dial repair

[mikeald]

Hi guys,

A friend in work gave this clock to me a couple of weeks ago, so that I can 'tidy it up' a bit for him.

Basically he wants the dial to look like new again.

I do not think it looks too bad to be honest, but he insists he wants it done!!!!!

The dial on this clock cannot be removed as such, because it is actually part of the front bezel.

THere are scratches around the keyholes which he would like removed and of course some of the numbers have faded.

I have no idea where to start! :eek: any advice on this appreciated please...

Also, I can see no makers stamp/logo on this clock. Any ideas on who it might have been made by would be appreciated.

Apparently it is quite old, as it was my friends grandmothers, and my friend is in his early fifties!

Cheers

Mike

[Mike Phelan]

Hi Mike

TBH I don't think there is very much that can be done with the dial at all, as it appears to be anodised aluminium.
Fitting rings to the winding holes (from M&P) might tidy it up a bit, but it doesn't seem bad otherwise. The worn numbers could be inked in carefully.

I'm sure the movement is due for a clean by now as you'll have some spare time as camping weather over now, methinks.

As to age, 1935 - 1947?

[Scottie-TX]

Y'alls kin still camp hyar, but y'll hafta brang yer own wawder.

[Mike Phelan]

Mike and I never drink water undiluted when we camp! :D

[bangster]

Hi guys,

A friend in work gave this clock to me a couple of weeks ago, so that I can 'tidy it up' a bit for him.

Basically he wants the dial to look like new again.

I do not think it looks too bad to be honest, but he insists he wants it done!!!!!

The dial on this clock cannot be removed as such, because it is actually part of the front bezel.

THere are scratches around the keyholes which he would like removed and of course some of the numbers have faded.

I have no idea where to start! :eek: any advice on this appreciated please...

Also, I can see no makers stamp/logo on this clock. Any ideas on who it might have been made by would be appreciated.

Apparently it is quite old, as it was my friends grandmothers, and my friend is in his early fifties!

Cheers

Mike

You actually accepted the job, huh? :bang:

[Mike Phelan]

Would be intersting to see the front plate, Mike.
A couple of interesting two-penn'orth things I noticed after looking at it a bit more:


Only one lever has an arbor going right through the plates; probably chime locking lever. Others must be on studs.
The chime spring barrel has the teeth on the back, not the front as most of these clocks do, so the train layout will be different from most.

[mikeald]

hi guys,

Firstly, my last camping trip of the year is actually next weekend :D. We are off to the Brecon Beacons.

Hi Mike, I thought I might not have much joy with this dial, had it have been a removeable type, then I would have just bought another one :).

I dont think either myself or my girlfriend have a steady enough hand to repaint the numbers.

The scratches are the main problem,

I guess I will just leave it, I did explain to my friend that there is probably little/if anything that could be done to it...

I will post some pics of the movement once removed....

Cheers

Mike

[Tinker Dwight]

Hi
I don't think it is aluminum. There looks to be a little
bit of rust stain near the 6.
Also, it is part of the hinge. Aluminum doesn't do well
as part of a hinge.
Tinker Dwight

[shutterbug]

You could have the dial redone by a pro ..... pricey but maybe worth it to the owner?

[Thyme]

Hi
I don't think it is aluminum. There looks to be a little
bit of rust stain near the 6.
Also, it is part of the hinge. Aluminum doesn't do well
as part of a hinge.
Tinker Dwight

A keen observation, and I agree. The silvering can be redone by spot re-slivering which will eliminate the scratches. However, if it is lacquered and the lacquer has aged it will be impossible to match new lacquer to the existing coating. The repainting of the numeral is a simple retouching job.

If you were on 'this side of the pond' I'd invite you to send it to me as it's a relatively easy and inexpensive task. You are welcome to view my website (click here (http://dialrestorations.yolasite.com/)) for more information on how dials are restored.

[mikeald]

hi SB, a professional job is not necessary, it would just 'be nice' to sort the dial out.

Thyme, nice looking web site. I will have a read through...

I do not believe this dial has ever had any laquer on it...

I guess the main priority would be the scratches, around the winder holes...

A bit more info on spot re silvering might help me? As I will have a go if it is relatively easy?

As they do look quite bad (although the photos actually make the dial look much better)!

Cheers

Mike

[Thyme]

hi SB, a professional job is not necessary, it would just 'be nice' to sort the dial out.

Thyme, nice looking web site. I will have a read through...

I do not believe this dial has ever had any laquer on it...

I guess the main priority would be the scratches, around the winder holes...

A bit more info on spot re silvering might help me? As I will have a go if it is relatively easy?

As they do look quite bad (although the photos actually make the dial look much better)!

Basically you purchase a dial re-silvering kit and only use it on the portion of the dial that needs to be re-silvered. The preparation before application is with an abrasive cleanser, so you need to be very careful to work around any numerals and markings and not diminish them.

Another useful reference to read is the 'sticky' posted at the top of this section (click here (http://mb.nawcc.org/showthread.php?t=58182)).

[the 3rd dwarve]

Thyme,

Would it cost much to send something that small and light "across the pond?"

Regards,
Jeff

[mikeald]

I certainly would send it across the pond if it was mine.

I would not want to risk it with this particular dial though, as my friend in work would give me a beating if it got lost in the post :o.

Thyme:

If I were to get hold of a re silvering kit, would it not be incredibly obvious where I have resilvered the dial?

i.e 2 different shades of silver on the dial, one bright where I retouched and the other slightly duller?

Cheers

Mike

[Mike Phelan]

Best solution is yours, Mike. Tell them thanks, but no, apart from maybe ferrules and a touch-up.

Otherwise your camping spare time will be getting filled with clock repairs, as there aren't many professional repairers left, and those that are wouldn't want to touch a £30 clock!

Different matter if it was your own clock.

Interesting point about Al vs Ag. Though the camera can lie, it doesn't look yellowish-enough for silver, and those are always lacquered or they would tarnish very soon.

I have come across aluminium dials like this, the half-hinge being an integral part of it. There are many very tough aluminium alloys about. Good job or we'd have aircraft bits falling out of the sky! :eek:

[mikeald]

morning Mike,

Best to just leave it then?!

I guess that is the safer option :smile:

Cheers

Mike

[Mike Phelan]

I think you're right, Mike.

Nearly coffee time, then my DUFA needs its GP adjusting. Thread to follow in a week or two.

[Thyme]

Thyme,

Would it cost much to send something that small and light "across the pond?"

Regards,
Jeff

Obviously when it comes to any shipping, big and heavy is more costly than light and small. I'm sure there are online postage calculators for the various foreign countries to estimate shipping.
-> posts merged by system <-



Thyme:

If I were to get hold of a re silvering kit, would it not be incredibly obvious where I have resilvered the dial? i.e 2 different shades of silver on the dial, one bright where I retouched and the other slightly duller?

No. If anything the re-silvering you do will be duller than what is there, which will appear noticeable if the dial is coated. What also might make it look deficient is if you didn't clean the dial well before application. In that situation the silver won't adhere properly. Also any clear coating that is existing is the big potential problem, because, as I said before, the appearance of an aged (or yellowed) coating cannot be matched.

[mikeald]

thanks for the info Thyme,

I might buy some silvering compound to practice with on another dial :smile:

Cheers

Mike