Jump to content

Wooden movement wall clock!

Alun

By Alun
in All Things Clocks

 Share

Recommended Posts

Alun Watch Enthusiast

Alun

Posted
Posted

Hi All....

A friend asked me to have a look at a very old wall mounted clock he had from his grandparents.

When I received it I was amazed that the movement was made out of wood, with the only brass part being the wheels (apart from the arbours)

I've managed to dismantle, clean, reassemble and oil the movement and it's going great.

I thought I'd share this, just for a bit of interest....but I do have some questions if anyone could help with:

What are these clocks called, when were they produced and are they uncommon nowadays.

Pictures attached 

Cheers 

Al

PXL_20250315_133443794.jpg

IMG-20250311-WA0005~2.jpg

  • Like 1
Alun Watch Enthusiast

Alun

Posted
  • Author
Posted

The pivot holes have small brass bushes pressed into the wood.

So whoever made it was a clockmaker and joiner! 

Alun Watch Enthusiast

Alun

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Thanks for the info....postman's clock, that's interesting. I suspect they were on the wall of post offices, maybe??

He also gave me another one. Very similar but it has a bell and looks like a striking mechanism with a notched wheel instead of a snail to count the strikes.

I'm waiting for a couple of chains and a weight to see if I can get it going...I've put a little bit of 'weight' on the going side and the pallet flutters so I'm optimistic.

The one in the photo I shared is going great and keeps really good time for what it is.....and appears to be either a 24 or 30 hrs movement.

I'm guessing these are from mid to late 19th century??

 

watchweasol Distinguished Member

watchweasol

Posted
Posted

Hi. I have had the pleasure of repairin*one of theses for a client. It had been round the world and when I got it , it was in a box in which it was last shipped from South Africa during the reforms there. All that was wrong was a broken glass. It was the striking version with a bell. It uses a counr wheel assembly mounted at the rear of the clock. I have another of the same type todo yet which has a peculiar method of friction for the hour wheel.  It has has a soft bush in the center that grips the center wheel shaft, not very well and consequentl looses time.  A job for later as time permits. Interesting clocks, some were fitted with alarms.

 

  • Like 1
Alun Watch Enthusiast

Alun

Posted
  • Author
Posted
  On 3/18/2025 at 3:32 PM, watchweasol said:

Hi. I have had the pleasure of repairin*one of theses for a client. It had been round the world and when I got it , it was in a box in which it was last shipped from South Africa during the reforms there. All that was wrong was a broken glass. It was the striking version with a bell. It uses a counr wheel assembly mounted at the rear of the clock. I have another of the same type todo yet which has a peculiar method of friction for the hour wheel.  It has has a soft bush in the center that grips the center wheel shaft, not very well and consequentl looses time.  A job for later as time permits. Interesting clocks, some were fitted with alarms.

 

Expand  

That's interesting.... here's a few photos of the striking clock.

This one looks like it's been buried in the back of a dirty garage for some years. It's nice and clean now, just waiting for some chains and a weight. 

Talking about the weight. I weighed one and it was 1.6kg, unsure if it's the going or the strike. I've ordered a 2kg weight (I can always cut it down if too heavy) and I was going to use that for the strike.

Any idea how heavy the weights were on your clock, just to give me a benchmark??

Cheers 

Al

 

 

 

 

PXL_20250316_150917285~2.jpg

PXL_20250316_150815469.jpg

PXL_20250316_150115823.jpg

PXL_20250316_150455026.jpg

PXL_20250316_150122032.jpg

  • Like 1
oldhippy Distinguished Member

oldhippy

Posted
Posted

So much missing such as hands, dial weights, pendulum. It's a job to tell what this started out as apart for it would hang on a wall.  I notice the spikes on the going side have been worn so much they are blunt you won't find a chain with links to fit that all the spikes will need replacing, just look at the strike side and compare. You can also get these movement with alarms 

watchweasol Distinguished Member

watchweasol

Posted
Posted

Hi. Mine is just hanging on the wall not running , it had no weights bit I used a pair fron a Dutch zandaam clock they are heavy (large) I think I have the original weights written some where if I find it I will post it.  The original ones were heavy lead weights aka grandfather clock type.

