Tag: Juba Schatz

Antique Clocks and the Term ‘Fully Serviced’: What Every Buyer Should Know

As the holiday season approaches, it’s wise to be familiar with some key terms if you’re considering purchasing an antique or vintage clock as a gift for that special person. One such term that often needs clarification is “serviced.”

I remember scrolling through Facebook one afternoon when a post caught my eye—a 100+-year-old mantel clock for sale, proudly labeled “fully serviced.” Naturally, my curiosity got the better of me. I messaged the seller, asking what exactly he meant by “fully serviced.”

His answer was simple: the clock had been ultrasonically cleaned, the pivots inspected, and it had been oiled. That sounded reasonable… until I realized he didn’t actually say the movement had been disassembled before cleaning.

I silently hoped it had been done properly, though in the clock world, more often than not, a “cleaned” movement is nothing more than a quick dunk-and-swish—a full plunge into cleaning solution and a hopeful shake and dry. No reputable horologist would ever call that true servicing. I didn’t pursue the clock any further, although it’s quite possible that it had indeed been “fully” serviced, as he claimed.

Newly acquired Waterbury mantel clock and ready for complete servicing

Yet the term “fully serviced” carries weight. Sellers know it can push the price up by many dollars. A clock that hasn’t been cleaned in years might still run smoothly for a while, but the real question is: what’s happening to the pivots? The pivot holes? The hidden wear in a clock that’s survived a century? Chances are, it’s been patched together before, perhaps without the care it deserved.

From my own experience, the older a clock is, the more likely it is to need bushings and careful repairs.

My idea of a full service is meticulous and follows this procedure:

  • Remove the movement from its case,
  • Completely disassemble the movement,
  • Ultrasonically clean every component, separating out parts that should not be cleaned in an ultrasonic
  • Unwind and inspect the springs, or if weight-driven, the wheels and cables,
  • Polish the pivots,
  • Peg pivot holes,
  • Install bushings where needed,
  • Check every part for wear,
  • Reassemble,
  • Test,
  • Regulate and adjust, if necessary,
  • And, finish with a gentle case refresh.

Separating out parts that should not be cleaned in an ultrasonic

I generally do not put leather hammer heads in the ultrasonic cleaner. I also avoid putting mainsprings in, though I have done so once or twice. If anything, it makes the solution unusable for further cleaning. There is also a chance one might not extract all the moisture from the coils leading to the formation of rust (though I suppose placing them in a cook oven on low heat should remedy that). Floating balances and balance wheels should also be kept out as they are delicate and risk being damaged. Any lacquered components should be avoided as well, since the ultrasonic cleaner will strip the lacquer away unless that is the intention. Likewise, any parts that are soldered should not be placed in the cleaner, as the agitation can fatigue the joints.

My Experience

I’ve seen clocks tell their stories through wear. Some years back, a 1920s Sessions Beveled No. 2 came to me needing twelve bushings. The Maple Leaf kitchen clock in my collection, professionally serviced in 2015, also needed twelve bushings.

Arthur Pequegnat kichen clock
Arthur Pequegnat kitchen clock

A 1940s Ingersoll Waterbury wasn’t too badly worn, yet it still required three bushings. Each clock reveals its life through the work it needs—a silent testimony to the decades it has kept time.

Ingersoll-Waterbury time and strike mantel clock

Confusion among sellers

Browsing online, you see phrases like “all of our clocks are fully serviced and tested to ensure reliable running.” But rarely do sellers say how they serviced it, or whether it was completed by a professional horologist or a backyard hobbyist.

As for my Juba Schatz mantel clock that I offered for sale—some might have called it ‘serviced,’ yet all I did was remove the movement, inspect the pivots, oil it, and return it to its case. Ten minutes. That’s the gap between reality and the magic words ‘fully serviced”. Don’t worry, I didn’t advertise it as such.

