Drilling a porcelain dial

[Original Dial]

I would like some advice on drilling a porcelain pocketwatch dial. I have a small bronze statue clock that has a small clock with it but the clock is missing two gears, the hour hand gear and minute gear. I fear I will never be able to find these gears, the movement is small, American and unmarked. I do have a swiss pocketwatch movement that fits in the case very well but needs to be drilled in three spots for small screws to hold the dial in place. My question is how do you go about drilling through a porcelain dial. I have several dentist drill bits and these are probably appropriate but am not sure. Thanks for any advice on this.

 

[Original Dial]

I would like some advice on drilling a porcelain pocketwatch dial. I have a small bronze statue clock that has a small clock with it but the clock is missing two gears, the hour hand gear and minute gear. I fear I will never be able to find these gears, the movement is small, American and unmarked. I do have a swiss pocketwatch movement that fits in the case very well but needs to be drilled in three spots for small screws to hold the dial in place. My question is how do you go about drilling through a porcelain dial. I have several dentist drill bits and these are probably appropriate but am not sure. Thanks for any advice on this.

 

[Kenny D]

My advice is to leave the dial as it is. Any defacing of it will heavily detract from the value of the clock.
If you want a functional clock buy a quartz insert and save the old dial and movement. This way you will always have the clock in it`s original condition. Once you alter the dial it is gone forever!

 

[4thdimension]

Dennis,
Whoa! Stop,think! You say it is a small American and unmarked movement; what is it?
One needn't ever drill a dial to replace dial feet as there are other methods available. In your case, the simple method would be to epoxy new feet to the dial. But, more to the point, if the American movement is original, why not fix it and leave the dial alone? I don't have any idea what you are looking at, but please investigate the other options.
-Cort

 

[Robert Gary]

Dennis:

I suggest that you post some digital photos of your clock on the "Clocks" section at the top of the main message board. Ask if anyone can identify the manufacturer for you. Also identify the missing gears. There just may be someone out there that has a parts movement with the gears you need.

RobertG

 

[Original Dial]

Thanks to all who replied. I will try and be a bit more specific here. The original dial, movement, etc. is present but as stated, I am missing the two gears, so I cannot use this movement, at least not now. I have an old Swiss pocketwatch that is missing a plunger for the case to open with so frankly I could use that as a replacement dial and movement to replace the one that is missing the gears, maybe until I find the missing gears. The Swiss pocketwatch is nothing special, believe me, just looks good in the bronze clock case. I will try and post pics on Monday. The ideal solution would be to find the two gears, but this will be difficult as I have several small parts clocks and none of them are even close. Thands for all the advice.

 

[Original Dial]

Following are the photos of the clock in question that needs the hour pipe and minute wheel. Any help with this project will be greatly appreciated.

 

[Original Dial]

ANOTHER PHOTO.

 

[Original Dial]

PHOTO

 

[Original Dial]

LAST PHOTO