|
A Typical 8 Day Long Case or
Grandfather Clock Service.
The clock is completely dismantled then cleaned and rinsed ultrasonically in top brand none water
based propriety fluids and then attended to in stages.
--------------------------
Stage 1
Firstly all internal items i.e. between the plates, are laid
to one side and checked for wear. These items are then brightened up by hand and any rust
removed from steelwork paying particular attention to the escape wheel for bent or short teeth.
Next we burnish any worn pivots and replace those that are badly worn. The barrels are assembled noting any excessive wear and removing any old clock line knots left in the barrels as these can
come out and trap the great wheel when winding. We have had as many as 23 knots in one clock
Stage 2
Attention is now turned to fitting all the newly treated internals into the clock plates
marking all worn bushes including the pallet arbor and back cock. We then make sure
that any oval holes are pulled back on centre and then the clock is bushed where needed
after checking that no one has inadvertently moved over the rear centre arbor bush in
the past. This causes the hands of the clock to become in near contact with the dial face at some point; we also check
that the centre arbour extension itself is not bent as this can
cause the same problem. Custom made bushes are installed on clocks of high
quality Bergeon brass bushes using Bergeon bushing equipment are installed to
others. The internals are again installed and new bushes are broached. The clock
trains are then spun and tested: face up, face down, noting any stickiness and
ensuring that the trains are free running. The pallets and back cock are fitted
in place and the escapement is roughly examined and noted for its drops and
wear. We remove the pallets again and clamp a gauge to the inner side of a clock
plate to test the escape wheel for concentricity and make any corrections in
situ with very fine needle files and papers. Doing this in situ instead of using
the jewellers lathe is a slower process but we find it to be more accurate if
the escape wheel is only a small amount out of true or has a couple of high
teeth. Next the pallets and faces are attended to, polished and/or rebuilt as
required, so that when the escapement is correctly adjusted the pallet arbour is
horizontal to the clock plates. If the back cock has had its screw holes
elongated then it is pinned to stop it moving. When all is satisfactory the
clock is dismantled again and the clock plates are brightened up, the trains
refitted, and the strike train is timed. The gathering pallet is left on in its
correct position and the plates are pinned. At this stage the clock is oiled
with quality clock oil.
Stage 3
Next all items belonging to the front plate are brightened up and any rust removed. The front pivots
or stub arbors are refitted, then the minute wheel with its thrust. We then refit the hour wheel
bridge making sure that the bridge pipe is not binding on the minute wheel extension. Next
the minute hand and collet is fitted and checked for the correct amount of tension applied to the thrust
washer; also that the hand collet is of the correct thickness so that the
front of the minute wheel is not binding on the back of the bridge. We also check that the reverse minute wheel is
in mesh and in line with the minute wheel. The hand is removed and the hour wheel fitted checking for
wear and alignment. All the strike levers have their working faces smoothed and polished and the
rack and tail is checked for any movement. All items on the front plate are then fitted including both
hands, noting the striking sequence with its snail and correcting any misalignment.
Stage 4
When all is to our satisfaction the gut line is fitted whilst carefully ensuring
not to score the clock line. The seat board is fitted followed by the bell stand
and bell. The crutch is checked to the suspension block and bridge. The clock is
now set up on a test stand and run. After approximately thirty minutes the clock
is checked for recoil and the amount of pendulum swing. The dial is fitted a day
or so later after ensuring that the movement is correct and running properly.
All clock repairs are treated in similar manor.
| 
