Ansonia Rosalind Open Escapement - Spring & Barrel Questions

[R. Croswell]

The movement is from an Ansonia Rosalind dated June 14, 1881. It has a broken strike side main spring, 0.630" x 0.013" x 105", and a re-holed time main spring, 0.750" x 0.014" x ~106". I do not have a reference for the sizes of the original springs. These seem to be reasonable and fit the barrels but are probably not original. Does anyone know the original sizes?

I've seen other Ansonia open escapements but never one with spring barrels like this one. I thought it might be interesting to share. The barrels have no attached end pieces, rather a thin brass "lid" that fits loosely over the end. The lid has a couple tabs that catch the plate to prevent the lids from turning. Seems like a strange design with no advantage that I can see.

RC

 

[John P]

Ansonia's 1st open escapement movement. Seems to me that it had two different springs. 11/16 and 3/4.
I dont know what length you need.
They usually have an embossed rear plate and a crappy speed regulator.

johnp

 

[wow]

I’ve never seen that one before. Don’t think I want to! Let us know how it works out, RC.

 

[Willie X]

I am working on a big statue clock now that has that movement, it's typical Ansonia except for the barrels and click springs. The rate adjuster is a good one with large gears.

The stationary but floating barrel covers are a rather close fit to the barrel and a click spring is located between the plates, extending through a hole the front plate to the normally placed clicks.

This one is a good runner with a long pendulum.

Willie X

 

[R. Croswell]

Ansonia's 1st open escapement movement. Seems to me that it had two different springs. 11/16 and 3/4.
I dont know what length you need.
They usually have an embossed rear plate and a crappy speed regulator.

johnp

This one has two patent dates, 1881 and 1882. The back plate is smooth and I would say the rate adjuster is better than most. Not sure if 11/16 will fit under the cover, will have to check. Will probably have to go with what's available. I find it interesting that the strike mainspring should be smaller than the time main spring.

I've never seen that one before. Don't think I want to! Let us know how it works out, RC.
(Wow)

I don't see any major problems, but getting the count lever helper spring hooked up with the hook on the "J" lever down in the middle looks interesting.

...........a click spring is located between the plates, extending through a hole the front plate to the normally placed clicks.

This one is a good runner with a long pendulum.

Willie X

The click spring is a single heavy brass spring wire on the inside of the plate. Looks like a good design that would have been better if a spring steel wire was used but because the flexing area is quite long, I think it should last for a long time. Any idea what Ansonia was trying to accomplish with the floating barrel covers?

RC

 

[heifetz17]

I just finished restoring one with the same or similar movement. Both springs were broken and were very similar to your measurements.

I will say the caps made it so much easier to access the springs!

 

[R. Croswell]

Thanks for sharing. You had some work to do to clean that one up.

RC

 

[Willie X]

One other oddity, the springs wind opposite to what most Amercan clocks wind. Left spring winds to the left, right spring winds to the right.

I just wound the one I have. The winding is nice, light and smooth. I would guess the spring thickness to be about .015" to .016".

Willie X

 

[John P]

Robert, I pulled out my 1881 Ansonia movement parts and checked the smaller Stike spring.
It is .625 wide, .15 thick and 110 in. long plus a curl or two.

johnp

 

[John P]

Here is the fancy plates and older speed adjuster.

 

[R. Croswell]

Here is the fancy plates and older speed adjuster.

Thanks for that information. That sure looks like a Mickey Mouse rate adjuster. They really went overboard with the fancy work.

RC

 

[Jeff T]

covers are probably just there to help keep dirt out the lubed up springs. can't see where they could do much else

 

[R. Croswell]

covers are probably just there to help keep dirt out the lubed up springs. can't see where they could do much else

I agree, that is probably what they do, but it is what they do not do that seems strange. Ordinarily the barrel cover is a substantial piece of metal that fits snugly and helps maintain the round shape of the barrel and supports that end of the barrel. This one has a long sleeve bearing outside the gear end. It has run for some 140 years so I guess it is OK, just a strange was of doing things.

RC