Juba Schatz mantel clock

To me, selling a clock as fully serviced should mean being transparent. A proper description might read:

“This clock has been fully serviced, the movement completely disassembled, ultrasonically cleaned, wear addressed, reassembled and tested.”

A bit more detail, like repairs or bushings replaced, adds credibility—but for a serious buyer, that’s about as close as you need to get.

Fully serviced means different things to different people. My advice? Always ask. Dig a little deeper. Because in the end, a clock is more than metal and springs—it’s a story, and the best stories deserve care.

7

A new & exciting direction in clock collecting & repair

Front room collection

I have been collecting clocks for over 8 years. In that time I have enjoyed my hobby immensely and I am constantly on the lookout for new and interesting acquisitions. It is more like a daily passion.

However, I now realize that as my collection steadily grows I have more than I need or want. I cherish some of my clocks and intend to keep them for years; my Arthur Pequegnats, selected Seth Thomas clocks, clocks made by the Hamilton Clock Co. and the Canada Clock Co., my Vienna regulators and some of my German wall clocks. I don’t mind parting with other clocks now or in the foreseeable future. Some I will miss and others I will not.

A house can only hold so many clocks

My daughter correctly pointed out that I should adopt a one clock comes in another goes out approach. “One-in, one-out”, she says and it makes perfect sense.

A house can only hold so many clocks. In my small office which is 10X12 I have a total of 15 clocks, 10 of which are running daily and the remainder in various states of repair. Outside my office, at any given time, there are 26 clocks in a number of rooms around the house. I am not one of those persons on YouTube who feel the need to cover their walls with clocks. I prefer to display them in a natural way, as an integral part of the decor of my home. The number is not all that important but I am trying to keep it manageable.

Kienzle clock on display with Ingraham Huron
Kienzle World Time clock and Ingraham Huron balloon style shelf clock

I have decided that now is the time to sell some of my clocks. My objective is not to make money but to recover the cost of the original purchase plus my labour on each clock that I sell. These are the clocks that have left my collection recently.

I am making more critical choices when adding pieces to my collection
Mauthe Westminster chime mantel clock, circa 1950
Juba Schatz Bim-Bam mantel clock, circa 1948
Four spandrels surrounding the chapter ring
Hermle Westminster chime with moon phase circa 1985

I have also gifted eight clocks over the last 3 years and most have been mantel clocks. Antique and vintage clocks make wonderful gifts to friends and family. It is cool to see them displayed and running in their homes when I visit though I know darn well that they are wound just hours before my arrival.

On a clock forum site recently someone said’ “How many clocks do you need”. The answer, “Just one more”

As my knowledge of the clock world grows and my experience repairing and restoring them expands I am making more critical choices when adding pieces to my collection. However, those critical choices often translate into spending more money. For example, recent acquisitions have been a Seth Thomas Regulator #2 and an Arthur Pequegnat Moncton, both wall clocks.

Seth Thomas Regulator #2, time-only, weight driven clock Circa 1922
Arthur Pequegnat Moncton, double spring time only clock, Circa 1930

I believe my new approach is a natural progression and perhaps I have been subconsciously heading down that path for a year or more. Unless a clock has an interesting provenance, is rare, uncommon, unique and/or is a challenge to restore I will now shy away from most of the garden variety clocks one sees on online for-sale sites and yes, I still have a few of those.

On a clock forum site recently someone said’ “How many clocks do you need”. The answer, “Just one more”.

I knew during the course of collecting antique and vintage clocks combined with increased knowledge/experience that my hobby would evolve and continuing my horological journey in a slightly different way is about time,

Best clock moments of 2018

2018 was a successful year for my horological hobby in many ways. I met interesting people with fascinating stories, discovered new antique clock sources and had fun along the way. The best clock moments, in no specific order, during 2018 were:

Arthur Pequegnat Moncton

Finding an Arthur Pequegnat Moncton double-spring time-only wall clock was a big plus. This clock has been on my wish list for 5 years and I finally found one in excellent condition and the price was within my budget. This brings to seven Arthur Pequegnat clocks in my collection.

