Can Anyone Identify?

[Donzi22c]

I have what I believe to be an old French clock in need of repair and re-plating. The clock does not keep time and clearly needs to be re-plated. I have no confirmed information regarding to origin other than it should be about 100 years old and is believed to be French. I am considering having work done to it but am hoping to learn more about its' origin and hopefully some idea of current value before I commit to repairing it. Can anyone offer any information from the attached photos? I cannot find any identifying marks on the clock. Thank you in advance for any assistance you may be able to provide,

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[new2clocks]

Welcome to the forum.

I have no confirmed information regarding to origin other than it should be about 100 years old and is believed to be French

It certainly appears to be French and over 100 years old.

The mark on the backplate (the back of the movement) appears to be that of Marti, one of the mass producers of French movements in the mid to late 19th and early 20th century.

Please provide a better picture of the mark (the circular inscription) on the back plate to confirm or correct.

Regards.

 

[bruce linde]

It does not 'clearly need to be re-plated'… It needs to be serviced, with the movement not mounted off-center like it currently is. You said it doesn't keep time but I can't imagine it'll even run like that.

Mechanical clocks need to be serviced every 5 to 10 years ... this looks like it's been five times that.

Some of us prefer clocks that look old... If it were mine I would very gently wash the outside of the case (after removing the movement) with a damp cloth, and maybe q-tips or a toothbrush. I would certainly not spend any money having the case re-gilded

It's a nice clock, but the market is really soft for anything less than the top clocks. The cost of having someone skilled work on it would probably exceed the value once serviced and cleaned up…

My recommendation would be to look around for someone who could service the movement… Which you could pull yourself and ship to them… And enjoy the clock once it's running and keeping time

 

[Donzi22c]

Thank you for your advice and I will start along that path. I am attaching a pic of the insignia which shows it to be an A.D.Mougin.

 

[new2clocks]

Thank you for your advice and I will start along that path. I am attaching a pic of the insignia which shows it to be an A.D.Mougin. View attachment 730003 View attachment 730003

Thanks for the photo.

You have a fine French clock. There is not too much known about Mougin, as stated on these forums by Jmclaugh:

"...there appears to be little information about the firm available other than; believed to have been based in Herimoncourt mid to late 19th C, an 1880 address in Paris, 75 Rue Turrenne, and the firm exhibited in 1900..."

Unless a countwheel is hidden by the gong bracket, your clock has a rack and snail striking mechanism. The rack system was used by French manufacturers in the latter part of the 19th century. The French manufacturers also used the countwheel during this period. As a result, I estimate that your clock was made from circa 1885 to 1900. Unfortunately, French movement makers did not leave many clues for a more precise circa date.

Regards.

 

[Donzi22c]

Thanks for the photo.

You have a fine French clock. There is not too much known about Mougin, as stated on these forums by Jmclaugh:

"...there appears to be little information about the firm available other than; believed to have been based in Herimoncourt mid to late 19th C, an 1880 address in Paris, 75 Rue Turrenne, and the firm exhibited in 1900..."

Unless a countwheel is hidden by the gong bracket, your clock has a rack and snail striking mechanism. The rack system was used by French manufacturers in the latter part of the 19th century. The French manufacturers also used the countwheel during this period. As a result, I estimate that your clock was made from circa 1885 to 1900. Unfortunately, French movement makers did not leave many clues for a more precise circa date.

Regards.

I truly appreciate the information provided, Would anyone suggest where I might send or take this to have it properly serviced? I am in the Hunt Valley area of Maryland. Again thank you for your guidance.

 

[new2clocks]

Would anyone suggest where I might send or take this to have it properly serviced?

At the top of the page, click on 'Local Chapters', navigate your way to Maryland. Select the local chapter nearest your home and call or email them for a reference.

Keep us posted on the progress of your clock!

Regards.

 

[bruce linde]

you will find that the better known clock guys like david labounty have long waiting lists. if it were me, i would review posts in the clock repair forum here looking for posts from folks who just restored a french movement, or say they love working on them... and then send them a private message inquiring if they'd work on yours, how much, etc.

as always.... buyer beware. you'll want to read other posts by any such candidates and trust your gut on whether you can trust them to deliver as promised, etc. even if the movement ended up getting lost, replacements could be had on ebay for not that much (just thinking worst case scenario).

stephen conover has a book that includes a chapter on servicing these... you might take the opportunity to read up and maybe even dip your toes in the water.... half of the fun of collecting is learning how to work on them, or messing up and understanding more why you have to pay someone to fix your mistakes, etc.