Bell Maintenance: Examination in Stage One - Evaluation
In the world of antique clock collecting, each piece tells a unique story. Recently, I acquired a 170-year-old Scottish tall case clock online, marking the addition of another Canadian treasure to my collection. This article chronicles the journey of restoring this majestic timepiece.
The clock, with its Scottish-made case and Birmingham, England movement, presents a fascinating mix of origins. However, it also comes with its fair share of challenges. Enlarged pivot holes necessitate at least three bushings to restore proper shaft alignment. The striking mechanism, which hits a bell rather than using a gong, requires precise adjustment for correct timing and sound.
One of the won clocks is an Arthur Pequegnat Hamilton clock, a renowned name in the clock-making world. Yet, it faces issues such as loose clicks on both the time and strike sides, and a worn gathering pallet that needs to be assessed for functionality.
The seconds hand is missing and has been ordered, while the calendar hand is not connected, though the movement is period correct and may have had its calendar function removed early in its life. The movement, heavy with large components and with a history of repairs, may cause unexpected failures.
Common issues and challenges in servicing an English bell strike movement include wear and tear on delicate movement parts, misalignment of strike components, and difficulty in careful disassembly and cleaning. Corrosion, dirt buildup, and worn bushings can impair the smooth operation of the movement, necessitating careful cleaning, lubrication, and possible part replacement.
Typical repair or replacement parts required during servicing may include bushings, bushings or pins for the strike hammers, springs or levers in the striking train, replacement of arbors, wheels, or pinions, bell or hammer adjustments, chains or cables used for weights, and in some cases, the suspension spring.
The restoration process benefits from working slowly and methodically to avoid damaging fragile components. Specialist skills in antique clock repair are important to manage strike timing and mechanical intricacies. Because of the English bell strike design, specific knowledge of this strike mechanism type is necessary to set up the strike correctly and handle unique component issues.
As I reach the final step of repair/restoration for this Scottish tall case clock, I find the rack tail damaged and requiring repair. A homemade rack tail spring, made from copper wire, has too much tension and causes the rack tail to strike the snail with too much force. The suspension spring is the incorrect thickness and fashioned from a piece of a metal ruler, resulting in little amplitude.
The rack is bent and may be made of either soft or hard steel. The bell connection is loose due to repeated removals, and the thread for the bell rod end is stripped. The crutch rod connecting to the escape wheel arbour is loose and needs to be addressed. The cables are brass and may need to be replaced.
The author shares advice on disassembling antique tall case clocks, based on their experience with a previous purchase. The article concludes with a mention of a Ridgeway grandfather clock that was transported in 2013.
Restoring an antique clock is a labour of love, a testament to the craftsmanship of the past, and a reminder of the beauty that can be brought back to life. As I continue to work on this Scottish tall case clock, I am reminded of the patience, skill, and dedication required to bring these timepieces back to their former glory.
