I just finished repairing this 1919 Gilbert Mantel clock (the movement has “19″ stamped on the front plate, meaning 1919). This movement has nickel plated steel plates with brass bushings. The brass bushings can be reamed and bushings installed, just like a movement with normal brass plates. This movement needed all the train wheel pivots polished, even the first wheel pivots, which were probably rough when the clock left the factory.
I replaced the trundles (wires) in the escape wheel pinion because they had notches worn in them. The cannon pinion has a crack, and was repaired in the same way as the previous Gilbert movement.
The video below shows the recoil escapement of this movement in action. The clock was run down about 8 days here, notice that it takes an excellent motion. The mainsprings are the original 3/4 inch wide springs. The time spring is 0.0173 inches thick, and the strike spring is 0.017 inches thick. They provide plenty of power and there is no reason to replace them (if they were being replaced, thinner springs about 0.0165 inch or thinner should be used).
Here is a slide show of the movement, gears, cracked cannon pinion, and 2 of the pivots that I polished.
In 1954, Schatz introduced their 1000 Day Clock. The 1000 day clock is based on Schatz’s miniature 400 day clock movement (see Why 400 Day Clocks Run So Long). A larger mainspring, with about 2.5 times the amount of energy storage, is used, but the gears and escapement are similar. The pendulum makes 10 rotations per minute.
Here are videos of the 1000 day clock in operation, and a closeup view of the escapement:
Here are some photos of the 1000 day clock:
This clock is dated 8-57 (August 1957) on the movement and is part of my clock collection.
The 1000 day clock uses a 0.0024 inch thick Horolovar suspension spring, or complete suspension unit number 10B. See this post for information on ordering suspension springs or units.
Suspension Spring Units for Schatz 400 Day and 1000 Day Clocks
Schatz clocks have a model number inside a circle on the back plate (49, 53, 54 or JUM/7). The other numbers on the back of a Schatz clock are the date code (month and year). Here are the suspension spring unit numbers for Schatz 400 day and 1000 day clocks:
Schatz standard size clock (49 on back plate): Unit 6789 (0.004 inch thick spring)
Schatz miniature (53 on back plate): Unit 10A (0.023 inch thick spring)
Schatz 1000 day clock (54 on back plate): Unit 10B (0.0024 inch thick spring)
Schatz midget 400 day clock (JUM/7 on back plate): Unit 10C (0.0022 inch thick spring)
I am not a general clock parts supplier, but I can sell you Horolovar suspension units for $35 each, plus $8 per order for shipping and handling. To order, you may pay on my online payment page. You may contact me through my BillsClockworks.com web site.
I guarantee that the units are Genuine Horolovar units. I cannot guarantee that they will work in your clock without adjustment, for several reasons:
Your clock may need servicing or escapement adjustment;
The pendulum’s moment of inertia may be slightly above or below standard;
The fork may need to be moved up or down slightly for optimum pendulum motion;
Also, please be sure that the tines of the fork are not binding on the anchor pin (the vertical pin that moves back and forth as the clock ticks).
Make sure that the upper block does not wobble sideways in its holder (the saddle).
I recently repaired an Ithaca grandfather clock. Ithaca is famous for its double dial perpetual calendar clocks, and they made grandfather clocks from ca. 1898 until 1917 (when Ithaca closed).
This clock has an 8 day time and strike movement made by Gilbert Clock Co. in Winsted, Connecticut. It is spring driven, and is a modified version of their shelf clock movement, changed to use a long pendulum. The escapement is a “strip” semi-deadbeat type. It is very nearly deadbeat, there is only a very slight recoil on the entrance pallet. The movie below shows the action of the escapement.
I made the following repairs to the movement (in addition to other small things not mentioned):
Polished the pivots;
Broached out previous bushing that were too tight;
Replaced 4 worn bushings;
Replaced the strike click and spring (it had a previous replacement that had solder globs and was a sloppy fit on its rivet. I used a steel click spring (instead of the brass one that came with the replacement click) and made a custom steel rivet to secure the click;
The cannon pinion was split, which removed the hand set tension. First, I pressed the pinion onto a tapered piece of steel rod to open the crack slightly, and squeezed the end of the split tooth closed. Then I secured the pinion to the arbor with a machinist’s clamp (put the center arbor and the hour wheel between the movement plates and screw them together so that the correct end shake can be obtained), held the arbor in a vice, drilled a cross hole through the pinion and center arbor, then installed a steel pin to secure it.
Train count:
Center wheel: 26 teeth
Third wheel: 39 teeth, 8 pins
Fourth wheel: 44 teeth, 10 pins
Escape wheel: 34 teeth, 10 pins
This works out to 3792.35 beats per hour; 63.21 beats per minute or 1.05 beats per second.
Noah Pomeroy received patent number 92644 on July 13, 1869; titled “Improvement in deadbeat verge clocks”. The patent describes a way of making a cheap deadbeat verge from a strip of steel.
The standard recoil American strip verge escapement has just one face on each pallet, doing both locking and impulse. Pomeroy’s verge has both a locking face and an impulse face on each pallet. Note particularly the shape of the impulse face on the entrance pallet (on the right).
Many American clocks in later years had strip verges with separate locking and impulse faces that show slight recoil and are called semi-deadbeat. This post shows a movie of one by Seth Thomas.
The movie below shows it in action.
This movement is from an Ithaca Farmer’s model double dial perpetual calendar clock. The photos below show the movement, dials and complete clock.
This is a 1950′s Heco windup 400 day anniversary clock made by Kern & Sohne in Germany.
The height, including the glass dome, is 8 3/8 inches.
The base was polished and lacquered about 10 years ago. It still looks nice, but has a few small tarnish spots and a couple of dents (the worst dent is shown in the last photo below). The base also has a few small cracks.
This model of clock is the slowest ticking of the 400 day clocks. The pendulum makes one rotary swing each 10 seconds. The video below shows the clock in operation. This clock (like 99.99% of 400 day clocks) is time only and does not strike or chime.
Here is a close up movie of the escapement:
Back plate: 1217A
Suspension unit: 12C
Suspension spring: 0.002 inches
This Schatz standard windup 400 day (anniversary) clock was made in November, 1952. It has an unusual maroon color dial and trim. The paint and brass finish are original, I have not done any polishing as I like to keep things original when possible. There are some tarnish spots on the base, visible in the photos.
The height, including the glass dome, is 11 1/2 inches.
The dark maroon color is difficult to photograph accurately. It is dark, but pretty.
Here is a movie of the clock operating, with Bach organ music in the background. The clock does not chime or strike. The actual clock is much darker than it appears here.
Here is a movie of the escapement in action:
Back plate: 1281
Suspension unit: 7
Date code: 11 52
Suspension spring: 0.004 inches
I just repaired this Schatz 400 day clock. The movement is dated 11 52 (November 1952) on the back. This clock has adjustable pallets instead of the usual solid anchor. Schatz installed the anchor with adjustable pallets in just some of their standard 400 day clocks from 1952 through 1956.
Job 4789
Back plate: 1281
Suspension unit: 8
Suspension spring: 0.004 inches
