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I recently lubricated this clock, and I thought it was pretty enough that I should illustrate it. The dial is enamel with the numerals fired into it (like on antique pocket watches). It has a very popular type of movement that is used in many of Waterbury’s mantel and shelf clocks.

Notice the copper color painted pendulum bob – this is an original part and is commonly used on Waterbury mantel clocks.

The case is 20 1/8 inches wide and 11 1/4 inches tall. The dial has a 4 1/4 inch minute track. The length of the minute hand (center to tip) is 2 3/16 inches. It has a convex glass lens. The case has been refinished.

See more photos.

Repair job 5526.

Related posts:

1. Seth Thomas Tambour Mantel Clock with Enamel Dial
2. Gilbert Tambour Mantel Clock with Oval Dial, 1928
3. Sessions “Stratford” Tambour Mantel Clock
4. Gilbert Tambour Mantel Clock, 1928
5. Seth Thomas Tambour Mantel Clock

I repaired this modern-styled mantel clock. Seth Thomas made it and sold it under the “Plymouth” name. The movement has two date codes on the back:

• 11 40 (November 1940) on left rear movement leg;
• 4506 (June 1945) on strike hammer bridge.

I can’t explain why there are two date codes, perhaps they made the movement before World War II, then finished and sold it after the war (they discontinued clock production for several years during the war). (Note: the owner of this clock states that it was bought during the war. This would mean that the 4506 is not a date code, perhaps it is a model number?)

The case is 8 5/8 inches tall and 12 3/4 inches wide. The dial is silver plated brass, with printed numerals, etc. The minute hand is 2 1/2 inches long from center to tip. The hands and hand nut are silver-plated. The minute track is 5 inches outside diameter. The movement runs over 8 days on a winding and strikes the hours and half hour on 2 chime rods.

See more photos.

This clock has Seth Thomas’s later type of mantel clock movement (the one that replaced the No. 89). In the past, I didn’t like this movement, because it is subject to severe wear due to its overly strong mainsprings. I have discovered that it will run well with weaker mainsprings (see 1940s Seth Thomas 8 Day Time and Strike Clock Movement for another example of this movement, and Two Seth Thomas “Plymouth” Tambour Mantel Clocks, 1938 and 1945 for another example).

This movement has suffered wear (see photo of the worn bushing above). A previous repairer installed many bushings off-center. It appears that first, off-center rear mainwheel bushings were installed, then all the other bushings were installed off-center to keep gear depthing correct. I tested all the gear depths, and left the bushings off-center except for one that needed moving. The rear time second wheel pivot was rough (the surface was like a fine file), which is why there was so much wear to its bushing. I polished all the pivots and replaced a bent wire in the center pinion.

I replaced the too-strong original mainsprings with weaker ones.

Original mainsprings:

• Time 11/16 x 0.0183 x 80 inches;
• Strike 11/16 x 0.018 x 80 inches.

New, thinner mainsprings:

• Time 11/16 x 0.0161 x 80 inches (Timesavers 20506 shortened by 16 inches);
• Strike 11/16 x 0.0167 x 80 inches (Empire Clock 280-17-505 shortened by 16 inches).

(Note: supplier Empire Clock is no longer in business.)

The movement runs extremely well these mainsprings, and would probably run well with even thinner springs (perhaps 0.015 inch thick for the time mainspring). Both mainwheels are 25% worn due to the original strong mainsprings. The clock runs well in spite of the tooth wear.

The pendulum bob is 1 13/16 inches diameter and weighs 4 ounces. The suspension spring is 0.004 inches thick, and the pendulum rod is 2 millimeters diameter.

The inside of the rear door has an instruction label. The label includes the following:

Guarantee and Directions
Covering Clocks equipped with
No. 4300, 4500 and 4600 Series 8-Day Pendulum
Strike Movements in Tambour Cases.

Text here about the clock

Instruction text here

The Plymouth Clock
Thomaston, Conn.
Z-34P

The number 414 is stamped at the bottom.

Repair job 5534

Key: No. 6 large end, No. 0000 (4/0) small end.

Related posts:

1. Two Seth Thomas “Plymouth” Tambour Mantel Clocks, 1938 and 1945
2. Seth Thomas “Plymouth” Tambour Mantel Clock
3. Seth Thomas Tambour Mantel Clock
4. Seth Thomas Mahogany Adamantine Mantel Clock
5. 1940s Seth Thomas 8 Day Time and Strike Clock Movement

This Ansonia mantel clock movement was sent to me for repair. After examining it, I thought it might be too far gone to be worth repairing. The customer really wanted it done, and sent me a down payment on the repair, so I proceeded. After lots of cleaning and repair work, it operates like new and looks great too!

