Grandfather Clock - Urgos - different model

[oldhippy]

If all is working well I would leave it alone. You could move the clock and set it up and see if it sets itself in beat by just swinging the pendulum as I suggested. If that works then you know it is working as it should. 

[Folkvisor]

I probably should know this but what is the difference between 'sets itself in beat' and 'self regulating'?

It is happily ticking away and I can't hear a double tick or tock...

Anyway, I could only really hear the double 'tock' when I used an old stethoscope my doctor friend gave me.

[oldhippy]

There is no such thing as a self-regulating clock.

A clock that sets its self in beat normally has a friction tight crutch, which can be attached by it being threaded onto the pallet shaft. I have also come across modern ways like the movement you have been working on. Many of those French movements you get in those very heavy slate cases have self-beat movements.   

[Folkvisor]

I guess I just made the mistake of thinking a clock that set itself in beat was 'self regulating'...

I take it that, if a pendulum has a friction tight crutch it can set itself in beat little by little due to its being able to move on the pallet shaft in order to allow an even swing.

I noticed that the French clock I was working on is sitting on a mantle that isn't at all level and it needs to be turned sideways to work properly. If its nice and straight on the shelf it is noticeably out of level and refused to work for more than an hour.

[oldhippy]

Self-beat pendulum clocks. Regarding how can you tell I put it down to experience. The feel of the crutch on the pallet shaft and the fitting. If it is a screw on fit it is more than likely self-beat. That is with most French clocks. Not so much with German clocks. The really old antique English clocks almost never unless it is by a renowned maker or inventor. American not very often. Modern clocks, the makers come up with so many different ways of design it is potluck.  

[Folkvisor]

There is a lot to learn. 

Thank you for all your advice and willingness to share your knowledge. I appreciate it very much.

[oldhippy]

I really enjoy it.

[Folkvisor]

I'm sure you do.

I've yet to get a hit on my 2836 questions; maybe next week.

[Folkvisor]

Every time I work on a new clock I feel a bit like I did when Bill, the master tech I apprenticed with, sent me out to do a job. It was always a bit of an adventure and I was always a bit nervous even though he always told me he wouldn't have me do a job that he didn't think I could do.

[Folkvisor]

Do you know of any good books that focus on French Clocks?

[oldhippy]

Are you looking for history, value or repairing and case work.

[Folkvisor]

I’m more interested in repairing but history and anything else I can learn would be great.

[oldhippy]

The French Marble Clock by Nicolas M. Thorpe

Early French Pendulum Clocks, 1658 - 1700 known as Pendules Religieuses This is about early clockmaking in France.

Carriage Clocks: Their History and Development by Charles Allix This is the bible on such clocks.

Expensive so look around for best price. It covers Carriage Clocks from around the world not just French

Repairing French Pendulum Clocks by Steven Conover

 

Here is a small pdf you might like about The French Clock

Dean-french.pdf

[Folkvisor]

Thank you. You’re a wealth of information. 

If you ever need to know how to regulate a Steinway ask away...LOL Steinway repetition springs are a bit of bother and you need special tools for setting let off which, of course, cost more money, etc...

I’ll see which of the books you suggest I buy is listed on the internet and go from there.

Thanks again.

[Tmuir]

Thanks for the link Oldhippy.

It dates a French Clock movement I have stashed away for a future project to between 1850 and 1880

[Folkvisor]

I just bought the book on line. Due to the backlog after the mail strike it may be here for Easter...

[Folkvisor]

I just finished working on a Sessions clock made in Connecticut. It has quite thin brass plates with no oil wells but I have it working again and it chimes the hour and sings the half hour. It also keeps pretty good time.

[oldhippy]

Nice to know you have plenty of work.

[Folkvisor]

1 minute ago, oldhippy said:

Nice to know you have plenty of work.

Yeah, mostly because no one else does this kind of thing. Every clock is a new learning experience and I only work on clocks that don’t work so I can’t make them worse...

 

 

 

[oldhippy]

Customer waiting time for repairs was around 3 months. I like your sense of humour.  

[Folkvisor]

Who knows. That 3 month waiting time might happen here. I get a lot of calls but I only work on one at a time and sometimes I like to have the clock working for a week before I get it back to the customer. 

I have a mantle clock that strikes the hour correctly for 3 or 4 days and then starts acting up and striking up to 30 times. Any ideas?

[oldhippy]

I would check the warning and if works by pins make sure they are secure. If it is behaving like it after the warning then the strike could be out and causing it not to stop the strike. Is it German, French, American or English? A photo would be nice. At the moment it is a shot in the dark.

[Folkvisor]

I'll take it apart and have a go at photos as soon as I can get a break from Christmas concerts.

It's an Ingraham clock.

[Folkvisor]

I got the book by Conover on French Pendulum Clocks today in the mail. Fabulous book! Thank you for suggesting it.

BTW, I seem to have done something to get the hour striking mechanism to work on my Ingraham; no idea what.

Happy Christmas 

[oldhippy]

I'm so pleased you like the book. Good news on the Ingraham.

Happy Christmas and New Year