French Clock Restoration

[macaw]

I'm posting these before and after's to show that it is possible to re-plate gold to look very close to the original gilding

 

[JTD]

Great work! Please could you explain what method you used?

JTD

 

[macaw]

I do brush electroplating. To get the effect that I wanted for this clock I used a soft gold solution and kept going over it many many times, and used a lot of gold. The original gold on these clocks test as 10 to 14K, the gold I use is 24K and shouldn't tarnish. I should note that many of these clocks that looked like they've had the gold washed off of them just need a proper disassembly and ultrasonic cleaning to bring the gold back to life.

 

[agemo]

Hi,
I have a question, it's bronze or régule (tin or lead and antimony alloys).

Because I'm amazed by this broken part, bronze does not break.



Amicalement GG

 

[jmclaugh]

Thanks for sharing. A lovely clock, pics of the movement would be nice to see.

I'm no expert on metals but surely they can all break.

 

[macaw]

I would call it spelter. The gray mass that was holding one of the breaks together was jb weld. I removed it and used solder as well as drilling small holes through the parts to add wire for support, then filled the cracked still showing with more solder so I could plate over it.
This one was a count wheel bell strike, and I believe it was from Japy. It's now back with its owner so I'm unable to take pics.

 

[JTD]

I would call it spelter.

So would I.
JTD

 

[agemo]

@macaw Thank you I did not know this alloy, which was probably cheaper than bronze.

Amicalement GG