The movement has the patent date of June 18, 1882 and says 4 1/2 on the right rear movement leg.

The pendulum is not original to the clock, but it is an old Ansonia pendulum of the correct style that is probably about an inch longer than the original.

I disassembled the movement, and let the parts run in the cleaning machine for most of the day. Every half hour or so, I scrubbed the parts with a fine brass bristle brush. (I don’t use a motor driven brush, because the resulting finish doesn’t look right.)

The mainsprings were rusty, so I replaced them. Here are the measurements of the original mainsprings:

Time: 3/4 by 0.0159 inch, Strike: 3/4 x 0.0156 inch. Notice that these are thinner spring than user in many antique American clocks. I replaced them with mainsprings from Empire Clock, part number 280-19-009, measuring as follows:

Time: 3/4 x 0.0142 x 120 inches, Strike: 3/4 x 0.0147 x 120 inches. Notice that these are even thinner than the original springs, but they provide plenty of power, as you can see in the video below. Unfortunately, Empire Clock is out of business, and I have only a few of these springs left in stock.

I made the following repairs to the movement:

• Install a new crutch loop (the original had been cut off!);
• Shape strike locking lever correctly (it had been badly bent);
• Straighten and smooth strike warning lever;
• True the escape wheel teeth;
• Polish the pallets to remove wear, then adjust the escapement;
• Install new pins in 5 pinions (the small gears with wires instead of teeth) and polish and reverse the wires in one pinion;
• Replace the click rivets in the main wheel (they were loose);
• Made new tension springs for the strike hammer and warning lever;
• Straighten the center arbor (the shaft the minute hand goes on);
• Replace the suspension rod (the rod that the pendulum hangs on);
• New leather in strike hammer;
• Polish the pivots;
• Install 14 bushings.

See more photos.

Repair job 5444.

Related posts:

1. Ansonia Iron Case Mantel Clock with Small Round Movement
2. Ansonia Porcelain Cased Mantel Clock
3. Ansonia “Cabinet No. 56″ Mantel Clock
4. Ansonia Iron Mantel Clock
5. Ansonia Short Drop Schoolhouse Clock Movement

I recently repaired this pretty clock. The back of the case is labeled:

PORCELAIN
Dresden
8-Day Hour and Half Hour
Cathedral Bell Strike
Manufactured Expressly For
The American Wringer Co
No 99 Chambers Street
New York
No. D-. 363

The number 363 is hand written.

The movement is Ansonia’s efficient running 8 day time and strike with the original thin mainsprings.

Time Mainspring: 3/4 x 0.0157 inch loop end

Strike Mainspring: 3/4 x 0.0153 inch loop end

I polished the pivots, installed 11 bushings, replaced the click rivets (so the winding mechanism will be reliable), installed new wires in one pinion, and made and installed new return springs on the hammer and count lever.

See more photos.

Repair job 5434.

Related posts:

1. Ansonia “Cabinet No. 56″ Mantel Clock
2. Sessions “President No. 3″ Tambour Mantel Clock
3. Ansonia Iron Case Mantel Clock with Small Round Movement
4. Ansonia Walnut Kitchen (Shelf) Clock
5. Seth Thomas Round Top Mantel Clock

This Sessions tambour mantel clock is named “Stratford” on the label inside the rear door. The case is 21 5/16 inches wide and 9 3/8 inches tall. The aluminum dial with embossed numerals has a 5 1/4 inch time track. The label has the date 11 – 39 (November 1939) stamped in ink.

I did only a partial repair on this clock, per customer request. I disassembled and cleaned it, and replaced the click rivets (the time click had come completely off the mainwheel, allowing the mainspring to unwind. I also replaced the brass wire clicksprings with steel wire for greater reliability (the old brass ones often fail).

This clock has stronger mainsprings than necessary (both 3/4 inch wide by 0.018 inch thick). They hadn’t caused much mainwheel tooth wear yet, but are fairly hard to wind. If I were doing a full overhaul I’d be tempted to replace them with 3/4 x 0.0165 by 120 inch or 96 inch long springs. The 120 inch springs cost a bit more, but will help the clock to keep more consistent time as it runs down.

See more photos.

Repair job 5371.

