Among clock collectors and admirers, the Hamburg American Clock Company is a well-known German company. It is otherwise known as Hamburg Amerikanische Uhrenfabrik or HAU and in many parts of the world, it is simply known as HAC. In this post, I will outline the procedures involved in servicing the movement of a HAC mantel … More Servicing a HAC Clock Movement
Last week I began working on a Junghans round top mantel clock. For first impressions and background information about the clock itself, you can find the article here. During this segment of the maintenance process, my attention will be focused on the mainsprings. Upon my initial assessment, it appeared that the movement was found to … More Junghans round-top mantel clock – servicing the mainsprings
Something causes tooth damage. But what? The example is a Fleet time and strike mantel clock from the 1930s. Fleet Time Company of Montreal, a company that was operating four short years, sourced movements from Germany prior to the Second World War. It was a very common mantel clock sold through department stores across Canada. … More Mainspring barrel tooth damage – how does that happen?
Let’s dispense with something from the start. I am not a “Dunkin Swish” guy. Some of you might have heard of this term in your clock journey and if you haven’t it is good to know and to avoid at all costs. “Dunkin Swish” (apologies to those named Duncan) involves placing an assembled movement into … More Cleaning an antique/vintage clock movement – Ron’s method
About a year ago I picked up two clocks. I had my eye on one, an Arthur Pequegnat Canuck shelf clock, and the other was “thrown in” as part of the deal. We completed the transaction on the Pequegnat clock and the seller asked me if I wouldn’t mind looking at a mantel clock stored … More Fleet Time mantel clock with Gufa movement – servicing the movement
Over-winding a clock is a common myth. The world of horology reveals an assortment of interesting expressions as well as the misuse of words and terms. For classic example; why do some refer to shelf clocks as Mantle clocks when a mantel is something you wear like a shawl or a cloak? Mantel, such as … More Over-winding a clock is a myth
Most refer to the name “Horse Crown” when describing this clock and it is easy to see why. Many would also consider it a Vienna Regulator style of clock. I have been putting off servicing this movement for a while and a long time has passed since it was properly serviced. So, let’s get started. … More FMS Mauthe “Horse Crown” wall clock – servicing the movement
I had just completed servicing this German Mauthe time and strike wall clock and everything seemed to be going well. It was keeping good time,striking on the half hour as it should and maintaining a consistent an 8-day cycle. During my regular Saturday clock winding ritual, I decided to begin with this clock. I inserted … More Sometimes working on clocks can be a pain – literally!
Some folks collect clocks without actually working on them. Collecting clocks and repairing them are two very different things. I know people who would gladly send their clocks out for servicing and don’t seem to mind the extra cost. I like to do my own work. If you work on your own clocks or service … More What is this clock thing for? #3 – the let-down key
There are four general categories of clock mechanisms; quartz, electro-mechanical, electric, and mechanical. Mechanical clocks be they antique or vintage types are the focus of this post and if your clock has stopped perhaps I can help. It may surprise some to know that mechanical clocks need periodic winding Perhaps you have a newly acquired … More My antique clock stopped, what do I do?
There is no maker’s mark anywhere on the case or the movement The clock is an unsigned 8-day carriage clock in a rectangular brass case. This attractive little clock has a white enameled dial with Roman numerals, blued steel hands and a spring driven time-only movement with platform lever escapement visible through the top beveled … More French Carriage Clock – servicing
We often cruise the HiBid sites. While they may be wholly Canadian I am sure there are similar sites in the US. HiBid are a hosting service for antique online auction companies and from time to time clocks come up on estate sales. One day in early February 2017 we were on a Nova Scotia … More Jauch Drop Octagon – one problem I cannot address…..yet!
In a precious article I wrote about my frustrations getting this clock to run reliably. No matter what adjustments I made it ran poorly. “You’ve got to be very careful if you don’t know where you are going, because you might not get there”, Yogi Berra This time and strike movement (Hermle?) has been out … More Dugena mantel clock revisited
How does one wind an antique or vintage mechanical clock? The advice and suggestions, if followed, should provide you with the skill and confidence to correctly wind your antique or vintage mechanical clock. In this age of everything electronic, it may surprise some people that a newly acquired mechanical clock bought at the local garage … More Winding a mechanical clock – A How-To Guide
This is Part II of a multi part series on the Sessions Westminster A chiming mantel clock. Inside the plates they are a conventional Sessions clock. Outside the plates is an entirely different story Sessions Westminster A clocks are true chiming clocks that play the Westminster chime sequences on the quarter hours and strike the … More Sessions Westminster A mantel clock Part II – Dis-assembly
This is an antique German Junghans time and strike spring driven clock made in the style of a Vienna Regulator. It came to me as a box of parts. To some a box of clock parts and pieces is discouraging but to me it is a challenge. Part II of a three part series on … More Halifax Explosion and the Junghans Crispi clock – Part II – servicing the movement
It is time to buy the tools I need for clock repair. I already have a number of basic tools to get me started; pliers, letdown chucks, screwdrivers, etc. However, my first significant tool is an Ollie Baker Mainspring Winder which arrived from the USA today. It is pictured below. The Ollie Baker comes with … More Clock Repair Tools
When I picked up this clock I realized that the person who worked on it was really just a tinkerer but it was attractive and the strike sounded great. I brought it home and knew that I had to learn a lot more about clock repair because it would occasionally stop for no apparent reason … More Smiths Enfield Mantel Clock
I am continuing work on my Dugena mantel clock with a Hermle movement. Everything seemed to go well after re-assembly but the strike barrel. A serious problem or simple fix? The latter, thankfully. Something was definitely amiss since the winding arbor was not engaging on the mainspring. The spring was either broken or had not … More A Barrel of Fun – Dugena mantel clock issues
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