Friesian Mermaid clock needs help

[lotusbird]

Hello
I am semi new at repairing clocks, my clockmaker was teaching me the trade and then he developed alzheimers/dementia and sadly passed away. I got away from clocks for several years, until I found this marvelous Friesian mermaid clock, no doubt a replica of the real thing but I love it and that's what matters, right? One of my problems is I can't get at the movement, the screws were painted over. This clock was damaged in shipping (don't get me started on the moron who shipped it) so I don't want to damage it further in case I decide to send it back. Is there something I can use to loosen the screws? I don't want to force anything and split the wood! Also one of the weights has the little ring on top (sorry don't know what else it's called) bent, I am scared to bend it back, afraid it will snap off. I know it's lead filled, but am not sure about the outer casing. It can't be bent by hand, so it must be a solid material, think it's safe to bend with needle nose pliers?
I can't get the clock in beat, the wire (what is that called) that goes into the pendulum is somewhat bent. Finally, the roof has a gash, not horrible, think I could sand it down and re-stain it. Probably wont be perfect, but I can try. I would really appreciate all your advice, thank you. I will send photos in a bit, my cameras batteries died!

 

[lotusbird]

some photos

 

[Steven Thornberry]

I have moved this to the Clock Repair forum.

 

[JTD]

no doubt a replica of the real thing

Yes, it's a modern reproduction.

One of my problems is I can't get at the movement, the screws were painted over

Can't see the screws you mention, unless I am missing them on one of the photos. Can you post a photo of the painted-over screws? It shouldn't be too hard to loosen them.

Also one of the weights has the little ring on top (sorry don't know what else it's called) bent, I am scared to bend it back, afraid it will snap off.

You should be able to bend this back gently, using needle-nosed pliers.

think it's safe to bend with needle nose pliers?

Yes.

I can't get the clock in beat, the wire (what is that called) that goes into the pendulum is somewhat bent

You don't show us a picture of this, but you should be able to bend it back to the right position. Do you know how to set a clock in beat? If you are not sure, there is a very helpful article called 'Beat Setting 101' which you can find if you go to the top of the repair section and click on 'How to do it articles'.

JTD

 

[lotusbird]

Yes, it's a modern reproduction.



Can't see the screws you mention, unless I am missing them on one of the photos. Can you post a photo of the painted-over screws? It shouldn't be too hard to loosen them.



You should be able to bend this back gently, using needle-nosed pliers.



Yes.



You don't show us a picture of this, but you should be able to bend it back to the right position. Do you know how to set a clock in beat? If you are not sure, there is a very helpful article called 'Beat Setting 101' which you can find if you go to the top of the repair section and click on 'How to do it articles'.

JTD

Thank you for trying to help me. I know how to get the clock in beat, just haven't been able to yet! I am still debating whether to send it back or not. I bought it on feebay, (probably my first mistake) paid $300, seller is willing to give me $100 back because of the damage. I think it was a combo of poor packing and UPS carelessness. The seller put the weights in a thin bubble envelope and they ripped right through that and were rolling around in the box when I got it, think one of the weights damaged the roof. I found more damage, the bottom piece (think it's called the chair?) is coming unglued, just a matter of time before it snaps off completely, my husband says. I will post better pictures, I was using my horrid cellphone last night.

 

[shutterbug]

I think I'd take pictures and get Ebay involved. He should return all of the money. He takes the risk of shipping damage since he packaged it. These are not super rare, so you will eventually find another one.

 

[lotusbird]

Thank you for your reply shutterbug. I was going to take your advice and send the clock back, we worked out a deal, he took $200 off of the $300 I paid so I will keep it. My husband will do some work on the case, the clock and strike work perfect when hung on the wall albeit tilted, so I just have to figure out how to set the beat so I can hang it straight. Finally was able to get the darn back off, look how bent that wire (crutch I think it's called?) is. If nothing else it will be a good learning experience for me!

 

[lotusbird]

Thank you for your reply shutterbug. I was going to take your advice and send the clock back, we worked out a deal, he took $200 off of the $300 I paid so I will keep it. My husband will do some work on the case, the clock and strike work perfect when hung on the wall albeit tilted, so I just have to figure out how to set the beat so I can hang it straight. Finally was able to get the darn back off, look how bent that wire (crutch I think it's called?) is. If nothing else it will be a good learning experience for me!

View attachment 707014 View attachment 707015

umm, how forceful do you have to be to bend this? I read to bend it 1/8" at a time. I can't seem to get it. The clock runs fine as long as it's tilted far to the left. Can anything else cause the clock to be out of beat?

 

[JTD]

umm, how forceful do you have to be to bend this? I read to bend it 1/8" at a time. I can't seem to get it. The clock runs fine as long as it's tilted far to the left. Can anything else cause the clock to be out of beat?