Related posts:

1. Sessions “President No. 3″ Tambour Mantel Clock
2. Sessions Tambour Mantel Clock, Made in 1938.
3. Seth Thomas Tambour Mantel Clock
4. Gilbert Tambour Mantel Clock, 1928
5. Mainsprings for Sessions Black Mantel Clock

This Ansonia “Sharon” cabinet clock has an oak case, an enamel dial, and an 8-day time and strike movement. The case has a top piece that isn’t shown here. The height of the clock (as illustrated without the top piece) is 14 1/4 inches. It is 13 5/8 inches wide, and the enamel dial has a 4 1/4 inch minute track.

This clock is shown in the Ansonia 1894 catalog having a metal dial. The height is given as 17 inches. The list price was $7.50.

The movement is labeled on the back:

ANSONIA CLOCK CO.
USA
NEW YORK

5 1/5

PATENTED
JUNE 18, 1882

I didn’t do a full repair job on this clock. I disassembled the movement, cleaned it, and replaced the broken time mainspring. I installed a 3/4 by 0.0167 by 120 inch mainspring, Timesavers part no. 15959. If I had done a general service and repair, including pivot polishing and bushings, I would have installed an even thinner spring, about 0.0145 inch thick. The original strike mainspring is 0.0155 inch thick.

See more photos.

Repair job 5353.

Note: Shortly after the customer took this clock home, the orignal strike mainspring broke. I replaced it with the same type spring as I used for the time mainspring (3/4 x 0.0165 x 120″ Timesavers or R & M type). If I had done a complete repair, I would have used a thinner mainspring, about 0.0155 inch thick.

Related posts:

1. Ansonia “Cabinet No. 56″ Mantel Clock
2. Ansonia Walnut Kitchen (Shelf) Clock
3. Ansonia Round Drop Wall Clock
4. Ansonia “Queen Elizabeth” Wall Clock in Oak Case
5. Ansonia Iron Mantel Clock

This Gilbert tambour mantel clock is dated 1928 on the movement. The case is 21 1/8 inches wide, 9 1/2 inches tall, and the dial is printed aluminum with a 4 7/8 inch time track. The movement is 8 day time and bin-bam strike on 2 chime rods.

The movement has removable mainwheel bushings, and the original mainsprings have open loops, allowing the mainsprings to be replaced without disassembling the movement. The original time mainspring was stronger than necessary, and I replaced it with  a Timesavers no. 18790 3/4 x 0.0162 x 96 inch (the original time mainspring was 0.0177 inch thick. I retained the original strike mainspring in the clock (it is 0.0165 – 0.0168 inch thick).

I polished the pivots. Some of them, especially the mainwheel pivots, were very rough when the clock left the factory. I installed 17 bushings.

See more photos.

Repair job 5388.

Related posts:

1. Seth Thomas Tambour Mantel Clock
2. Gilbert Tambour Mantel Clock, 1919
3. Sessions “President No. 3″ Tambour Mantel Clock
4. Gilbert Tambour Mantel Clock with Bim-Bam Striking
5. Sessions Tambour Mantel Clock, Made in 1938.

This Ansonia mantel clock is named “Cabinet Co. 56″ and has an oak case with a fancy metal dial. The case dimensions are 12 15/16 high and 9 5/8 wide, with a 5.5 inch time track on the dial. The dial is metal (zinc or aluminum?) with applied gilt spandrels (corners) and embossed numerals.

This clock is a good example of mainsprings that are too strong causing mainwheel tooth wear, and making the timekeeping inaccurate. This clock has 3/4 inch wide loop end mainsprings. When I received the clock, the time mainspring 0.0178 inch thick, and the strike mainspring was 0.018 inch thick. The tooth wear on the time mainwheel was 25%, and the strike mainwheel teeth had 15% wear. The timekeeping was inconsistent – the clock would gain 3 – 4 minutes during the first half of the week, and lose it again during the second half of the week.

This type of Ansonia movement needs thin mainsprings. I installed replacement springs, part number 280-19-009 from Empire Clock,  3/4 inch wide x 120 inches long, and around 0.015 inch thick (the time spring measured 0.0148 inch thick, and the strike spring 0.015). With these springs, the timekeeping is very consistent, with mid-week error less than one minute.

This clock had had many bushings installed by a previous repairer. I polished the pivots (which hadn’t been polished by previous repairers) and replaced 5 bushings.

The pendulum illustrated above is a replacement that isn’t Ansonia style.

See more photos.

Repair job 5277.

Related posts:

1. Ansonia Iron Mantel Clock
2. Seth Thomas Mahogany Adamantine Mantel Clock
3. Ansonia Walnut Kitchen (Shelf) Clock
4. Ansonia “Queen Elizabeth” Wall Clock in Oak Case
5. Seth Thomas Tambour Mantel Clock