Seth Thomas #2 Regulator

The Seth Thomas #2 has been on my wish list for 5 years as well. This single weight-driven, time-only wall clock is from the 1920s. It is Mahogany veneered and like the Moncton is in very good condition. It is now hung in my front entry way.

Seth Thomas Regulator #2

August Schatz & Sohne W3 shelf clock

In August 2017 I asked for help finding a case for my Schatz movement after locating it in an antique store. Little did I realize that I would eventually have that case.

Rear plate
Rear plate

This is the result when you ask a 90 year old cabinet maker and joiner from Virginia to make a case for an August Schatz & Sohne W3 triple chime movement.

August Schatz & Sohne W3 mantel clock

A special thanks to all those who commented on articles and those who send me letters concerning their particular clock problem

Selling clocks

I sold two clocks this year not because I did not like or appreciate them but I must pare down my collection to allow space for new acquisitions. The Juba Schatz “bim-bam” time and strike mantel clock was one

Juba Schatz time and strike clock
Juba Schatz time and strike clock

and the other, a Mauthe Westminster mantel clock.

Acquiring new tools

Aside from small hand tools acquired this year, the most significant purchase was an L&R Ultrasonic cleaner which does a terrific job of cleaning clock parts.

Ultrasonic cleaner by L&R
Ultrasonic cleaner by L&R

Setting up and organizing my workshop

I managed to create space in my basement for an area to work on clock cases and other related woodworking tasks. A new drill press is on the far bench to the left.

New work area in basement

Cuckoo clock

My first cuckoo clock was a gift from my cousin this past year. It is in good working order but it will need a new set of bellows which will be one of my summer projects in 2019.

Dave’s cuckoo clock

Antiquevintageclock.com

I am pleased that my blog has also been very successful with over 93,000+ total views. I would like to thank all those who commented on articles and those who sent me letters concerning their particular clock issue.

I look forward to this new year and I am sure that 2019 will be an equally successful year as I further my horological pursuits.

Juba Schatz bim-bam mantel clock

In the clock world Germany is well known for well engineered, precision clocks. Juba Schatz is not a name one comes across often but it has solid roots in the German clock making industry.

Juba bim-bam mantel clock
Juba bim-bam mantel clock

This a an antique shop find of a clock that dates from the mid to late 1940s. Its design is understated, and reflects the minimalist lines of style common during the post war period.

This clock is in excellent condition and has some intriguing features; first, a circular disk that one rotates on the crutch to put the clock in beat to compensate for a surface that is not level; second, 4 strike rods, 1 for the first strike of the bim-bam and 3 for the second; third, a storage cradle on the back door for the pendulum bob just below the key holder and fourth, a very effective and robust two-piece steel strike lock, a aid in transporting the clock. The original operating instructions in English and German were included.

Juba instructions
Juba clock  instructions

Bim-bam clocks are not unique. Many companies made bim-bam clocks. They appealed to the masses due to the distinctive strike. The mechanical strike mechanism is made up of two and sometimes up to four finely tuned copper rods (as in this clock) mounted to a cast iron block.

At one time clocks with unique tonal sounds were called Normandy chimes. Instead of one strike on the hour and half hour, there were two.  It was a musical dual tone, instead of a single, (often harsh sounding) single hourly or half hour strike. The  American Gilbert Clock Company made several mantel clocks in the 1920s that had what Gilbert termed a “Normandy Chime”. Gilbert explicitly called this the “Normandy Chime”, which was supposed to have been patterned off the old bells of Normandy, The Normandy chime is the precursor to the bim-bam.

Information on this clock company is scarce. Several YouTube videos demonstrate a chiming or a striking Juba clock but contain no description or history of the company.

Juba movement showing pendulum and strike hammers
Juba movement showing pendulum, strike hammers and circular level compensation disk

Pendulum cradle and key holder
Pendulum cradle and key holder

The formal company name is  Jahresuhren-Fabrik August Schatz und Söhne gmbh. I discovered that the company was formed in 1881 and ceased production in 1981. It was started by August Schatz who was born in 1854 and died in 1927. Family members took over the company after his death.

