I overhauled an Ansonia “Queen Elizabeth” wall clock, oak case, 37 inches tall, 8 day time only spring driven (my job no. 4446).
The (probably) original mainspring is 0.0165 inches thick. After the overhaul, the escape arc is about 1.4 times the escape arc.
It is interesting that the movement is mounted tilted in the case.
Note the date Oct. 19, 1899 written in pencil on the label. This is probably the date of sale.
I just overhauled a lovely Russell & Jones hanging oak parlor clock. Height: 28 inches. It has a beautiful glass tablet with an image of a lighthouse. (My repair job no. 4341.)
The movement is 8 day time and strike, with plate size approx. 5-3/8 x 3-3/8
The original strike mainspring was 0.016 inch thick, it was broken so I replaced it with a Empire 280-19-009 mainspring. The new spring is 3/4 inch wide, 0.0146 inch thick, and 120 inches long. The strike mainwheel has about 10% wear on its teeth. The strike speed is plenty fast enough with this new spring. (Note: I had tried a Merritt’s 3/4x .0155 x 96 inch mainspring, but the striking was WAY too fast).
The original time mainspring was replaced by a previous repairer with a spring that was too strong – 0.0178 inches thick. This strong spring had caused about 50% tooth wear. I installed a Merritt’s Antiques P1496 in the Red and Yellow box. The new spring is 3/4 inch wide, 0.0157 inch thick, and 96 inches long. The pendulum motion is satisfactory and is approximately twice the escape arc. (The movement runs well in spite of the large time mainwheel tooth wear.)
Words on label on back of clock
THE BELLE
——————————
EIGHT DAY HALF HOUR STRIKE, CA
THEDRAL GONG AND ALARM
——————————
Manufactured by
Russell & Jones Clock Co., Pittsfield, Mass, U.S.A.
— For —
N. Y. INSTALLMENT CO.
Chicago, Ill.
History of Russell & Jones
With the failure of the Terry Clock Company at Pittsfield, Mass. in 1888, the Pittsfield businessmen who were large investors, particularly brothers Hezekiah S. and Solomon N. Russell and Edward D. G. Jones, took over the operation. These men and their associates had supplied funds to buy, the bankrupt Terry firm at Waterbury, Conn. in 1880 and move it to Massachusetts in the summer of that year. They built a new factory for the operation in 1883.
By January of 1889, the firm’s name had been changed to Russell & Jones Clock Company and a trade catalog was issued with few changes, if any, from the old firm’s line. In 1890, the new firm issued a new catalog with a substantial number of new and unusual models. As far as can be determined, the firm discontinued manufacture and was disbanded in 1893.
(History written by Chris H. Bailey of the American Clock and Watch Museum, Bristol, Connecticut)
Time train tooth count
Center wheel: 26 teeth
T2: 60/8 (wheel teeth/pinion wires)
T3: 40/8
T4: 40/7
T5 (escape wheel): 39/7
8277.55 beats per hour
On Sunday, August 26, my wife Kimberly and I stopped at the old Westclox factory at Peru, Illinois on our way back from my nephew’s wedding in Wisconsin.
The old factory is a huge place, 665,000 square feet on 16 acres of land. Across the street is the 57,000 square foot administration or office building. Westclox ceased operations in Peru in 1980, and the factory complex and office building were offered at auction (with no takers) on May 27, 1981. A number of companies currently occupy various parts of the building, the largest perhaps being Bakery Machinery & Fabrication Company, which has the back lower part of the complex. This part is 5 stories tall and located down the hill from the main part of the building. It still has has the name “Western Clock Co.” in the gable at each end.
The signs of several other companies are shown in the slide show below. Heritage Realty is developing part of the building and also is planning for a Westclox museum.
The pictures in the slide show below start on the east end of the factory and move across to the west end. The administration building across the street is also illustrated. The last picture is an aerial view from Google Earth. I hope to get back to the area soon for a longer visit and to see our friends the Biolchinis and Whitakers.
Empire Clock Company offers a mainspring specified as 3/4 inch wide, 0.0145 inch thick and 120 inches long. It is part number 280-19-009 and is listed in their parts catalog. Their web site gives directions for ordering their clock parts catalog. This is a good mainspring for many Ansonia clocks.
This paper dial is about 90% excellent, with some wear by the numbers 10 and 11. I prefer to leave a dial this good alone. Some restorers would replace it, or a good touch up artist could make it look better in the worn area while leaving the rest alone.
Dial of Ansonia oak kitchen clock
I recently repaired this Schatz standard 400 day clock and am illustrating it because of the black trim and the design on the dial. The movement is dated 3 53 (March 1953). (My job No. 4428.)
A family named Schatz sent me this Schatz standard 400 day clock for repair. A friend of theirs bought the clock at an auction for them because they wanted a clock bearing the family name. I overhauled the movement, replaced the suspension spring, and polished and lacquered the base. The clock is dated 12 58 (December 1958) and has model number 49 in a circle on the back of the movement. This clock with the engraved silvered dial is particularly attractive. I hope this clock will be a treasured family piece for many years.
In previous posts, I mentioned the R & M No. 77.303 mainspring as being about .014 inch thick. These thin springs can be identified by having the number 37 on the loop end (which means 0.37 millimeters which equals 0.0146 inch).
I received a new batch of these today, and the number on the loop end is 42 (0.42 millimeters which equals 0.0165 inch). I measured one spring to be 0.0160 inches thick.
