How do I get a Comtoise Morbier movement running

[HappyPixie]

I recently bought a wall clock in France (north of Mont St Michel) and it seems to match what people call a Comtoise Morbier movement. The clock was in pieces, the panel with the movement was separated from the coffin-shaped wall box which itself had broken in two. The dial is a sheet of glass with a paper sheet behind on which the hours are inked and a steel disk behind that which is held in place by the brass rings at the centre and where the winding spindles are. I turned both springs a few clicks and added a homemade pendulum (a bent piece of wire with a few small lead weights) and when I set it swinging the clock ticks for a few minutes and then slowly stops – this is when it is upright enough that the pendulum doesn't foul with anything and swings freely.

I know nothing about the terminology of clocks nor their workings, but since the pendulum was missing, I assume it needs to be a certain length or weight or both. Any advice would be appreciated.

My wife's initial suggestion was to put a modern battery-operated mechanism in the face and keep the beautiful mechanical structure on a shelf to be appreciated. I'd love to get it working but clocks ain't my thang. Woodturning, yes. But not clocks.

If anyone cares to speculate on a date, that would be amusing. I noticed in various NAWCC threads that people consider the placing of the pendulum to be important for dating. It's at the back, has the pivot near the top and is linked to another arm at the back left that moves something else (probably). I've included pictures below. Thanks in advance.

Steve

 

[tracerjack]

If you want to get it working yourself, then you will have to learn about clock repair. There is a whole list of things as to why it won’t run, from dry mainsprings to worn pivot holes with a host of issues in between. Getting started usually means reading a good book on the subject. If clocks aren’t your thing, meaning you don’t want to learn, then finding a professional to service your clock is your best option. As far as the length and weight of the pendulum, that is only critical for keeping proper time. Your homemade pendulum will work if just trying to see if it will run. Your wife’s suggestion might be the easiest, keeping the movement for that time when someone wants to restore it.

 

[JTD]

Welcome to the board.

Although this movement is similar to those called Comtoise or Morbier, this particular style of clock is usually called 'oeil-de-boeuf'. If you look for that on this site (use the little search icon at the top of the page) you will find a lot of information.

As Tracerjack says in his post, these clocks use a simple pendulum, nothing like the very large and fancy ones often seen on Morbier clocks. If you don't wish to learn clock repair/restoration then take it to a clock maker but please DON'T put a quartz movement in this lovely clock, which is over 100 years old.

JTD

 

[HappyPixie]

Many thanks, JTD and tracerjack. I may grab a cheap pendulum off a certain famous auction site. Looking at the board below/behind the movement where the pendulum would have swung there is a worn arc at 11cm. I'll use that as my template for a purchase. If that doesn't keep the clock running, I have a few names of clock specialists nearby and I can ask them for a quote for getting it up and running. Depending on how wealthy I feel, I may still put the battery-powered modern movement in it (sorry folks!).

 

[tracerjack]

If you do go the quartz movement route (it hurts, but I understand) I sincerely hope you will not allow the dial or case to be altered in any way just to get the quartz movement in. If unaltered, the original movement can one day be put back, restoring this beautiful, old clock back to its original form and value.

 

[HappyPixie]

That's my plan. I'll turn a disk of wood that'll fit precisely in the aperture in the frame surround and mount the existing clock face to the front of the disk and the quartz movement on the back, through the hole in the face. The disk can then be screwed in place using mirror plates making minimal damage to the inside of the surround. That's about as 'light touch' as I can do for this one!

 

[Daniel Reuben]

Can you wind it a few clicks? if so I'd hang something on the pendulum leader as you said and you may be surprised it'll run. Obviously all clocks should be cleaned and oiled from time to time but these have a lot of "play" and are sort of the Model T of the French clock world. You may be good for a little bit prior to getting a professional service. BTW the hour hand is 180 degrees off. The clock has just struck 7:00 so should read 7:20 not 1:20. It may also be off a "tooth" or so where it engages the second gear up on the left - in case you get it running.

 

[HappyPixie]

I just stood it up after adjusting the hands (thanks Daniel), added my homemade pendulum and it's been running for six hours so far. There's a clunk on the hour, a little after the hour and on the half hour but the gong spiral isn't actually struck. I suspect it's worth a visit to a clock fixer to make the necessary adjustments.

 

[Daniel Reuben]

The clunk is the lever to kick the rack which falls down with gravity at the time of chiming. The strike side may not be wound or maybe needs oil or is stuck somehow. These chime on the hour and then again 2 minutes after (so that is why the two "clunks" near the hour). When it does it again you could try to spin the fly (fan) and/or put finger pressure on the gears on that side to see if it will take off. Sounds good so far. See, you don't need a quartz movement *laugh*.

 

[JTD]

The strike side may not be wound or maybe needs oil or is stuck somehow

Make sure the hammer is hitting the hitting the gong - you can just adjust it slightly if necessary.

JTD

 

[HappyPixie]

Thanks JTD and Daniel. I did watch the hammer when the hands went past the hour and it didn't move at all, despite the clunk elsewhere in the mechanics. I've turned the right hand spring tighter by two clicks, so I'll wait for another hour and watch to see the inner workings.

 

[JTD]

I've turned the right hand spring tighter by two clicks,

Why so little winding? Why not just wind the clock up properly (both sides)? Two clicks of wind is barely anything (unless you mean it has been fully wound already).

JTD

 

[HappyPixie]

Yeah. Both springs feel like they've been pretty fully wound already. I don't have any experience to gauge it against but both springs didn't feel like you could crank them much further. I assume there isn't a simple way to release them so that I can start from a datum?