Clock servicing for the Junghans bracket model, focusing on the movement component.
In the world of antique clock repair, each piece is a unique challenge. This article outlines the process of servicing a 1911 Junghans bracket clock, a mechanical marvel that requires careful attention due to its age, mechanical complexity, and delicate components.
Common Issues
The clock's age often brings about common issues such as a worn or dirty movement, worn bushings and pivots, broken or worn mainspring, damaged or weak suspension spring, worn or maladjusted escapement, chime and strike malfunctions, and case damage or wear.
Solutions and Servicing Tips
To address these issues, a professional cleaning and oiling process is essential. This involves disassembling the movement carefully, cleaning all parts, inspecting all gears, pivots, and pinions, and using high-quality clock oil sparingly on pivots and moving parts.
Bushing replacement is necessary when they are worn, and mainspring replacement or lubrication is required when the mainspring is weak or broken. The suspension spring should be replaced if damaged or weakened, while the escapement should be adjusted for correct locking and drop angles. Strike and chime mechanism tuning is crucial to ensure strikes and hammers hit correctly and at proper intervals.
Case restoration involves cleaning and polishing brass parts, repairing or stabilizing any wooden case damage, and avoiding over-restoration that might reduce vintage appeal.
Additional Tips
Handling these components delicately is crucial, as they can be fragile after over 100 years. Using correct tools reduces the risk of damage. If you’re not experienced in clock mechanics, it’s often best to consult a professional horologist.
Documentation during disassembly is essential for reference during reassembly. Regular maintenance—cleaning and oiling every 3 to 5 years—is key to preserving the clock.
Servicing a 1911 Junghans bracket clock can help ensure it runs accurately for many more years without damaging its antique value. If you’re unsure about any step, contacting an experienced antique clock repair specialist is highly recommended.
During the repair process, a new suspension spring was installed, the movement was taken apart five times, and the clock's Regency style veneered mahogany case was found to be in reasonably good shape, except for a small piece of veneer missing on the front right corner and replacement chrome feet.
The movement's design is well-made, with solid front and back plates and lantern pinions, and the count lever dropped in the middle part of the deep slot, not at the beginning. The paddle was hanging off one of the points of the star wheel, and the count lever did not completely rest on the cam. However, upon re-assembly, the movement is now running and striking as it should.
- While servicing a 1911 Junghans bracket clock, it's important to consider the addition of smart-home-devices for remote monitoring and maintenance, which could potentially aid in detecting issues early and facilitate easier adjustments.
- As vintage clocks like the 1911 Junghans bracket clock tend to have delicate components, it's advisable to pair them with gadgets such as vibration sensors and temperature controllers to protect them from extremes and prolong their lifespan, making technology an essential companion to these mechanical marvels.
