Antique clock mechanisms

The motive-power  of a clock is a either a weight, or fusee and spring which drives a train of wheels.

The fusee is conical-shaped brass drum, with the gut line from the spring wound round it like a spindle filled with thread, which controls, by different ratios, the power output of the spring  to enable the clock to keep a regular time. Fusees were used on clock and watches until the late 19^th century, not given up until slimmer Swiss watches became fashionable in early 20^th century. 

The escapement is the part of the clock, watch or timepiece which allows the power driving the mechanism to escape, and controls the speed at which a clock runs down. The various forms of escapement release the escape wheel at regular short intervals (giving a tick-tock sound), allowing the driving force to operate, lock and release again, in a regulated sequence.

The object of the day: Piguet and Meylan Pocket Watch

We don’t often talk about pocket watches on Longitude because wristwatches are “of our time”. However, we do plan to bring to your attention pieces that are noteworthy, especially because they offer good value in the present market. For example, a watch with  with elaborate decorative elements or those with complications such as a minute repeater, tourbillon and perpetual calendar will cost a fraction of the same combination in a watch.

On November 12, 2012 at Christie’s Important Watches auction is a wondrous collection of  pocket watches made in Switzerland for the Chinese market. A couple spent several decades putting together this collection of enamel pocket watches from the 19th century made for the Chinese market. Specially curated for their unique beauty, they not only display intricate scenes and designs but also important movements.

Novelty clocks

The earliest surviving working novelty clocks were German automata made in Augsburg in the 1650s involving mechanical figures, either of human or animal form, which performed as the hour struck. They include dogs, and, most extraordinary for the early date, cockerels which flapped their wings and opened and closed their mouth, often making a crowing sound. The earliest novelty clock in history is the celebrated crowing cock of the Strasbourg Cathedral clock, made in 1354 and now preserved in the Strasbourg Museum.

Bradley & Hubbard, Meriden, Connecticut, cast iron novelty Blinking Eye clock, signed, movement with porcelain dial and beveled glass door. Patented July 14, 1857.

Antique clock dials and hands

By 1730, enamel dials were common on English pocket watches. There were sometimes produced in the 1780s for longcase clocks, but are very rare. More common are painted enamel dials on longcase and bracket clocks, fitted to high quality pieces. Enamel sections are most frequently found on French clocks. Often the dials are gilt, with the numerals set against enamel reserves. Enamel dials are extremely prone to cracking and chipping, so examine examples very carefully. Hairline cracks are often camouflaged by bleaching but you should be able to spot the differences in colour. Cracking crates a cobweb effect over the dial and if you come across this, the price should reflect the damage that has occurred.

The old clock maintenance

Most maintenance should be left to a specialist, although wooden cases can be carefully dusted and waxed occasionally. Brass and silvered dials are protected by lacquer and should never be polished or placed in contact with water or detergent.

Cleaning and oiling the clock's movement should be carried out with great care by specialist. After using your clock for three years take it for oiling and inspection. Clocks with spring-drive and short pendulums can be carried from one room to another, but should be held uptight. For long distance journeys the pendulum must be secured or removed. Longcase clocks should be dismantled before being moved.

As dust gets in the movement the oil becomes an abrasive paste which causes wear.The longer the clocks run in this condition the more repair it will need.Most antique clocks have heavy weights or springs which will run the clock for several years after the oil as gone bad, causing severe wear to the pivots and pivot holes.If your clock stop and you spray it oil to make it go again it will continue to wear badly because it is still dirty. Shortcuts like cleaning the movement whole, even when using an ultrasonic cleaner cannot properly clean pivots and pivot holes.These techniques merely postpone the need for a proper overhaul.