First pendulum clock tinker

[dnhb]

Grateful for info regarding the nature & function of the horizontal cog and the unit it's on top of in the picture. It meshes with a vertical cog (enclosed in the unit) on the arbour which is supported at its other end by the back plate of the dial unit to which it is not quite perpendicular...

[transporter]

its used to lengthen or shorten the suspension spring from the front f the clock dial, this in turn will give regulation to the clock.

Try inserting a pocket watch key or even better the double ended key for the clock into the small aperture on the dial at the top and turning it, you will see the suspension block either raise or lower.

If it raises the clock will run faster if it lowers the clock will run slower

[dnhb]

1 hour ago, transporter said:

its used to lengthen or shorten the suspension spring from the front f the clock dial, this in turn will give regulation to the clock.

Try inserting a pocket watch key or even better the double ended key for the clock into the small aperture on the dial at the top and turning it, you will see the suspension block either raise or lower.

If it raises the clock will run faster if it lowers the clock will run slower

Thank you very much,T. I'll try turning the arbour from the clock face end very carefully in case I haven't reassembled the suspension block correctly (I had to make up a suspension spring using remnants of a broken one as I haven't been able to find an exact replacement online).

[oldhippy]

Here is all the info on the 'Brocot' suspension block and regulating arbor.

http://www.ian-partridge.co.uk/brocotsq.htm

[transporter]

I have to ask this, if you took it apart to replace the suspension spring did you not sit and have a look at the working parts to see how they functioned together?

[dnhb]

9 hours ago, transporter said:

I have to ask this, if you took it apart to replace the suspension spring did you not sit and have a look at the working parts to see how they functioned together?

I didn't take it apart until after you kindly explained its function! In fact mine doesn't work exactly the same way as described in the link OH provided in that it's not the whole block that moves but just the internal spring & its support. However, the 'franken-spring' I've cobbled together pending the right one turning up is, it seems, too thick to slip through the join in the two halves of the block as the mechanism is activated....

[oldhippy]

Is this what you have if so it is called Vallet style.

 

[dnhb]

On 5/17/2024 at 8:52 AM, oldhippy said:

Is this what you have if so it is called Vallet style.

 

Yes: that's it exactly, right down to the break in the spring!!

[oldhippy]

Have you now repaired it? If so how is the time keeping.

[dnhb]

On 5/19/2024 at 8:07 AM, oldhippy said:

Have you now repaired it? If so how is the time keeping.

I couldn't find online an exact match for the spring but I've made up a temporary one -  in order to see if the clock has any other problems - to the right length using another broken 'two-strand'(?) spring. This was thicker than the original but I have slimmed it down somewhat with 1200 & 2000 emery paper but not enough it seems for the Vallet mechanism to work. The clock runs well enough to time for practical purposes but I've not tested it over an extended period yet as I've turned my attention to the case which was in a sorry state. Many thanks for your interest, information & advice.