Smiths Sandiville Mantel Clock

[HectorLooi]

 

Just received my Smiths Sandiville mantel clock a couple of days ago.

Quite good condition generally but not running. The Westminster chime is all messed up also. This will probably keep me busy for a few weeks.

There is another clock that just came up on ebay. It's for a good cause too. Proceeds go to East Anglia's Children Hospices. Really tempted to get this also. Unless one of you guys outbid me.

https://www.ebay.com.sg/itm/Art-Deco-Mantel-Clock-Smiths-With-Chimes/402360864848?hash=item5dae939050:g:-wsAAOSwAHlfNAfW

[oldhippy]

Have fun repairing that one. You are in the right place if you need help. Just looked at the other one, hope you get that one too and good luck. 

[watchweasol]

Hi Hector   go for it  I have one so will not be bidding.  Solidly build clocks.

[HectorLooi]

Found other problems with the movement. The suspension spring is broken.

But the reason why the clock won't run is because of pet hairs inside. It appears to be hairs from a ginger cat. 

[watchweasol]

Hi Hector   I suppose you checked the cat was'nt in side the clocka big Ginger one with a wide grin  (cheshire cat)

[HectorLooi]

9 hours ago, watchweasol said:

Hi Hector   I suppose you checked the cat was'nt in side the clocka big Ginger one with a wide grin  (cheshire cat)

Nope. I checked. No such luck.

I miss my cats in spite the damage and mayhem they caused. 

[oldhippy]

I would find find dead and sometimes alive spiders in the clock cases many in longcase clocks. 

[KarlvonKoln]

Those must be like the two most common problems with mantel clocks or something.  When I got my Linden 8-day, same things: broken pendulum suspension  and random white cat hairs scattered throughout. 

[watchweasol]

When I was working in the office machine trade  dead mice in the powe rsupply were the thing along with a blown fuse not yet had one in a clock though.

[HectorLooi]

I got the clock stripped down to the 3 gear trains. Tomorrow I'll separate the plates and remove all the wheels.

What would be a good cleaning solution for clocks? I've used dishwashing liquid and turpentine before. Ended up removing a lot of lacquer from the brass. 

If I decide to polish and re-lacquer the plates, how do I go about doing that? 

[watchweasol]

Hi Hector  depending on how dirty the movement is   I usually give it a good scrub down with either Petrol  or white spirit and oil.  The old way of polishing the plates was with a brush charged from a chalk block (still available)  when dried and pegged out.     all bearings/pivots checked . Reassemble and lubricate with Windles clock oil  its the best .     all the best.

[oldhippy]

Just give it a good clean in petrol. watchweasol no need for brush and chalk with these types of movements, that is for polished movements. 

[HectorLooi]

There's cat hair in the chiming barrel too! 

[oldhippy]

Have you  m/spring winder to remove the springs? 

[HectorLooi]

Yes I have a Webster.

But while adjusting the retainer ring, disaster struck. The end of the mainspring slipped off the barrel hook and slipped into the ring. Now I don't know how I'm going to get the mainspring out without the end of the spring sticking out. 

[watchweasol]

Hi Hector   wrap some leather round the arbour  to protect it and put in a vice turn the sleeve untill the loose end pops out then reverse the turn to expose more of the end

[HectorLooi]

Just managed to get the mainspring out of the containment ring and back into the barrel.

That has to be one of the scariest things I've done in watch/clock repair. 

[watchweasol]

Well done Hector Hairy things mainsprings and need to be handled with care. I guess you counted all your fingers afterwards

[HectorLooi]

Yup. All there. Thanks.

I've cleaned everything and am ready to reassemble. I noticed that on the chime train, there are 2 wheels with a pin sticking out. Do I need to align or synchronize these in any way?

Do clocks have tech sheets like watches, like the ones watchweasol always supplies so generously?

[oldhippy]

Make sure this wheel is about in this place, the same on the strike side, you will probably need to  make adjustments when all the wheels are fitted. On the strike side the hammer lifting lever needs to be away from the star wheel, that is the one that lifts the hammers. 

[HectorLooi]

How about this 2nd pin? Do I  also position it at 12 o'clock position?

I find synchronizing the strike and chime more tedious than getting the pallet position and beat correct.

[oldhippy]

When you put in the lever through the hole in the plate that hooks over that pin, the other pin needs to be in the position that I said. Sorry I forgot to mention that.

[watchweasol]

Hi Hector  there is not a lot in the way of tech sheets for clocks, Two good books  the clock repairers manual by Mick Watters  and the clock repairers handbook by Laurie Pennman good reference books. and Donald De Carles book practical clock repairing.

[watchweasol]

Hi   Hector   there is a bit of good reading here in this book and a front plate drawing explaining the part names hope its useful for you      cheers

 

Clockworks E-book - Providing clock parts and tools for repair.html

[HectorLooi]

I managed to get the going train running again last night. It was still going this morning despite the broken suspension spring. 

I will work on the chime and strike tonight.

I now find clocks so much more interesting than watches. There are so many different types. They are less strain on the eyes, no need to get on your hands and knees with a magnet in one hand and a flashlight in the other. No need to wait for a "shake free" day to work on delicate things like hairspring adjustments or pallet jewel replacement. But they are a whole lot more dangerous to work on.

I guess the WRT community will be polarized on opinion.