This is a clock from the 1850’s-1860’s that has quite a peculiar case – a painting! On a scene of the Rhine river, a painted clock tower holds a real working clock. The painting itself is quite discolored from time. It needs a good painting conservation, but I’m not the person for that job. The…

“I wasted time, and now doth time waste me; For now hath time made me his numb’ring clock.” (Richard II, Act V, scene v) Here is a statue clock with a visible Brocot escapement. After servicing it I’ll discuss this combination of such an exposed mechanism with a casting of Shakespeare into a “numb’ring clock.”…

Here is a 31 day clock in need of repair. Something has stopped it from keeping time – could be it just needs new oil, the mainsprings have worn out, or something is causing friction like damaged gear teeth. Let’s see what we can find… First I removed the movement from the case and examined…

Here’s an American clock with a strike on the hour and one strike on the half hour. “Built in Kentucky 1885, Bought by James + H[K?], ST RALAMB. [?] For $1-50. Dallas HA MA.” I’m assuming that refers to the case. I removed the movement and put clamps on the springs to let the power…

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.…