  • Thanks 1
Alun Watch Enthusiast

Alun

Posted
  • Author
Posted
  On 3/19/2025 at 9:02 AM, oldhippy said:

So much missing such as hands, dial weights, pendulum. It's a job to tell what this started out as apart for it would hang on a wall.  I notice the spikes on the going side have been worn so much they are blunt you won't find a chain with links to fit that all the spikes will need replacing, just look at the strike side and compare. You can also get these movement with alarms 

Expand  

Sorry....I didn't upload the photo of the  dial/hands.

I'm going to give it a go just to see what the art of the possible is 😁😁

MikeEll WRT Addict

MikeEll

Posted
Posted (edited)
  On 3/19/2025 at 5:37 PM, spectre6000 said:

I'm a millennial. Nothing comes to my mind. UK millennial maybe?

Expand  

yeah, WAG is a UK tabloid press slang term referring to 'wifes and girlfriends' typically of professional footballers.

Edited by MikeEll
  • 4 weeks later...
Alun Watch Enthusiast

Alun

Posted
  • Author
Posted
  On 3/19/2025 at 9:02 AM, oldhippy said:

So much missing such as hands, dial weights, pendulum. It's a job to tell what this started out as apart for it would hang on a wall.  I notice the spikes on the going side have been worn so much they are blunt you won't find a chain with links to fit that all the spikes will need replacing, just look at the strike side and compare. You can also get these movement with alarms 

Expand  

Hi Old Hippy....I found a chain.

After a bit of searching and research into how to measure and determine what size chain was required I bought one from HS Walsh.

I also 'sharpened' the spikes and ran the new chain through. 

I then attached the weight and boom.

Tick tock.

After a bit of  adjustment getting it into beat and regulating, the clock has been keeping good time for about two weeks.

The weight hasn't 'dropped' either.

The bad news is that I can't get the strike to work. It looks like the wooden 'cam' that locks the train has broken in two....and one half is lost.

I was thinking of making a new one but I'm unsure if it's symmetrical, as I have half of what is left to make a pattern...thoughts??

Cheers 

Al 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Like 1

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing

    • No registered users viewing this page.

  • Topics

  • Posts

    • coreymsnow
      A lathe with indexing that won't break the bank?

      By coreymsnow · Posted

      Hi folks, I'm doing some homework on getting a watchmaker's lathe, and it's clear I have a lot to learn. But I know one goal: I want to be able to fabricate wheels, which would require an indexing capability. I know how to use large lathes- like, giant metal lathes- but my experience is a few decades old now (but you never forget the smell of the metal cutting oil). So I'm looking to learn anew, and have a goal to get to a point where I can fabricate some basic watch parts. I also have no specific timeframe and want to do this right, so I'll be patient and learn what I need to before spending the money. I know I'm not going to get anything for a pittance, but I'm also not really able to put together the scratch for a $5-$10k lathe. What's out there for a hobbyist that can either handle some fabrication out of the box or can be relatively easily made to do so? Thanks!  
    • Nucejoe
      Good afternoon from Marbella, Spain

      By Nucejoe · Posted

      Hello and welcome to the WRT forum.   This usually points to broken balance pivot.  Though a watch in need of clean & lube can do the same. Easiest diag would be to  see if balance pivot doesn't stay in hole jewel of the setting, when you lift one side of balance rim with an oiler or gently with pair of tweezers. Another would be to detach balance complete from the cock and take a look at pivot under high maginfication.  Regs 
    • MikeEll
      Help with Hermle ships clock

      By MikeEll · Posted

      Ahhh, yes.  I hadn’t thought of that.  I’ve serviced quite a few of these and the first time I didn’t realise it was a ships strike pattern!  Ha ha, confused me totally until I realised.
    • RichardHarris123
      Good afternoon from Marbella, Spain

      By RichardHarris123 · Posted

      Hello and welcome from Leeds, England. 
    • Rixy
      Help with Hermle ships clock

      By Rixy · Posted

      Hi Mike, I did, thanks. Found this clip that was really helpful:   It says Seth Thomas but it's actually the same Hermle I've been working on. I'd had it working correctly all along but hadn't noticed that the lever with the sprung end stops the hammer a bit short of the bell on the second ding at the end of the half-past sequence. If only I'd put the bell on when testing, rather than just looking at the hammer, my ears would have told me it was working,  even if my eyes didn't!  
×
×
  • Create New...