View Full Version : Anyone know about grandmother clocks ...
The Vinyl Adventure
12-05-2011, 23:50
I inherited one ... I love it ... Beautiful thing ... Says embee on the mech, has three chimes.
the bit that hooks the pendulum is broken. I'd like to get it restored and working properly ... Any ideas? Cost? Where to go? What to ask? Anything to bear in mind? I know naffin bout this sorta thing apart from the fact I like it and want it to make a nice clicking noise and lovely chime :)
http://i728.photobucket.com/albums/ww282/hamish_gill/f897fc43.jpg
http://i728.photobucket.com/albums/ww282/hamish_gill/e07e5683.jpg
Nope, know bugger all about them but that’s a lovely looking clock :)
Stratmangler
12-05-2011, 23:56
Photo of broken bit maybe ?
Clocks do not click - they go tick - tock.
Also, with the chimes (IT'S THE BELLS ESMERELDA, THE BELLS I TELL YOU) and the ticking, you want to make sure that is can't be heard in the room wot you listens to moosics in :eyebrows:
The Vinyl Adventure
12-05-2011, 23:59
I think so ... It was my Nans though so I'm biased ...
It does sound amazing when it chimes though! Not that it has done for years ... It was in storage for nearly 10 years, so I think it deserves a restore ...
I probably won't wind it every day, but just being able to and it work would be nice!
The Vinyl Adventure
13-05-2011, 00:02
I can't take a photo of the broken bit Chris ... It's broken and gone ... I assume it was a little bit of metal that hooked the pendulum to the bit it hooks to ...
There is also a bit of paper with my nans handwriting saying "do not remove cork" I can't see any cork, so that's missing too!
Stratmangler
13-05-2011, 00:05
The cork might have been there as a hammer damper of some sort.
Photo of the pendulem arm maybe ?
The Vinyl Adventure
13-05-2011, 07:28
I'm holding the pendulum ...
http://i728.photobucket.com/albums/ww282/hamish_gill/2dda6a77.jpg
The missing bit goes in the gap between these bits
http://i728.photobucket.com/albums/ww282/hamish_gill/a39370a1.jpg
A picture of what I think is missing
http://i728.photobucket.com/albums/ww282/hamish_gill/53165cfa.jpg
(actually, I don't think it is my nans writing, by that's not important :) )
Stratmangler
13-05-2011, 09:11
Any chance you could take a shot with a camera instead of using your iPhone ?
As the pendulum arm is broken could you take a shot of it away from the clock casing ?
Rare Bird
13-05-2011, 10:36
Hi Hamish
How tall is it i just wondering if it's actually a Grandmother or Grandaughter clock. The Winchester/Westminster/Whittington are the chimes..I don't think it's as old as you may think, maybe 1920/30's
Spectral Morn
13-05-2011, 10:48
Hi Hamish
How tall is it i just wondering if it's actually a Grandmother or Grandaughter clock. The Winchester/Westminster/Whittington are the chimes..I don't think it's as old as you may think, maybe 1920/30's
I tend to agree Andre.
Hamish please take this the right way. The clock is lacking the quality of a Victorian or even Edwardian clock. I concur with Andre, I would even push a bit later early 40's.
You need to take it to an Antique clock restorer. Look in the yellow pages. The only problem may be that repairing and restoring it might cost more than the clock is worth. However sentimental reasons for restoring usually outweigh actual value.
It is a nice looking clock.
Regards D S D L
Spectral Morn
13-05-2011, 10:53
Bit of research (Hat raised to Andre)
GERMAN FLOOR CLOCK MADE BY EMBEE (MATHIAS BAUERLE UHRENFABRIK) IN ST. GEORGEN (BLACK FOREST) GERMANY, CIRCA 1925-1935.
Makers marks here http://www.tronico.fi/OH6NT/docs/Clock_ID.pdf
Regards D S D L
Old mechanical clocks are best when wound every day and kept in service.
My Dad had 3 of them and every 5 to ten years they need servicing from a clock shop.
My Dad's old German coo koo clock was $500.00 dollars every 5 years,new bushings,cleaning and adjusting. Old clocks can be a money pit. My Grand mothers old Fasco wall clock cost over a thousand dollars to get it running and it needs it again as it has stopped working 3 years ago.You are better off to get a watch.
The parts all have to be hand made in most cases and all are hand fitted in the very least. Good Luck.
jantheman
13-05-2011, 12:46
Simple enough..all you are looking for is a rectangular peg with a cross bar going through it...the peg sits in the hole and the pendulum hooks over the crossbar...c'mon Hamish...shouldnt take too long to make something....
If you have to...a piece of wood and a nail or 2 would do the job.......although something better would be..errrr...better.
