the movement. There were three broken/bent teeth on the mainspring barrel, a broken mainspring, and a damaged leaf pinion on the second wheel.

Broken mainspring

When a mainspring breaks at the teeth end of the barrel it tries to unwind but the loose end provides sufficient resistance, that is, a slower release of the energy, and is less likely to cause major damage. A broken mainspring results. A break at the winding arbour end or close to it as in this case results in the sudden release of energy and the result is damage not only to the mainspring but clock parts up the train; this is known as collateral damage.

A clock colleague advised me that although the barrel teeth and leaf pinion can be fixed it is usually not cost-effective because the process is so time-consuming. His solution is to collect movements that are used as donors for times such as this.

The plan, at this point, is to source a donor movement and harvest parts for what I hope would result in a successful repair.

So, here I am asking if anyone has a spare movement they can part with.

My clock passion is collecting clocks made or assembled in Canada and I would love to see this clock in working order.


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