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.
This popular 400 day clock from the 1950s has an oval base and dome. It uses the Kundo miniature 400 day clock movement with a 0.0023 inch thick Horolovar suspension spring. It has a pendulum locking device at the bottom rear of the movement.
Kundo Oval 400 Day Clock, 1950s. Oval glass dome not shown.
This beautiful clock was made about 1950 and has nickel-plated base, pillars, movement plates, pendulum, suspension guard, etc. These nickel-plated models are not nearly as common as the standard brass model.
Kundo Nickel Plated 400 Day Clock
Dial with numerals on white painted chapter ring. Nickel plated bezel.
Showing the nickel plated pendulum
Movement, Horolovar back plate no. 1363
Movement, Horolovar back plate no. 1363
Here is a video:
Here is a slide show:
Repair job 5123. I cleaned the movement, polished 5 pivots, smooth broached the pivots holes and installed a new suspension spring.
Horolovar back plate no. 1363. Uses .0032 inch thick Horolovar suspension spring.
This Kundo miniature 400 day clock from the 1950s has a case similar to the Schatz “London Coach”. it is 8 1/4 inches tall (including finial). The side panels and rear panel are glass with a molded pattern. The front panel is plain glass.
I cleaned the movement, straightened the hand shaft and replaced the mainspring (the old mainspring had been cleaned in the past without removing it from the barrel and it had corrosion marks). Also, the suspension unit was not quite long enough.
These 2 clocks have large dials with 3 5/8 inch time track (the standard dial has 3 1/4 inch time track). They have attractive skeleton hands. Kundo made both clocks. The left one says “Welby” on the dial and movement.
The left one has the type of pendulum used for many years (it has a slot in the top part of each pendulum arm). The right one has the later type of pendulum without slots in the arms (I wonder if it originally had the earlier type).
The left clock has the longer, earlier type of movement mounting nuts (visible beneath the platform). The right clock has the later type of short mounting nuts.
Kundo used 2 methods to mount the dial to the movement. Earlier dials have taper pins through posts. Later dials have rotating fasteners. The photos below show both types.
Welby and Kundo 400 day clocks with 3 5/8 inch time track dial and skeleton hands
The Welby dial
The Kundo dial
Earlier type of mounting nuts (long). Earlier type of pendulum (has slots in upper part of arms).
Earlier type of mounting nuts (long). Earlier type of pendulum (has slots in upper part of arms).
Later type of mounting nuts (short). Later type of pendulum (no slots in upper part of arms).
Later type of mounting nuts (short). Later type of pendulum (no slots in upper part of arms).
This 1950s 400 day clock is labeled DeBruce on the dial and Royce Watch Co. on the back plate. It was made by Kundo and is the same as a Kundo standard 400 day clock except for the names. It has the Kundo logo on the back plate. Horolovar back plate no. 1499. It uses .0032 inch thick suspension spring.
DeBruce 400 day clock
Dial labeled DeBruce
Royce Watch Co. logo on back plate with Kundo logo below it.
I recently repaired this Kundo miniature 400 day clock with a pretty gold colored metal dial. The movement needed cleaning and a new suspension spring. The pivots and pivot holes were in good condition.
Here is a movie of the escapement in operation:
Here is a slide show showing the complete clock, and the gears in place before the back movement plate was put on:
I just repaired this Kundo standard 400 day clock. Below is a photo of the gears and anchor before the back plate was put on, photos of the complete clock, and videos of the escapement and the complete clock.
Job 4779
Back plate: 1004
Suspension unit: 3C
Suspension spring: 0.0032 inches