EDIT...looking closer, I dont thnk its broke...you just have a piece missing....Have a look round in the bottom of the cabinet.....
greenhomeelectronics
13-05-2011, 14:31
Yup, that's a 1930's grandmother, the part you need is called the suspension. They are only a couple of pounds to buy, a company called Meadows and Passmore at www.m-p.co.uk will probably have one. These clocks do suffer from drying out oil which makes the movements sticky - bit like an old Garrard really :) They can also suffer from the holes in the brass plates elongating which allows the train to go out of square and jam. From what I can see yours looks fine. If the pendulum is missing the movement would have to be inspected to find out what length of pendulum is required - I assume yours is still at the other end of that wooden pendulum rod?. Putting a new suspension in is a 5 minute job, they usually are held in place by a tapered steel pin that just pushes in or a steel pin that sits atop a brass block with a groove in the top. The suspension is a thin strip of springy steel that has a brass block that fits in the crutch - that's the bit hanging down with the slot in it, the other end goes in the block with the groove / tapered hole
Your clock is not hugely valuable but has to be worth doing, it's a nice looking thing.
Hope that helps,
Dave.
greenhomeelectronics
13-05-2011, 14:38
I forgot to say, that cork piece was most likely because the original suspension had been lost and the replacement did not fit the crutch properly. The cork would have filled the gap so that the impulse from the escapement was not lost. The original suspension would have been similar in section to the rectangular cut out in the crutch. If you need more info let me know, I can take a photo inside one of my clocks if that helps.
Dave.
The Vinyl Adventure
13-05-2011, 15:35
yeah its 1930's from what i know ... its about 6' tall
i know its nothing special really ... probably worth about £300 in real terms ...
The only problem may be that repairing and restoring it might cost more than the clock is worth.
thats what i have found out today
hifi_dave
13-05-2011, 16:32
Dave (DSJR) repairs and services old clocks. You might care to PM him for some advice.
Dave has told you all you need to know, Meadows and Passmore are only around along the road from me but you needed to have an account set up which was just a matter of regestering i think to use them or you did so when i last used them, looks like just the pin is missing, try making one out of panel pin or tack, it will probably also be gummed up with dust so will need a clean, i have got many a watch and the odd clock going with lighter petrol just to test the mech, fleabay is probably your friend for a complete pendulum but you need to have an idea of length as Dave said, i have also bought parts from these (http://stores.ebay.co.uk/OLIVERS-CLOCK-SHOP) people, the shop is worth a visit if you like clocks and are on a trip to Brighton.
I'm more of a fiddler than a restorer and have a soft spot for French clocks, the market has dropped for clocks as with many other things
The Vinyl Adventure
13-05-2011, 17:37
Ooo missed your Posts Dave ... I knew there would be people on here that would know somthing ...
Cheers for the pointers all
I'm going to try an fashion something temporary to see if it even works ...
The pendulum is there and intact as far a I can tell
The missing bit isn't in the case
A picture of an example of this suspension thing would be great!
here's (http://www.cousinsuk.com/catalog/8/1182/1679.aspx) another firm i have used with a picture of a suspension
The Vinyl Adventure
13-05-2011, 18:37
Blimey, there is a few to choose from...
Rare Bird
13-05-2011, 18:56
It's not fallen in the bottom has it?
Blimey, there is a few to choose from...
Just find someone who will tell you how much it will cost up front,my Dad sunk alot of money in at least 2 of his 3 old clocks.
Here the guy was charging $90.00 an hour with a 3 hour min.
The bill was never under $500.00.
Big Vern
14-05-2011, 12:23
Hi Hamish,
Take a look at the link below - I know it sin't on you doorstep - but neither is it beyond consideration. Mr. Benson repaired my granmother's grandmother clock (a wedding present in 1936) a year or two back and he did a superb job. He is a retired engineer who has the facility to make just about any part he needs (an amazing array of equipment, as you can see). If you are prepared to leave your clock with him for a couple of weeks, he will restore and service it, as well as research its history and provide you with some high res images of the work.
Mine needed quite a lot doing to it (still less than 100 notes), but I seem to recall the average cost is around £50 - and yours seems to be okay(?), with a bit missing. Mine hasn't missed a beat since he serviced it...I simply cannot be doing with things like this inoperative...like my turntables! :)
http://www.ajsbsa.co.uk/Index.html
Hope this helps
Best Wishes,
Paul.
Also, look on the BHI website for a local repairer.
