First Clock Repair

[samjudy]

I am a newbie to the message board and to clock repair. Although I have been interested in mechanical clocks for years I have just purchased my first project clock. The clock in question is an Ansonia cast iron mantle clock. The clock seems to run upon initial inspection but I am having problems with the minute hand. This minute hand does not seem to fit on the arbor correctly. It leans into the dial face, therefore interfering with the F-S adjustment at 12 o'clock. My initial thought was to bend the hand away form the dial face but the minute hand does not seem to fit on the arbor correctly. Upon removing the taper pin I noticed it was just a cut piece of wire or brad. The curved washer is distorted in multiple directions. So I figured I would purchase a new set of hands, washer, and taper pin to correct this issue.
Can anyone comment on this analysis? Are the current hands installed on the clock the correct style for this clock? Are there any other factors I should look at to potentially resolve this issue?

 

[stewey]

I'm sort of a newbie myself, but I think that the minute hand could be touching the adjusting arbor. Also, the hands appear to be mismatched: one of them might be an original, but which one? I'm sure the experts will be along shortly...Nice looking clock: good luck on your repairs.

 

[scottmiami]

Looks to me that the dial or movement is wrong. Or the adjusting arbor is somehow wrong in the movement or was replaced with the wrong one. It should not be jutting out like that imho. I would check the mounting of the movement & dial, make sure they are correctly in place.

 

[stewey]

See, I told you I was sort of a newbie. The length of the arbor didn't "click" with me

 

[scottmiami]

See, I told you I was sort of a newbie. The length of the arbor didn't "click" with me

No more of a newbie than I am, and I could be totally off (I often am)

Cheers!
Scott

 

[harold bain]

Hi, samjudy, welcome to the message board. It appears you have the minute hand on upside down. I think another washer may cure your problem.

 

[shimmystep]

spot harold.
I would say the regulator arbor is not protruding any further than it probably should be. One has to get a key on it. As harold said another washer would do the trick or, put that one in a doming block and hit it with a doming punch to put more curve on it.

 

[Rob P.]

Hi, samjudy, welcome to the message board. It appears you have the minute hand on upside down. I think another washer may cure your problem.

In addition to this, I'd think (based on more than just the mismatched hands) that the hands aren't correct for this clock.

Even putting the mismatch aside, they are too long. The hour hand should only barely touch the inside of the time track and the minute hand should only cover about half / 3/4's of the numbers. The hour hand here is the length the minute hand needs to be. Obviously the hour hand needs to be shorter than that.

A center seconds hand needs to be long enough to touch the seconds track outside the time track. Here, the minute hand is that length. These hands are just too long which is why the minute hand is interfering with the rate adjuster.

 

[harold bain]

In addition to this, I'd think (based on more than just the mismatched hands) that the hands aren't correct for this clock.

Even putting the mismatch aside, they are too long. The hour hand should only barely touch the inside of the time track and the minute hand should only cover about half / 3/4's of the numbers. The hour hand here is the length the minute hand needs to be. Obviously the hour hand needs to be shorter than that.

A center seconds hand needs to be long enough to touch the seconds track outside the time track. Here, the minute hand is that length. These hands are just too long which is why the minute hand is interfering with the rate adjuster.

There is nothing wrong with the hands shown either for length or match. The clock appears to be the Lenox, shown in Tran Duy Ly's Ansonia book from a 1904 catalog picture. Although the hands on the catalog picture are not a match, other enameled iron clocks do show the same hands, same length. See the Grenoble, Malta, and Warsaw for example.

I've never seen one of these clocks with a "center seconds hand", or a "seconds track outside the time track". Please show an example that doesn't have a quartz movement in it.

 

[Rob P.]

There is nothing wrong with the hands shown either for length or match. The clock appears to be the Lenox, shown in Tran Duy Ly's Ansonia book from a 1904 catalog picture. Although the hands on the catalog picture are not a match, other enameled iron clocks do show the same hands, same length. See the Grenoble, Malta, and Warsaw for example.

I've never seen one of these clocks with a "center seconds hand", or a "seconds track outside the time track". Please show an example that doesn't have a quartz movement in it.

Well, under the circumstances, I guess I'll withdraw my comments that the hands are mismatched and too long.

 

[bangster]

spot harold.
I would say the regulator arbor is not protruding any further than it probably should be. One has to get a key on it. As harold said another washer would do the trick or, put that one in a doming block and hit it with a doming punch to put more curve on it.

And turn the minute hand over.

 

[samjudy]

I want to thank everyone for their input. Your input gives me the confidence to move on with this very interesting hobby. It is nice knowing that so many people are out there to help.
I turned the minute hand over as suggested and the clock has been keeping good time all week. The hand still does not seem to fit correctly on the arbor and my guess is the square hole is worn. I am going to proceed to look for the correct set of hands for this clock. Can someone post a picture of the "Lenox" for reference? Also, does anyone know someone who would sell a new taper pin and washer. The supply houses seem to only sell these in bulk.

 

[shutterbug]

What part of the Country do you live in, sam?

 

[samjudy]

I'm in Pennsylvania.

 

[shutterbug]

See if you can locate the local NAWCC chapter near you. someone there would be willing to just give you a pin and washer