Help with this neat old GF

[shutterbug]

I just picked this up and have done nothing to it yet. It's a coiled gong strike in a beautiful old case which I was unable to photograph. It belongs to an 88 year old lady who wants it running. Here's the problem: Although it has a nice moon dial, there is no visible method of turning it. There's an odd piece that is either misplaced or is just a weight to lower the lever below it. I tried to take some pic's, but with the dial on they may not be helpful. Anyone familiar with this clock? No markings - any idea of manufacturer? It's a two weight clock, probably 8 and 10 pounds. I can remove the dial and take better photo's if it will help. Is it missing a part? The white thing is the string from the ID tag (sorry) Thanks!

[laprade]

shutterbug

If the moon dial is like a circular saw, then usually it is nudged once every 12 hrs, by a pin on the hour hand wheel. At least, that was the traditional way of doing it.

[shutterbug]

Thanks, Lap. At your suggestion, I took the dial off to have a look. Here's what I found:

The referenced pin has been broken off, perhaps after soldering it on. Behind the lower calendar wheel (?) a big glob of solder from our "plumber buddy".

Now, to add to or expand on the problem, the hour wheel is not close to the teeth of the moon dial, so it appears my instinct is right - there is a lever or two missing. The other part I was curious about appears to just be the top of the strike stop lever. Any ideas of what the missing part would look like or how it would fit on?

[shutterbug]

Here's a shot of the back of the dial. This poor old clock has sure been through it! Notice the JB Weld repair of the post! There's a pin that nothing attaches to, and I assume it should have a lever that the pin moves, which activates the dial by one click. What it looked like and was made from are questions I'd love answered :)

[LaBounty]

Hey Shutt-

There appears to be a post on the back of the dial which would have held the moon dial advance lever. At least I see something between the two dial posts on the right and at about 1:00 from the strike wind hole.

Peter Grimwood has a wonderful book available called "Moon Mechanisms: A Restorer's Guide" which shows two different examples of this style. (See pg. 40 and 45.) Since this movement has a second hand, the moon dial advance pin on the snail must engage with a lever which pushes the moon dial. The pin can't advance the moon dial directly.

These levers are rather complicated affairs and it is a shame this one has been misplaced.

Hope that helps!

[shutterbug]

Thanks, David - that's exactly what I suspected. I envision the lever something like an open 'V' that is lifted by the hour pin somewhere about 2/3ds from the pin at the point (or close), then the other leg raises the moon dial by one click. The second leg would be about 3 times the length of the first. What do you think?

[LaBounty]

Hey Shutt-

Yes, you have the general idea. There should be a pawl attached to the end of the lever which articulates. It should be counter balanced to keep it constantly engaged with the moon dial teeth and yet allow for the hands to be turned backwards.

Your proportions might be a bit off, I don't think the second leg will need to be that long, but you'll need to experiment to see where the best point to engage the moon dial is located. A good starting point would be having it engage along a line drawn from the center of rotation of the moon dial to the center of the lever post.

If you have a CAD program it would help in designing this lever :).

Regards,

[shutterbug]

Good advise. I'll try to make up a drawing of what I'm envisioning before I start so you can help me avoid dead ends :) Don't have a CAD program. Sure wish I did!

[shutterbug]

Here's what I'm thinking may work. Since it's hidden, I'll probably use brass. This is a rough sketch, so the actual size may change :) What do you think?

[LaBounty]

Hey Shutt-

I was thinking something more like this...

(I realize the dimensions aren't close but it should give you the idea.)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2585/3727365510_6094e10424_o.png

[shutterbug]

Hmmm. Yeah, that would work. Glad I asked :)
Thanks!