My amateurish expertise is on now valueless (too many of 'em around) westminster chiming mantel clocks. Some Grand-daughter clocks used variations of the mantel clock mechanisms, but others - slightly taller clocks like yours Hamish had the escapements altered to take a decent long pendulum and of course the tallest long-case clocks have weight driven movements, which present a more even load to the movement as the week progresses as compared to a standard spring drive (fusee is slightly different, but I digress).
Generally with these things, there is a strip of spring steel - suspension upon which the pendulum leader hangs. This leader runs through the "crutch" which is the brass piece with the fork sticking out. The leader passes through this and the weight of the pendulum assembly is carried by this and suspension spring, so the crutch pivot has no severe loading. These pieces were often dedicated to the particular movement and this is where some research by an experienced horologist would be essential, as they could actually make a suitable replacement part. I know, the more qualified these people are the more expensive they'll be, but clocks like this are almost antiques and some of them do have good quality mass produced movements in them - the current Hermle and similar equivalents only work so well for so long because of oil-retaining bronze bushings, the previous ones being pretty worn now without regular servicing.
The thing is Hamish, this is a triple chime movement, which were more expensive than the "standard" striking or Westminster-only models. Well worth having a full service, which would involve at the most exhaustive, a full movement strip-down, a thorough clean, bushings and pivots polished and/or replaced as necessary and then a careful re-assembly (very tricky with three-train movements) and alignment/calibration. The chime hammers would also be looked at as the leather/rubber pads can harden and make the sound rather strident and with "bouncy" hammers.
The clock may only currently fetch a few hundred quid in current condition and may cost two to three hundred to fully overhaul, but you'd be doing it for your children/grandchildren and in a hundred years or so, it'll begin to appreciate in value.
The suspension should be easy to find as long as research on a good movement is available (many German movements from this time may be related despite different makers, so don't despair), the leader material and shape could then be ascertained.
Also, look on the BHI website for a local repairer.
My amateurish expertise is on now valueless (too many of 'em around) westminster chiming mantel clocks. Some Grand-daughter clocks used variations of the mantel clock mechanisms, but others - slightly taller clocks like yours Hamish had the escapements altered to take a decent long pendulum and of course the tallest long-case clocks have weight driven movements, which present a more even load to the movement as the week progresses as compared to a standard spring drive (fusee is slightly different, but I digress).
Generally with these things, there is a strip of spring steel - suspension upon which the pendulum leader hangs. This leader runs through the "crutch" which is the brass piece with the fork sticking out. The leader passes through this and the weight of the pendulum assembly is carried by this and suspension spring, so the crutch pivot has no severe loading. These pieces were often dedicated to the particular movement and this is where some research by an experienced horologist would be essential, as they could actually make a suitable replacement part. I know, the more qualified these people are the more expensive they'll be, but clocks like this are almost antiques and some of them do have good quality mass produced movements in them - the current Hermle and similar equivalents only work so well for so long because of oil-retaining bronze bushings, the previous ones being pretty worn now without regular servicing.
The thing is Hamish, this is a triple chime movement, which were more expensive than the "standard" striking or Westminster-only models. Well worth having a full service, which would involve at the most exhaustive, a full movement strip-down, a thorough clean, bushings and pivots polished and/or replaced as necessary and then a careful re-assembly (very tricky with three-train movements) and alignment/calibration. The chime hammers would also be looked at as the leather/rubber pads can harden and make the sound rather strident and with "bouncy" hammers.
The clock may only currently fetch a few hundred quid in current condition and may cost two to three hundred to fully overhaul, but you'd be doing it for your children/grandchildren and in a hundred years or so, it'll begin to appreciate in value.
The suspension should be easy to find as long as research on a good movement is available (many German movements from this time may be related despite different makers, so don't despair), the leader material and shape could then be ascertained.
I knew this was coming,Get that new Canon camera you wanted instead.
You'll spend about the same,as once they get in there and find a gear with a worn or missing tooth or a bad sprocket that has to be hand repaired or even worse hand made from scratch.The repair just keeps mounting.
I watched this in horror as my Dad just kept shelling out money every few years and if you sold the clock in perfect condition it still wouldn't cover half the money he put in it. So you will be passing on an ongoing debt to your children in the form of a nice looking old clock.
Unless you drop a couple of gold coins in the bottom of it every year to cover future repairs.
You might as well leave them an old Jaguar V12 and make them promise you never to sell it and keep it running flawlessly and pass it to there kids.He He He...
Sorry Hamish but if you like it pick up the missing parts, and just sit on it as is, till a very reasonable clock guy comes along and helps you with it,but be careful going to a clock shop they'll empty your pockets faster than the tax man.
Don't feel obligated to fix it ,dumping your life savings into it.
I have seen this happen far to menny times not to warn such a great guy!
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.3 Copyright © 2026 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.