Schatz are best known for anniversary and mariner clocks but made cottage clocks, bracket clocks, mantel clocks, kitchen clocks and watches as well.

I will continue my search for more information about this important German maker.

What the term a “fully serviced” clock really means

Arthur Pequegnat kichen clock

Everybody appreciates a serviced clock when they are making a purchase. However, there is no acceptable definition for the term “Fully Serviced”. Fully serviced may mean one thing for the amateur clock collector and repairer and another to a professional clock repair shop.

Juba Schatz mantel clock
Juba Schatz mantel clock

The other day I was responding to a FaceBook post which offered a mantel clock for sale. The owner said that the clock, a 100+ year old antique, had been “fully serviced” so I asked him what he meant by that since I was curious. He said the clock was ultrasonically cleaned, the pivots were inspected, and the clock was oiled. He did not actually state that the clock was disassembled before cleaning but I assume that it was done properly although dunk and swish (or duncan swish) techniques are used more often that we realize. Dunk and swish involves immersing the entire unassembled movement into a cleaning solution and calling it “cleaned”. However, no reputable clock repair person (horologist) would employ this method. By using the term “fully serviced” the seller naturally expects to get several tens of dollars more for the clock.

No doubt who ever buys the clock will get a couple of years of service before it again needs attention. My concern is the state of the bushing holes and of course the pivots in a 100 year old clock and chances are it was not serviced properly in it’s past life.

I have disassembled and serviced a few clocks in my limited experience and my observation is that the older the clock the more the need for bushing and other repairs. My definition of servicing is this; disassemble and totally strip down, ultrasonically clean, springs unwound, inspected and oiled, pivots inspected and polished, pivot holes pegged and bushings installed / replaced if necessary, other parts inspected and addressed and the movement tested and regulated before re-installing in the case. My servicing also includes a case refresh. I serviced a 1920s Sessions Beveled No. 2 clock this spring (2016) that required 12 bushings.

Sessions Beveled No. 2 case
Sessions Beveled No. 2 time and strike in as-found condition

Fully serviced with case refresh
Fully serviced with case refresh

My Arthur Pequegnat Maple Leaf kitchen clock pictured here was professionally serviced in 2015 by a reputable clock shop and also required 12 bushings.

RS Pequegnat fan top (3)
Arthur Pequegnat kitchen clock in as-found condition

I am currently working on a 1940s Ingersoll Waterbury which was not too badly worn but still required 3 new bushings.

Ingersoll Waterbury clock
This American Ingersoll Waterbury clock, circa 1940, required 3 bushings,

If you poke around some of the clock for sale sites you will see a description that reads something like this, “all of our clocks are fully serviced and tested to ensure reliable running”. But if you bring up the profile on any one of the clocks offered for sale they generally do not describe how it was serviced and / or the actual service done on the clock.

I see plenty of antique and vintage clocks on the local online for-sale sites. Many have not been serviced as you would expect but some sellers claim that their clock has been fully serviced without providing any detail about what was actually done or whether it was a backyard tinkerer who did the servicing or a professional shop. The Juba Schatz mantel clock you see in the first photo might even be described as “serviced” but all I did was take the movement out of it’s case, inspect the pivots and other parts, oil the movement and return it to its case which took about 10 minutes.

“Fully serviced” to me means defining the term when selling a clock. A reputable for sale site should say something like this, ” has been fully serviced, having been totally stripped down, ultrasonically cleaned, reassembled, runs the full length of the wind and keeping excellent time, +/- 2 minutes per 7 day period”. A little more detail would be beneficial such as specific areas that needed to be addressed or particular repairs made if required but that is about as close as you will get and for those serious about a clock purchase it might be good enough.

Fully serviced means different things to different people. Always ask before you buy.

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