If the clock runs fine when it's tilted, bend the crutch wire towards the higher (tilted) side. Put the clock straight and see if it is still out of beat. Keep adjusting and you will get it right in the end. The fact that it goes well, although tilted, is a hopeful sign that it will go well when in beat.

JTD

 

[PatH]

I've not seen this model before, but generally, the crutch is the piece where the pendulum attaches. Can you get a picture of that piece to help determine what needs to be done to get your clock in beat. Perhaps someone else can tell us the name/purpose of the piece that is bent at a 45 at the top of your clock.

 

[shutterbug]

I believe the crutch also animates the mermaid as well, so she needs to be balanced and free to swing easily too. Otherwise she'll make setting the beat extra difficult and could stop the clock completely.

 

[lotusbird]

I believe the crutch also animates the mermaid as well, so she needs to be balanced and free to swing easily too. Otherwise she'll make setting the beat extra difficult and could stop the clock completely.

I think you might have meant the moon dial, the mermaids are just wooden decorations, I believe. Have no fear, I will have plenty more questions on how to get that going! Silly me, I never even asked the seller how it worked. He is a clock person, so I imagine it does, I can move it a little by hand, but I guess thats not the thing to do, so I'm leaving it alone. I was so excited to get this clock running, I bought a Dutch Atlas Zaanse clock, not sure if my spelling is correct on that. This Friesian mermaid clock is a really poor design, I don't think we can do much about the roof damage, my husband said the wood is so thin, it is like balsa, best to not push it, just paint over it with black matte paint, I guess. I hope this other clock is in better shape. I hate having to have clocks shipped, but we live in the mountains in the middle of nowhere so coming across clocks is pretty scarce here. I used to pick up some at auctions, but that kind of fizzled out.

 

[lotusbird]

I think you might have meant the moon dial, the mermaids are just wooden decorations, I believe. Have no fear, I will have plenty more questions on how to get that going! Silly me, I never even asked the seller how it worked. He is a clock person, so I imagine it does, I can move it a little by hand, but I guess thats not the thing to do, so I'm leaving it alone. I was so excited to get this clock running, I bought a Dutch Atlas Zaanse clock, not sure if my spelling is correct on that. This Friesian mermaid clock is a really poor design, I don't think we can do much about the roof damage, my husband said the wood is so thin, it is like balsa, best to not push it, just paint over it with black matte paint, I guess. I hope this other clock is in better shape. I hate having to have clocks shipped, but we live in the mountains in the middle of nowhere so coming across clocks is pretty scarce here. I used to pick up some at auctions, but that kind of fizzled out.

oops forgot pictures

 

[shutterbug]

No, I see an animation wire coming out of the top of the movement. That has to do something. It would not run the moon dial - that would happen elsewhere.

 

[lotusbird]

ok. I defer to your expertise. Really, I haven't a clue. I can't see anything else on the clock that is supposed to move. Perhaps there was something there that broke off? Can you tell me what this animation wire looks like? Remember I'm a silly little newbie who doesn't know what I'm looking at! Thanks

 

[Uhralt]

ok. I defer to your expertise. Really, I haven't a clue. I can't see anything else on the clock that is supposed to move. Perhaps there was something there that broke off? Can you tell me what this animation wire looks like? Remember I'm a silly little newbie who doesn't know what I'm looking at! Thanks

It have seen a ship that rocks in the waves as animation in some clocks. but there was usually a background picture of the sea in these cases. It is also weird that the animation is on the far back of the movement where it could be barely seen. Maybe this movement was used in multiple designs of clocks and the animation feature wasn't used in this one.

Uhralt

 

[Jaap]

No, I see an animation wire coming out of the top of the movement. That has to do something. It would not run the moon dial - that would happen elsewhere.

The wire shown in this picture, is the driver for the pendulum, it is attached to the anchor. There is no such mermaid animation as far as I know.

 

[Uhralt]

The wire shown in this picture, is the driver for the pendulum, it is attached to the anchor. There is no such mermaid animation as far as I know.

I'm not familiar with this type of clock. Does it mean that the pendulum is attached to the case somewhere above the movement, so that the crutch needs to point up and not down as in most clocks?

Uhralt

 

[Jaap]

I'm not familiar with this type of clock. Does it mean that the pendulum is attached to the case somewhere above the movement, so that the crutch needs to point up and not down as in most clocks?

Uhralt

The pendulum is hanging from a point fixed on the backboard. The bend peace will go through the slot in the pendulum like the vienna clocks have. I will try to get some pictures this week.

 

[shutterbug]

OK, yeah, that is certainly a possible explanation, Jaap. Thanks!

