Metamec, the cheap throw away.

[Squiffything]

8 minutes ago, oldhippy said:

It is a French Morbier clock and it is in very bad condition. Do not buy it.

Ok guided by your knowledge but why? What are the bad signs? Knowledge is king and at the mo my mind is like a sponge

[JimmyD]

I had another look and will inform you of the things that stand out.

The hammer is in the wrong place (can be fixed) it would hit the wall.

The pendulum bob and the hook at the top of the pendulum are the only original bits of it and that is debatable.

Looking at the movement, the escapement pinion at the cog end looks bent.

The pinions if you look across the clock are not parallel, the escapement pinion to the fly/fan is way off parallel as is the pallets to the other two above, if this was just and angle thing the latter 2 would be the same offset angle, however they contradict themselves.

If you wanted a clock to keep and be proud to have on your wall then this is not it as you would need to get an original pendulum and fix all that is wrong with it, and the cost would end up more than the clock is worth. 

These clocks come on eBay in Oz a lot so there must be many more in the UK and USA that are all original and cost maybe around 200 quid that still need fixing however you would have an all original clock.

The movement is original so it should give you an idea of what to look for.

Soak it up.....

[Squiffything]

Thanks Jimmy, it’s a lovely looking thing and at the price would have made a nice little project but as there is little left of the original not worth the investment. 

As mentioned before I’m after picking up cheap movements to learn about. I have spoken to the guys at the BHI and they recommend that I try and get hands on experience along side doing the course. As there are few clock repair guys around it’s difficult so building up a collection of movements to work on is one way to go. 

[oldhippy]

Looks like damaged or broken teeth where I have marked in red. No photos of the other side makes me think the seller is hiding something. This type of Morbier never had a case. It would just hang on a wall.

[oldhippy]

I would expect to see this type of pendulum with this type of clock. This is the type you have when they don’t come in a case. The fancy ones are the type that come in wooden cases.

[oldhippy]

One other thing these clocks run on heavy weights, so weight will force these movements to work, so expect wear in the movements. 

[Squiffything]

Thanks for the info OH. Having looked further there are some much better ones in cases for not too much more. Maybe one of these at a later date.  

[JimmyD]

The reason I said that the pendulum was not an original part is that the fancy rod is so clean and free of dents and the bob looks like it has been through WW2.

[oldhippy]

That is I expect because the pendulum bob is hollow and not filled.

[Squiffything]

I’m working on the metemac again. The balance spring is out. It’s deffo cupped as Jimmy said so a complete dismantle and rebuild. It’s now a little more like it should be. 

Damn I enjoy this. I can spend hours pulling these things apart and rebuilding and not even notice the time that has passed. I notice I’m getting quicker as the familiarity sinks in. 

Error made earlier though, I didn’t quite get the main spring ring set properly when I let it go, it pinged a nut across the room like a bullet and shot the cat. He’s old and a little constipated but man did he crap himself. Loosened up a load  

 

[Squiffything]

[oldhippy]

I love cats. What a lovely puss. I only have one cat now and she is 21 years old. 

[Squiffything]

Ok a quick question, has anybody seen my mainspring holding ring? The bullet I mentioned earlier wasn’t a screw it was the ring! Goodness knows where it has gone. I’m reluctant to rebuild until I find it. Maybe the dog will help.

[Squiffything]

Hmmm maybe not

[AndyHull]

If it is magnetic, find it with a magnet, if it is brass and shiny, find it with a torch, but easiest of all. If it is sharp you will find it instantly with bare feet

[Squiffything]

Ha ha  it’s in here somewhere 

[JimmyD]

The cat looks guilty, I bet it is thinking " ignore me and my lunch for stupid clocks will you"

I remember watching a doco about apprentice clock/watchmakers in Switzerland years ago and a girl lost a screw off a watch on the floor, 5 of them looked for it for about 30 minutes and this floor was white and spotless, they did find it, so there is hope Squiffything.

[AndyHull]

When working on stuff that might fly away on the ISS, they use a glove box. Maybe I need to build myself one of those.

 

I'm not sure how I would get my magnification arrangements to work with it though.

Edited March 7, 2019 by AndyHull

[Bod]

ISS.

That's got me thinking....knitted cuffs, not gloves.....

 

Bod

[AndyHull]

5 minutes ago, Bod said:

ISS.

That's got me thinking....knitted cuffs, not gloves.....

 

Bod

Padded arm holes too. If you go down that line, might as well build it for comfort.

[Squiffything]

No, just no, how can you enjoy clock repair without the thrill seek?! 

I want the adrenaline rush, I want the heart pound. If I wanted safe I’d have gone for down hill sheep herding or extreme knitting or something like that. 

[Squiffything]

12 hours ago, JimmyD said:

The cat looks guilty, I bet it is thinking " ignore me and my lunch for stupid clocks will you"

I remember watching a doco about apprentice clock/watchmakers in Switzerland years ago and a girl lost a screw off a watch on the floor, 5 of them looked for it for about 30 minutes and this floor was white and spotless, they did find it, so there is hope Squiffything.

I found it! Woohoo. It was embedded in the rear section of the dogs hind quarter. Talk about tearing him a new ring! It’s ok he’s settled down a bit now but it’s interesting watching him squirt out a double walnut whip

[Bod]

Tooooo much information....

 

Bod

[AndyHull]

Not just too much information, too many movements...