Beautiful wind up clock trash to treasure.

VSAT88

VSAT88

Veteran and General Yakker
Joined
Sep 7, 2017
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2,401
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Phenix City Alabama
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Like my BlueTooth ?
Left for a bit of work this AM early, before the trash man ran. Saw something sitting there on the side of the road. Beautiful Anker Westminster Made in Germany wind up wall clock. Picked it up and when I came home I had to try and see what was up with it. Looks like it fell because the case was busted up and the decoration on top was all but completely missing. The movement was lets say jumbled. Good a word as any. Carefully bent things back in to position after removing the movement. Carefully glued the case back together. Lined up everything as well as I could. Hoping for the best. God works in mysterious ways. The clock was filthy. Cigarette smoke and dust. Polishing then cleaning and lemon oil for the finish with a lot of loving rubs downs with clean cloth. A very satisfying project. I know the lady that lives there is very old. I see her often when I drive up my street. Tomorrow, a knock on her door. I want to know. Would she have liked to keep it? Did it just fall and break and she had no way or no one to fix it for her? We will see if she wants it back after I show her the work. Of course, no charge whatever.
 

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You made my day James with this post.
Beautiful work on a very worthwhile project, but best of all is your generosity in offering the clock back to this neighbor.
Thanks for posting, maybe update us on how she reacts.
Very nice
 
These old clocks are super-simple to repair. Worst thing is usually a broken main (or chime/strike) spring.

If not broken, you can literally wash them down/out with Brakleen and then properly lubricate without disassembling anything. No, it's not "correct" but it is effective, and unfortunately these clocks are not (currently) worth the labor to properly overhaul. But working is better than not in the meantime.

I bet you'll make that woman's month when you bring this back to her!

PS some applied carved wood decorations can be had at Home Depot cheap, if you wanted to add an embellishment before delivery. You could gold leaf it before you install and it'd look like a million bucks.
 
Jim I have often wished I lived closer to you. Your knowledge about the workings of clocks/watches I want to steal... All of it. I think you understand what I mean. Not literally steal it of course. I really believed that I could fix it. I had to at least try, thank GOD (Good Orderly Direction for me, not that I do not believe in GOD but that is another story) that the parts I fixed just needed adjustment, bending back into place, the striker hammers, not replacement. I would have had no clue where to obtain unless I could have found used on the Bay. I agree with you. I was astonished what a small price these command on eBay. One would really have to have a full time job just to pay for being able to take time to restore these for others. This world has changed. These are a work of art, a functioning, mechanical work of art. Made in Germany I cannot help but think of the men and women that painstakingly built these each by hand. I do not like "time". I do not care for anything it stands for. Do not like the thought of having to be "on time". I was on such a schedule all my work life. "Does anybody really know what time it is? Does anyone really care?" Chicago. I love being retired and having no schedule whatever when possible. Just doing what I want when I want, or not! But intrigue, the works of these things... Clocks, the movement, springs, counterweights, hands so fragile. So easily upset. Just like our time here. This in my mind was one of the most significant projects I have ever attempted. I knew absolutely nothing about how they work. So simple, so straight forward, this repair. I have it keeping excellent time now through adjusting the pendulum. I cant wait to see her face. I would like to thank all of you for your compliments. You are good men.
 
There is actually a repair guy near me and he is not cheap and turning away work part of the year… of course he has BBC a higher skill set than mine, and some of the clocks in his shop are worth a fortune, but the basic mechanics are the same. Gear reduction annd escapement for regulation.
 
J!m said:
There is actually a repair guy near me and he is not cheap and turning away work part of the year… of course he has BBC a higher skill set than mine, and some of the clocks in his shop are worth a fortune, but the basic mechanics are the same. Gear reduction annd escapement for regulation.
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I will almost undoubtedly be in touch with you about suggestions to fix this one. It's my wife's. Her Dad passed away several years ago and she wants it fixed to put it in her school bus conversion.
 

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Those are very prevalent movements. Easy to find a replacement, possibly parts.

What's wrong with this one?

I see it is a chime and strike with multiple chimes to choose from...
 
@mlucitt I will but.... Tragedy. I have ordered some clock makers tools. Clock stopped. Solder point holding the main spring broke. Got to take apart the movement now and try and fix it. I can see now why. when it dropped it took one hell of a beating. The housing is even bent in that area.
 
Plates must be straight. Otherwise it puts pressure on the pivots and it’ll run erratic.

Poor timekeeping on the other one is 99% clean and lube. Probably won’t need much adjusting after that.
 
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