This Kundo standard size 400 day clock was probably made in the 1960s. It is unusual in having a heavy, cast brass base (most 400 day clock bases are thin brass over a wood, metal or Bakelite core). The fancy dial is in the French style, with imitation enamel numerals applied to the dial). The arch (the piece with the decorative finials above the dial) is made of plastic!
This is a Kundo standard 400 day clock from about 1950 with wide back plate. The name “Kundo” on the dial is written in black instead of red. This may be an early version of the logo (all the ones I remember seeing before have “Kundo” in red).
Repair job 5613. Horolovar back plate 1371. Suspension unit 1. 0.0032 inch Horolovar suspension spring.
This Kundo standard-sized 400 day clock has a nickel plated finish instead of the common plain brass. It has a wide-plate movement so I believe it was made on the early 1950s. The back plate has no name, just the Kundo logo in a circle. It uses a 0.0032 inch thick suspension spring. I didn’t do a full repair on this clock – just replaced the suspension spring. The gears are not nickel plated.
This is one of the most often seen 400 day clocks: the Kundo standard with brass base, glass dome (5 1/2 by 11 inches) and enamel dial. The Kundo is a well-made clock and will last for many years. This one is about 56 years old and still going strong. In the repair process, I polish any pivots that aren’t smooth. The pivot holes in 400 day clocks don’t wear much, so bushings are not necessary. The original mainspring is usually powerful enough to run the clock, but should be replaced if it is “set’ (lost its elasticity).
Crack in the base
I polished the base using my polishing machine, then lacquered it. I hand polished the columns and platform after removing the old lacquer. These brass bases sometimes develop stress cracks (see the close-up photo below for a crack in the rear of this base) but they can usually be polished successfully. Some Kundo bases from around 1950 develop long cracks along the edges and may fall apart during polishing.
This clock has a plastic suspension guard to protect the thin suspension spring during shipping. Earlier Kundo clocks have metal guards. This one looks spotted because someone applied solvent to it.
Repair job 5536. Horolovar back plate similar to no. 1407B but has an “L” on it. It uses a 0.032 inch thick suspension spring. There was a bent tooth on the center wheel because someone had tried to turn the gears with pliers!
This pretty little Kundo 400 day clock is 8 7/16 inches tall without the dome. The ivory color base and pillars have flowers painted on them. It was made in the 1950s.
The movement is Horolovar back plate no. 1381, and I installed a 0.0024 inch thick Horolovar suspension spring (the 0.0023 inch springs I have now are slightly thinner than 0.0023 inch and make the clock lose time).
This pretty and unusual Kundo standard 400 day clock has the case parts and movement plates nickel plated. This clock has the unusual square dial. It was made in the early 1950s.
I overhauled the movement. A previous repairer had badly damaged the anchor and escape wheel, so I installed replacement parts, polished the pivots, and installed a new suspension spring and lower suspension block.
The most delicate part of a 400 day clock is the thin wire called the “suspension spring” that holds the pendulum and controls its rotation. On many 400 day clocks, the pendulum can be locked in place for shipping and there is a metal or plastic guard to protect the suspension spring. On earlier clocks, the pendulum needed to be removed for shipping.
Kundo 400 day clocks from the early 1950s have a sliding piece on the guard that secures the bottom of the suspension spring during shipping. The photos below show the guard locked and unlocked, and also show an incorrect guard (a later one) on a clock that needs the earlier guard with the slider.
Kundo standard 400 day clock, early 1950s.
Incorrect suspension guard
Suspension spring secured
Suspension spring free
Job 5207. Horolovar back plate no. 1375. Suspension unit 1, uses 0.0032 inch thick suspension spring.