S. Marti Marble Mantel Clock

[MetalMarvels]

I am currently engaged in attempting to properly restore a Black Marble Mantel Clock (time and strike) by S Marti et Cie. It is marked "Medaille De Bronze" and "H.L 145". I believe it to have been made in the c1860 - c1869 timeframe. It has the classic Brocot movement showing at the front face of the dial. The majority of the larger components are all marked "145". All of the wheels look brand new, but both mainsprings are badly cracked.

So far, I have only a couple of issues to overcome to complete the work.

First, the black marble case has seperated from its base. Both parts are externally in excellent condition. Someone in times past inserted some large guage wires into the inside walls and through the base to hald the case together. Originally it appears to have been glued together with a plaster-like substance. What would be an appropriate adhesive to use to re-cement the case without hurting the value (note that any adhesive would not be visible if carefully applied)?

Second, the hour hand is broken off the bushing and has been lost and the split bushing is broken - the minute hand is in no great shape itself and should be replaced (it is almost broken off too). I can make a new bushing for the hour hand with no problem and can use the original minute hand as a template, but I have not been able to find out how long the hour hand should be or its original shape so that I can appropriately duplicate it. Does anyone know where I might obtain this information or a source for proper hands?

Thanks

[MetalMarvels]

I am currently engaged in attempting to properly restore a Black Marble Mantel Clock (time and strike) by S Marti et Cie. It is marked "Medaille De Bronze" and "H.L 145". I believe it to have been made in the c1860 - c1869 timeframe. It has the classic Brocot movement showing at the front face of the dial. The majority of the larger components are all marked "145". All of the wheels look brand new, but both mainsprings are badly cracked.

So far, I have only a couple of issues to overcome to complete the work.

First, the black marble case has seperated from its base. Both parts are externally in excellent condition. Someone in times past inserted some large guage wires into the inside walls and through the base to hald the case together. Originally it appears to have been glued together with a plaster-like substance. What would be an appropriate adhesive to use to re-cement the case without hurting the value (note that any adhesive would not be visible if carefully applied)?

Second, the hour hand is broken off the bushing and has been lost and the split bushing is broken - the minute hand is in no great shape itself and should be replaced (it is almost broken off too). I can make a new bushing for the hour hand with no problem and can use the original minute hand as a template, but I have not been able to find out how long the hour hand should be or its original shape so that I can appropriately duplicate it. Does anyone know where I might obtain this information or a source for proper hands?

Thanks

[timerider]

If you click the find button at top of page, and type in ( marble repair )it will take you to previous posts on this subject.
You could check the catalogs to match the minute hand, this might give you an idea of what the hour hand should be.
The hr. hand would generally be 2/3 to 3/4 the length of the min..
It seems to me that french marble clocks of that time frame all had very simular hands.

[lamarw]

I just ordered a set of trefoil hands from Merritt's (Catalog Part # P-688) that match the hands on a Marti Porcelain clock (de Bronze) that I have with a white dial. I have another Belgium Black Marble Marti with a black dial that has gold colored hands against the black dial. I am not sure of a source for that type of hands, but they are of the spade design/ shape. The Merritt's part # mentioned comes in an assortment of four pair in different sizes. Kind of expensive costing $28.75 per assortment and not considering shipping cost.

[craig]

MM,
To make a repair that will be appreciated by those to follow, suggest using plaster of Paris to adhere your clock pieces back together. This is what was used originally, and is locally available at hobby stores or hardware stores.
If you want, send me an email and I will send you a presentation paper on marble case repair that was given at one of our recent Chapter meetings.
burg.ctchj@sbcglobal.net
Have fun, and welcome to the world of watching time fly.

Edited to make the email address live

[Joe Collins]

MM,
The heavy wires you mentioned were inserted during the assembly of the case. They were added to help hold the case together and to strengthen the plaster of paris that was used to bond the slate pieces.

Joe

[BIG D]

MM.
I have attached a photo of the hands on my Marti. Do yours match this? If so it should give you a good idea of the proportion of the 2 hands.

[MetalMarvels]

Craig, thank you for your kind offer - I have sent you an email.

Big D, The hands on this clock are a plain spade with the some outlike as yours - but no holes in the spades. This rang a little alarm in my mind and I have gone searching though the clock archives and have yet to see a plain spade-type hand set on any of the Marti clocks I have seen. Hands like those on your clock, certainly. But not a plain hand. This makes me wonder if these are actually original to this movement. I was going to post a pic with this, but I need to work out the method - don't have a server available yet.

Joe Collins. Thanks! The wires just looked so "crude" in comparison with the the workmanship of the rest of the case that I thought that they might have been a later addition by a prior owner.

lamarw, the hands actually look more like the Merrits P-689 assortment. Hmmm, maybe I will go ahead and order that set....

[lamarw]

I think the P-689 might be the right choice since they are identical to the spade hands on my Belgium Black Marble Marti except for the color. As I stated before, mine are gold color because of the black dial. Merritt's does list them as French hands, and you will have four sizes from the assortment to select the correct size. Kind of wish you could cut the expense and order just the one set in the size you need. Must be the way they come from Bergeon to Merritt's. The Trefoil hands are stylish, but they are probably applicable to the porcelain/china cabinet clocks.

[BIG D]

MM, If your pic is small enough you can attach it like I did. Just click on a reply and then the "Add Attachment" at the bottom. Then click the "browse" and find your pic, then "post now". Its that simple.

As for the case repair do as suggested and do a "find" for marble repair. I repaired one of mine not too long ago and used epoxy as it was not as valuble a clock.
Good luck.

[Joe Collins]

Timesavers has a good selection of French hands that can be bought individually. Page 67 of current (#30) catalog.

Joe

[MetalMarvels]

If it works, here is a close-up of the minute hand and the hour hand bushing. The suspension spring is also in the picture (a good example of why it is important to remove the pendulum BEFORE moving the clock).

[MetalMarvels]

Craig, I got a bounce-back on the email.

Your message did not reach some or all of the intended recipients.

Subject: S Marti Clock
Sent: 2/17/2005 9:31 AM

The following recipient(s) could not be reached:

'burg.ctchj@sbcglobal.net' on 2/17/2005 9:31 AM
550 <burg.ctchj@sbcglobal.net>... Relaying denied


If you could, please send the paper to: gary_westfall@metal-marvels.com

Thanks Much!