 

[Jaap]

The wire shown in this picture, is the driver for the pendulum, it is attached to the anchor. There is no such mermaid animation as far as I know.

The pendulum is hanging from a point fixed on the backboard. The bend piece will go through the slot in the pendulum like the vienna clocks have. I will try to get some pictures this week.

As promised some pictures of a friesian stoeltjes klok. View attachment 708079

 

[Uhralt]

Thanks for the pictures! That solves the confusion about the purpose of the wire and how the pendulum is driven.

Uhralt

 

[Kerrylroper]

So happy I found this forum, it already answered some questions I have about MY clock. This was brought back from the Netherlands in the 80s when my dad visited Europe. I acquired it when he moved house, bc it was my favorite, being his eldest, I was able to choose between this one and a black forest type cuckoo. It has no weights, and no pendulum. I know it hung in his house years ago, it had the weights and pendulum at that time. Now they are lost. So my first question is, do I need to find out exactly the maker and model to know what weights and pulleys and pendulum to find? How do you open the clock to see any markings? Or SHOULD I even open it? Any help is greatly appreciated. My bf and I are moving this month, and in the packing process, I found the clock, and decided it needs proper love and attention. I am attaching pics, and if you need more, let me know. I am handy enough, being that fix-it person in the family, I will fix anything I can, using Youtube or any other sources, from furniture to appliances. Please forgive the dust, I dont want to clean it until I know the right method, I am assuming its not a priceless piece, probably a reproduction made in the last fifty years, any thoughts?

 

[Jaap]

First hang on the weigths to lower the outside chains. Then remove the eyes on the chains and the weigth hooks. The chain is now removable by pulling the chains up. Between the chains at the under side remove the bolt. Lift the clock gently from its feeds. Pay attention not to damage the lead top pieces. Your clock is a modern replica, probably from german origine.

 

[Kerrylroper]

First hang on the weigths to lower the outside chains. Then remove the eyes on the chains and the weigth hooks. The chain is now removable by pulling the chains up. Between the chains at the under side remove the bolt. Lift the clock gently from its feeds. Pay attention not to damage the lead top pieces. Your clock is a modern replica, probably from german origine.

Thank you very much! Wasnt sure if this forum was very active. Since I dont have any of the weights or the pendulum or the pulley (I saw other clocks like this, and they all had some pulley mechanism), where or how can I determine which parts I should look for? Is there a way to reference this specific clock, in order to find a dealer of parts, and purchase them? Every little bit of info or experience is truly appreciated.

 

[PatH]

Welcome to the forums, Kerrylroper and thanks for posting your clock pictures. While I can't help you with how to view/remove the movement, you can look at this post to see what the weights may look like. Other posts in that thread may shed additional insight on your clock, or at a minimum, let you see how much others also appreciate the attractive Dutch clocks.

Welcome again, and good luck on your restoration. We're looking forward to seeing pictures of the restored clock.
Pat

 

[Jaap]

we need to see what make of movement you have for advice on the pendulum and the weigths. Can you show us these and a picture of the post for hanging the pendulum?

 

[Kerrylroper]

we need to see what make of movement you have for advice on the pendulum and the weigths. Can you show us these and a picture of the post for hanging the pendulum?

So I have to take it apart. Will do that tonight and get pics posted. Thank you SO MUCH.

 

[Kerrylroper]

So I have to take it apart. Will do that tonight and get pics posted. Thank you SO MUCH.

Here is a pic of the hanger for the pendulum. There are chains on the bottom, through four holes, the two middle has chains coming out that are long, and the outer two holes have the short end coming out (I assume these are the opposite ends of the long chains).
The clock is packed for my move, so once Im settled a bit I will attempt to take it apart to see if there are any identifiable marks on the movement.
Thank you,

 

[Jaap]

Oke, have a good move and we'll talk again later. No hurry.

Jaap

 

[Kerrylroper]

oops forgot pictures

View attachment 707170 View attachment 707171 View attachment 707172 View attachment 707173 View attachment 707174 View attachment 707175

Hi lotusbird, I am so glad I found your post!
I think my mermaid clock came from the same place as yours! I packed it up earlier this week (I am moving on the 24th), so the only pics I have right now are the ones I posted here : https://mb.nawcc.org/threads/friesian-mermaid-clock-needs-help.187949/post-1562690 ! Yours has the same house with the hip roof painted in the left upper corner. I was hoping you got yours working? I also wanted to know what your clock's weights look like, how many there are and where the pendulum belongs, if there is a pulley for an alarm or if you have any pointers regarding hanging the weights, maybe even what the weights WEIGH?
I really want to hang this up at the new house and get it working again.
Thanks so much.