Family clock project

[CajunClock]

My wife was given this wall clock by a family member. I can't find any info about it. It was not running, and when I opened it I found out why. The interior was black tar. It looked like someone years ago took it apart, (ruining the screw holes holding the clock face) and dumped oil in it.

I took out the mechanism and sprayed it down with carb cleaner. Globs of black came out of it. The mainspring popped out some so it was obviously stuck. I've oiled it with clock oil after cleaning it with q-tips best I can.

It now runs and chimes, although it does loose about 5 minutes per hour. The pendulum is screwed up to it's highest position. I'm sure it's going to take someone with more expertise than I have to get it right, but at least it works now. It appears the top bezel may have been changed? It has no glass yest.

Bottom line is, does anyone know anything about this clock? Also, any suggestions for a newbie?

 

[Steven Thornberry]

Obviously oriental. I don't know anything about the company on the dial, probably a retailer. The movement, however, seems Japanese. I can't quite make out the logo. Is that an "M" in the diamond. If so, the logo seems similar to this one on Charles Davis' website (www.japaneseclocklogos.com), but it is apparently not yet identified.

http://www.japaneseclocklogos.com/alphalogo/M18_b133.gif

So far as the case is concerned, this earlier thread may be of interest. The Japanese were adept at copying the styles of both American movements and American cases.

 

[CajunClock]

Great catch Steven! After looking at the links you provided and enlarging my pics of the trademark, it is an M in the middle. I also detect the outline of a C in the M, which could make this a MEIJI (probably the C04A) although the one on JCL.com website does not show the words TRADE MARK on the logo.

 

[Steven Thornberry]

Excellent. Now that you mention the "C," I can now see it. Meiji, then. There seems to be some writing on the gong base, as well. Don't know if that would get us any further, however.

 

[Charles E. Davis]

Your logo has the letter C superimposed on the M in the diamond. Look at the three C04 logos on my website. The Meiji Clock Company in Nagoya manufactured the movement and probably all of the clock except the dial which was a replacement applied much later. It was one of the early companies and made clocks as long as the market existed for wind-up clocks. The case is an early one and probably had strips of brass between the buttons. The gong base also looks like it has some letters. They may also indicate Meiji.
You will find a lot of information about the company on the web.

 

[CajunClock]

Thank you for responding Mr. Davis. I am printing your information to put on the back of the clock so we will always know it's history!