Waterbury Clock Trouble

Let me just take a moment to give a big sigh....


Ive gotten myself in trouble ....again.



I bought a 1904 Waterbury Clock about 8 months ago.
Heres the original advertisement for it, The Voltaire (except Voltaire has been replaced with a greek muse I belive to be Erato)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/151739839926?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

It hasnt worked since I bought it.
Some of the gears would turn, but it seemed like some would not.
Today I decided to really take a look.
Unwound the nuts and it was like a cartoon.
Gears flew in all directions and the hands bounced off. Luckily the springs are housed.



I wont be taking it to a clock smith.
I paid next to nothing for it, if anything it will continue to be a mantle decor or it will go to auction.
Sooooooo, I guess its time for me to look into learning a little about antique clocks.


Does anyone have a guide on how antique Waterbury clocks are put together?

 

SeaGoat, I am not making fun of the situation with your clock, but your comment "Sooooooo, I guess its time for me to look into learning a little about antique clocks (emphasis added)" really struck my funny bone.

 

Why not - most clocks that don't work are because of fine particle dust and dirt getting into the oils that coat the gears over the years. You have to take it to a jewelry/clock store to get it cleaned and re-oiled. If not then you will just have a non working clock!

 

I figured it out!
It wasnt so hard after I figured out putting the wrong gear in the wrong place wasnt going to permanently mess it up.

It still has the same problem as it did before.
It looks like the clock has about 4 layers.
2 of the layers dont seems to be setting up properly. May just need to be oiled and reset.

Im going to have to wait until tomorrow when its light outside. My eyes are about to fall out of my head

 

I changed the flush handle assembly on my old toilet ....and as the tank was almost drained I unexpectedly pulled off the hose in the tank and a water spout shot up to the ceiling.........

They say to turn the water off 1st,,,,,but that's for sissies .....
I finally got the hose reconnected ......& cleaned up the spray.....

Don't be too hard on yourself for exploding the clock....shit happens !

 

The first thing to do is to let down the springs, in a controlled manner by placing a key on the square, taking the strain, releasing the pawl (known as the click to clockmakers) and backing off the key slowly, in effect, unwinding it. To change grip, let the pawl down to hold the spring.

It is then possible to part the plates without there being any tension on the train to cause the effect you experienced.

I do not know of any book specific to Waterbury clocks but there are many books explaining the general principles and how to strip and assemble movements.

 

So.... The ceiling's clean now... What's the problem?

-
"Shit happens"
Really now Komo.....

 

I think one of the main springs is broken.
When wound it will wind about a turn and a half and then "slip"

I dont have let down keys and from what I see a set its pretty expensive to just hobby buy out of the blue.


I might take it to the local clock smith and let him open it up if it is unsafe to open the barrel if the spring is not unwound

 

Let down keys are a luxury, you can use a normal key if you are careful to allow the click to re-engage before changing grip on the key, or you can weld or braze a key to a metal cylinder to make your own.

Once the barrel is out of the clock, removing the barrel cover and extracting the spring is not hazardous. It is removing the restraint on the spring that causes the thing to run down in a rush which is likely to strip gears, etc.

Your slipping spring is almost certain to be broken, an alternative is that the stud that holds the outer end of the spring to the barrel has broken or most likly the hole in the end of the spring has split. The cure for this is simple, shorten the spring by an inch and punch a new hole.

Spring holder/winders to re-insert springs in barrels are also a luxury, strong hands can usually do the job unaided, and new springs usually come with wires holding them tight wound so they can slipped half way into the barrel before removing the wire.

More or less the only tool you really need is a good book explaining what everything does and how to deal with it.

 

Thanks for the information!

Ill pop it open later today to see what's going on in there

 

I find it is always EASY to take things apart - putting them back together
correctly? NOT so much!!
And then face the humility of taking the piece to a repair person who asks - "Who did this?"

 

No shame in my game, Ill own up to it