American barrel arbor

[Willow]

Just stripped down a William and Gilbert 1886 mantle clock, my first American clock for cleaning and by gosh does it need cleaning not come across one this dirty before ,though i dare say a lot of you have and worse.

Anyway my question is how to get the arbor out, the count wheel is riveted to the barrel, on both arbors the rachet wheel won't budge don't want to force anything in case i damage something and just hope the barrels will go on my springwinder ok. Thanks everyone

[oldhippy]

This is a new one on me. I would think the ratchet wheel is on a square. Is the count wheel riveted on to the barrel or pressed on? Until you remove the ratchet wheel it is hard to tell.    

[Willow]

Yes the ratchet looks like its on a square but won't pull off and i don't want to force it in case i damage something, and the count wheel is riveted on will give it a good clean and have another look.

[oldhippy]

I'm sure if you put a couple of good man enough screwdrivers under the ratchet wheel it will come off. What a crazy design.  

[Willow]

I am going to give it a clean and try the brute strength method

54 minutes ago, oldhippy said:

I'm sure if you put a couple of good man enough screwdrivers under the ratchet wheel it will come off. What a crazy design.  

[watchweasol]

Hi  When cleaned up just check its not pinned before trying the lever off,  Never come across sush a daft design, may be peculiar to the Gilbert.

[Willow]

Yippee finally got the arbor out and ratchet off after someone surgested supporting ratchet and giving the arbor a few taps, well after a few whacks rachet popped off and arbor came out job done seems like alot haven't seen this type before even are friends across the pond thanks everyone for your input

[oldhippy]

That is good news. What are you going to clean it with? 

[Willow]

37 minutes ago, oldhippy said:

That is good news. What are you going to clean it with? 

I have gave a first wash in warm water and liquid to get some of the oil off yesterday and now i have the mainspring out i will do the same with the barrel etc accept the spring then everything in parrafin then final wash.

[oldhippy]

This is what I always used. Horolene Clock Cleaning Concentrated Fluid, use in a well ventilated space 

[watchweasol]

Well done Willow  now the real job (cleaning)  keep us up to speed.

[Willow]

Hi just some advice not about this clock but one i am thinking of buying. Didn't want to start a new thread for this,i am told it's German but that's all they know about the clock except their father had it for 38 years. Any Thoughts.

[oldhippy]

With out seeing the movement I can't really say. Its a strike, that top doesn't look right it looks more like the sort of thing you see on those German wall clocks which many confuse them with the proper Vienna wall clocks. Take that off and the case looks right.

Here is an example of the type of German wall clock.  

[watchweasol]

Hi  Iam in agreement with Old Hippy,  best wait untill we get a picture of the movement before commiting.

[Willow]

Thanks for that oldhippy did ask them if she knew the makers name or if there was a trade mark on the movement all she knew was her father had it for 38 years and it's been stored away for a few years so she is having a clear out, thanks anyway Hi watchweasol that's it no photo of the movement she only wants £20 for it but then i have to pick it up from Leyland so i will probably give it amiss, thanks anyway