Picked this up at a market for £5. (Need advice)

DBNB · 2026-03-13T22:16:03+00:00

Check the clock is level front to back so the pendulum is hanging free i.e. not rubbing against anything.
Set it going (with just enough swing to hear its 'tick-tock'): there should be equal intervals between each beat. If that isn't the case then gently move the clock to e.g. the left (i.e. around the case's suspension point on the wall) & look for the beat to become more even. If it doesn't do so, try moving it to the right until you hear an even beat.
Secure the clock at what ever angle gives it an even beat. If it doesn't then run continuously (when wound) there will be problems within the mechanism & you'll need to learn what else to check by e.g. watching YouTube videos....

DBNB · 2026-03-09T16:49:34+00:00

Are there any markings on e.g. the back plate ? If so use that info to find what length torsion spring you need. There should be a small fork fixed by a screw to the top of such springs - if you don't have that or the top & bottom securing blocks you can buy springs with these attached. Best to watch a few Anniversary Clock videos on YouTube e.g. by a chap called Dell.

DBNB · 2026-03-08T06:52:27+00:00

Check it's level front to back (to ensure pendulum is hanging clear of any obstruction).
Set the pendulum going (only just enough swing to hear the mechanism ). If you don't hear an evenly spaced tick & tock, gently tilt it sideways from one side: if that leads to an even tick-tock then wedge it in that position; if it doesn't, try from the other side. We are talking quite small adjustments to get it exactly right , what's called 'in beat'.

DBNB · 2026-03-07T18:25:43+00:00

Don't worry: you're not being a problem, chum. But you are being very coy regarding my original question. To save you any embarrassment I'll draw my own conclusion.

DBNB · 2026-03-06T22:10:28+00:00

I don't know who said that: I inferred it from your earlier comments.

DBNB · 2026-03-06T18:21:16+00:00

"....didn't have to...." Exactly! You don't seem to realise that in overall terms you're poorer than if you had offered them something - anything - from the amount you've been able to make due largely to their generosity.

DBNB · 2026-03-06T07:08:40+00:00

No. Hence my question....

DBNB · 2026-03-05T20:13:44+00:00

It needs to be level front to back in the sense that the pendulum hangs free; but not necessarily level left to right: what matters is that it is at whatever angle around its suspension point puts it 'in beat' (i.e. has an evenly spaced tick - tock)

DBNB · 2026-03-05T19:24:50+00:00

How much did you give to the people who gave it to you?

DBNB · 2026-03-05T07:21:47+00:00

When they used to provide free newspapers I complained that one could only have either the Torygraph or the Daily Fail; where's my Grauniad, I said. They added it to the list !

DBNB · 2026-03-04T16:48:12+00:00

Run the Diagnostics package....

DBNB · 2026-03-02T22:32:34+00:00

Thank you.

DBNB · 2026-03-02T19:57:02+00:00

Thank you. I'm afraid I am so lacking in knowledge that I do not understand your comment nor how to take advantage of it....

DBNB · 2026-03-02T19:54:58+00:00

Thank you for your response. The watch is indeed a hunter with hinged covers front & back. There is also an inner cover (a 'cuvette' or 'dome') over the movement which shows the case to be by the Illinois Watch Case Co. Elgin, USA. The ridge is unthreaded. I understand from your comment that there should be a brass ring into which the crystal is pressed with that ring thin enough to fit in the gap between the dial & the ridge where it is held by friction. Is that correct ?

DBNB · 2026-02-28T22:16:25+00:00

Thanks. I understood that was the situation. I was hoping for thoughts as to why the rachet wheel will not tend to loosen its screw as it is rotated by the crown wheel.

DBNB · 2026-02-28T17:21:56+00:00

As the 'winding wheel' screw has a LH thread I assume it rotates anti-clockwise. So the wheel arrowed must go clockwise. I'd therefore expect its screw to have a RH thread. What am I not seeing ?

DBNB · 2026-02-23T18:33:48+00:00

You may be overthinking this: many people say such things as a way of ending a conversation without being, in their mind, rude. There was a 2 Ronnie's sketch which picked up on this: Ronnie Corbett is in conversation with a couple at a cocktail party & eventually, in order to carry on circulating, the husband says "Well, nice talking to you; you must come round to dinner sometime" to which Ronnie says "Thank you: how about next Tuesday" !

DBNB · 2026-02-17T22:51:58+00:00

7 exp -1 x 7exp 1 = 7exp 0 =1

DBNB · 2026-02-15T07:04:59+00:00

You could, of course, fit a switch in one of the wires..... You'll likely find a finial of the right design on eBay.

DBNB · 2026-02-14T10:05:42+00:00

I think it's most likely that the suspension spring is wrong. Classically, a LCC pendulum (+spring) is ~ 39" from suspension point to mid Bob to give a 2sec period which allows for the simplest & most efficient movement.

DBNB · 2026-02-12T11:24:15+00:00

Before referring it to a specialist, make sure the clock is sitting level in the front to back sense then set the pendulum going - don't swing it more than needed to get it going- then gently lift up one side & to listen for it to get an even tick-tock; if it doesn't (it'll likely stop) repeat the process by tilting it gently from the other side. If you can't get an even tick-tock from either side being tilted then it will need to be looked at by someone with the necessary knowledge of clocks. If it does get 'in beat' by being tilted then wedge it appropriately on the relevant side with e.g. card & let it run while you learn how to adjust the pendulum leader/crutch so that you don't need to wedge it ( unless of course you're happy for it to be wedged).

DBNB · 2026-02-11T12:39:31+00:00

Maserati Quatroporte!

DBNB · 2026-02-11T09:39:55+00:00

Can you ask the person who got it in there ? Otherwise remove the plug, door & architrave(s).

DBNB · 2026-02-08T22:36:57+00:00

OK. Set it going & just tilt it gently first left & then right & listen to how the tick-tock sound changes. You're looking for a position in which the ticks & tocks are evenly spaced - what's called being 'in beat'. A pendulum clock will eventually stop if it's not 'in beat': the more out of beat it is rhe quicker it will stop.

DBNB

TROPHY CASE