Jump to content

Trying to fix a 1950s clock with a Kienzle 606e mechanism


Todd999

Recommended Posts

A friend of mine got a clock as a wedding gift back in Italy in the 1950s, unfortunately the clock got accidentally knock off the wall, hit the ground and broke the wood frame pretty badly.  There is no apparent damage to the actual clock itself.  I was able to fix the frame and get it all back together, but now the clock will not run.  Upon examination of the Kienzle 606e mechanism, nothing appears to be broken, bent, out of place, etc.  The clock runs on a D-cell battery so I purchased a new one to be sure that was not the problem.  I was able to record the only thing it does when the battery is connected to the mechanism and I am hoping that someone can look at it and tell me what is wrong.  Since I cannot upload the video here, I will put it in my Dropbox and provide the link at the bottom of this message.  I took a regular and slow motion video.  I understand that I do not know anything about repair clocks, but I had to at least try because of the extreme sentimental value of this old clock from the old days back in Italy for my friend.   Thanks in advance for any help.

Video 1

Video 2

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hello Todd999,

Sounds like the clock took quite a tumble. Glad to hear you got it back together. Any pictures? Had trouble viewing I think the slo-mo video. 

With it crashing to the ground is the balance wheel ok? It could have broke a pivot and not be immediately obvious.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The second video flickers and you cannot see what is going on. That type of movement has a balance and as it hit the deck I expect the balance staff has broken. Is the balance wheel tilting to one side and if you shake it does it rotate. If your answer is no then the staff has broken. 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The videos show the action of the electric winding mechanism which apparently works. It can be seen that the balance (encircled red) does not move at all. So something could be broken or stuck inside the gear train between main spring barrel (encircled green) and balance.

 

IMG_5002.jpeg

Edited by Kalanag
Link to comment
Share on other sites

You don't think the staff has broken. One thing that might have happened because it had a fall and that is has the balance over banked. That is where the balance impulse pin is the wrong side of the pallets. Her is a photo of what I mean. If this is the problem you need to unscrew the two screws and get it back in between the pallets. 

Overbanked-768x1212.jpg

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 6 months later...

If anyone knows of a listing of Kienzle clocks which use the 606 series of movements would they kindly point me in the right direction.
I am searching for items that run from an electro-mechanical movement, one which partially winds a spring up and that drives the mechanism of the clock.
Thanks to anyone who can help.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.



  • Recently Browsing

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Topics

  • Posts

    • A couple of pictures of the front… Sorry, I’m months away from this one…good luck…
    • Personally I would salvage the missing screws from some donor movement.  I also bought a random selection of screws "Assortment of Stainless Steel Watch Screws" for next to nothing.  As for using an Alum solution - I had great success with that removing a rusted stem from a stainless steel crown.  The best piece of advice I read on doing that was to keep the solution warm so that the reaction didn't take weeks!  I did it in a couple of hours with the solution in jam jar and the jam jar in a saucepan full of water which I left on an induction hob maintaining about 60C in the Alum solution.
    • I decided that it was time to tackle the piece that I'd set aside as my first project. The subject in question is a Gruen Veri-Thin pocket watch.  It winds and "runs".  On the time grapher, it has reasonable amplitude (240 or so depending on the position), but was loosing close to a minute a day.  The stem also has the annoying tendency to just come out when pulled, which makes it super hard to set the thing.  As with many things this one started sideways and just got more so.  I was able to overcome the mangled "tab" on the back case cover (a well placed, very sharp knife enabled me to get in when I couldn't get a purchase on the mangled tab with a case knife.)   I was then sort of shocked to find that one side of the dial was held down with some sort off tape or adhesive material as someone had broken the dial foot screw on that side and left the broken screw in the mail plate. The loose stem does in fact seem to have been a poorly tightened setting lever screw, but I'm afraid there may still be gremlins in the keyless works.  While I was able to get the stem to stay in by putting everything in the right place and tightening the setting lever screw (before I took it all apart for cleaning and inspection), it just didn't seem to all sit right. The final gremlin showed up when I was taking off the lower cap stones for the balance and escape wheel (yes the Gruen 380 seems to have a cape jewel on the escape wheel).  The balance stone came off fine (but that in fact is the smallest screw I've ever seen.  When I turned the movement around to get the one off the escape wheel setting, I found that the screw head had been mostly sheared off.  After some reading and looking at what I had, I decided to try and tease what was left of the screw out of the hole by nudging what was left with the corner of my smallest screwdriver.  After 20 minutes or so, I was able to get the remains of that screw out. The picture I'm including of the disassembled movement was taken before I got the second cap stone off, so in the picture, it's still attached to the main plate (for those looking carefully, you'll only see the one cap setting in the pic.) Now I'm left with: A broken dial screw inside the main plate that needs to come out A broken cap stone retention screw that I have in my parts tray, but that is strictly useless and needs to be replaced. The need to get another dial foot screw I'm contemplating solving the first problem by soaking the main plate in an alum solution.  I think the main plate is brass and shouldn't be affected, but I have not been able to confirm.  This seems like the easiest option as I can't really access both sides of the screw to use the pricey Bergeon tool (which I don't fancy buying unless I have to.) I have located a couple of donor movements and have questions out about whether or not the include the dial foot screw and prompting for pictures of the dial side so  evaluate the cap stone settings.  I've also found that a supplier in this country does have the cap stone settings, but isn't overly clear about whether the screws are included. Are these the types of things that one can scavenge out of assortments or is it best to just grab one of the donors assuming that they look like they have what I need?  
×
×
  • Create New...