Help Date Kienzle Mantle Clock

[Atelav]

I have, very recently, received my father's Kienzle Mantle clock from his estate. My father took great care of this clock, and it is in excellent condition. Unfortunately, my father could not remember much about this clock, in terms of manufacture date or when it was purchased, as it belonged to his father. It was recently serviced in South Africa before being shipped to me here in the US.

It is currently running a little fast, and though I have made the adjustments to the pendulum, I expect I will need to send it in to have it "fine-tuned". Altitude and lack of humidity could have caused this issue as it was running perfectly prior to shipping, but at sea-level! I am reluctant to open the back as there is not a designated "door" and the mechanism is actually screwed onto the back panel and cannot provide photos of the mechanism itself. I, therefore, only have a photo of the metal label on the outside of the clock.

I have managed to find out quite a bit of information about the company itself, so I am really only looking for an approximate date. I know that it is difficult to date these clocks as much of the paperwork is lost, but an approximate date would be helpful.

[zepernick]

I have, very recently, received my father's Kienzle Mantle clock from his estate. My father took great care of this clock, and it is in excellent condition. Unfortunately, my father could not remember much about this clock, in terms of manufacture date or when it was purchased, as it belonged to his father. It was recently serviced in South Africa before being shipped to me here in the US.

It is currently running a little fast, and though I have made the adjustments to the pendulum, I expect I will need to send it in to have it "fine-tuned". Altitude and lack of humidity could have caused this issue as it was running perfectly prior to shipping, but at sea-level! I am reluctant to open the back as there is not a designated "door" and the mechanism is actually screwed onto the back panel and cannot provide photos of the mechanism itself. I, therefore, only have a photo of the metal label on the outside of the clock.

I have managed to find out quite a bit of information about the company itself, so I am really only looking for an approximate date. I know that it is difficult to date these clocks as much of the paperwork is lost, but an approximate date would be helpful.

Greetings Atelav and welcome to the NAWCC's Message Board! And yes, our fathers' clocks are always special.

The Kienzle model is their 3504, as shown, below, in a 1929-30 catalogue (from Tang's series of catalogues on CDs, www.any400day.com). The general style is back towards the pre-turn of the century and pre-First War clocks which carried American influences. German manufacturers however liked to have something for everyone, even if only a few of older style were kept. In short, I'd assume that the model was available earlier, even a decade or so.
As far as fine-tuning goes, or doesn't, you can do it yourself, especially if the clock was cleaned, etc. It's a matter of just letting the bob up or down a touchette and then waiting a few days to see... These clocks were not built as fine timekeepers in any case.

So, that's the first clock! We hope it's habit forming.

Regards
Zepernick

[Atelav]

Thanks Zepernick! This was better than I was expecting, especially considering that there are very few definitive dates on Kienzle. As for the fine tuning, I have been "working" on the bob over the last week, and find it is still running a little fast. No big deal as to perfect timing, it is more the clock itself and the sentimentality attached to it; generational sentimentality! Hopefully she runs for many years to come and will be something I can hand on to the next generation to love. As to the habit forming....it began some time ago...

[soaringjoy]

Welcome to the MB, Atelav!
The emblem of your clock will fit well into a mid-late 1920s period.
Your movement is (already) seated on a so called "stool", a mounting bracket -
again a clue to a later model of this clock style.
You should be able to remove the movement quite easily without tools.
There are two thumb screws to be loosened and the movement slides out to the front
with the dial.
It would be nice, if you post the movement for the records.
I wouldn't be too concerned about time keeping; these clocks were not made to be
very precise and the "fine tuning" takes its time. Adjust the bob very gradually once a week.

[Atelav]

Thank you Soaringjay, I will post the movement as soon as I have a moment to do so - I have another clock that needs some TLC. On the timing side, I had initially hit a snag with moving the bob beyond a certain place on the rod. Not sure what the "snag" was as I could not see anything on the rod itself, perhaps some dirt trapped in the bob "sleeves"? Anyway, it has now moved passed this point and I have seen a marked improvement in the timing. I just could not bring myself to leave it alone with the timing "as is" because I knew that it had kept very accurate time before now. With it being cleaned, and the bushels replaced etc. last month, I knew the movement itself was not at fault, so back to the bob I went determined to get it right. Going to make the final "fine tuning" adjustments over the next while. I am sure it will come right now.

[Atelav]

Soaringjay - I got some time this afternoon and took some pictures of the movement, I did, however, elect not to remove the clock face at this time. I did find a Trademark Index for the "logo" used, but knowing that this index is actually quite limited and far from being exact, caused me to start this thread. All the index noted was that this logo/trademark was used from 1921 and was filed March 8, 1924. So, in terms of dating it, we seem to be looking at a period between 1921 & 1929; added to your comment on the movement being seated on a stool, narrowing this down to 1925 to 1929?

[soaringjoy]

Thank you for the pictures.

I wish we could narrow down your clock to a five year period;
but it won't work, I fear.
The trademark was registered in March 1921.



Generally speaking, the evolution went this way:

1)
Simpler types of movements with lugs screwed to backboard, dial screwed to a board

2)
Dto., dial attached to movement

3)
Newer designed movements with a mounting bracket

[Atelav]

A person can hope... Seriously though, having a time bracket/decade is better than no bracket at all. As for the timing, near perfect again. Now the fine tuning is more about the human tuning than the movement. Checking this morning, there is about a 6 second difference between the start of my Westminster chime clock and this one, so I will sort that, but am overall very happy to see it back to what I remembered when I moved away from home 18 years ago.