Anniversary or 400 day clocks are simple because they just tell time – no chimes or strikes – but are also tricky because they are very sensitive since they are supposed to run for so long. Here it is as I received it. First I disassembled it. The movement really is simple, just one gear…

This is a pendulum wall clock with strike and chime features, the movement of which was manufactured by Hermle. The chime is the Westminster melody that occurs on the quarter hours, with the strike sounding only on the hour. This is is how it came to me, and you can tell from the outset it…

I won’t go into much detail about servicing these mechanisms as it was much the same as the basic cuckoo clock movement, but wanted to quickly document two of the common cuckoo clock variations: a second melody and dancing figures. In this one the main movement with cuckoo triggers a second music-box assembly that plays…

Here’s a charming little clock. It’s a fairly simple cuckoo clock with a 1 day, 2 weight “Regula” movement that needed a bit of cleaning and servicing to get it singing again. Movement removed from case. I love how simple and effective the beak mechanism is. When assembled, a wire protruding from one of the…

This is an American time-only clock movement. It’s very simple because it only gives hour and minute, no bells or whistles. First I put a clamp over the spring and let down the power so I could safely take it apart. I cleaned the parts in an ultrasonic cleaner and by hand with a toothbrush.…

In this exercise I practiced giving a shaft a new pivot by drilling a hole and turning a plug to fit the hole snuggly. I was surprised drilling the holes worked so well holding the bit just by hand. I then lathed a plug that fit about halfway in the hole and finally tapped it…

This component houses the main coiled spring and transfers its energy. First I replaced 4 teeth. Cutting a slot was tricky because the barrel kept getting in the way of the jeweler’s saw. The plug needed a step taken out of it on the inside. Soldering the plug in place. After filing the top. Then…

I spent three hours straightening out tangled hairsprings. They also had to be straight when viewed edge-on. I thought these were tricky, but then my instructor showed me some absolutely tiny hairsprings from small watches. I had to use my optivisor, but watchmaker’s literally need a microscope.

Replacing Teeth: I removed some teeth from the great wheel of a clock then restored them. This involved cutting out a slot or dovetail, then a plug to fit, and either soldering or riveting it in place, and finally filing new teeth. Cutting a slot. Soldering the plug. Filing a new tooth using needle files.…

Lathe Exercises: To get familiar with the lathe and using hand gravers I was tasked with making some center pivots and also a square shoulder pivot. The center pivots are simply a small hole in the end that comes to a point exactly at the center – they are useful for acting as a pilot…