Hello all, I think I really have caught this clockitis, I always seem to be able to rationalize to myself that I need another clock. I mean, who doesn't? I would appreciate any information given on this clock or a pointer to good reading material.
I got this one this morning, it is a mantel clock that once was gilded but now is painted with an unfortunate gold. The movement caught my eye more than anything. From the pics I thought it was a silk supsension but the pendulum actually hangs from a metal ring like I have seen in cuckoo clocks. Is there a term for this? Is this a later addition or original? It still has its original crown wheel escapement. The movement looks pretty heavy duty to me, much larger than I thought it was. The pendulum rod has no bob, I understand that the bobs on verge escapements are light weight, is there a way to tell how much is appropriate?
I have done a little research on Buschberg Berlin, and found a Carl Ludwig Buschberg in Berlin, who died in 1805. Would he have made the movement or just sold it? There is an example of one of his clocks in Stadtmuseum Berlin, the dial is nearly identical. As I did more reading I found he feuded with a fellow clockmaker over the job of setting the Domkirche Clock, a public clock. This turned into a very interesting read about the effects of time keeping on the public from a journal article by Michael J. Sauter Clockwatchers and Stargazers: Time Discipline in Early Modern Berlin.
The dial has been repaired kinda poorly in several places, but its hard to tell from a distance. I think I will leave it be. I would love to be able to restore the case. I have some experience with oil gilding but I would like to rebuild the gesso and try traditional water gilding. I will experiment with some picture frames first. Has anyone watched the video offered by NAWCC on gilding? I am sure a professional could do it, but I don't want this hobby to turn into just check writing. I've had some good success with case work so far. Clock movements, that's a different story.
The movement pics aren't very good since I didnt remove it yet. As always, thanks for any input, comments, criticisms, etc
Will
I got this one this morning, it is a mantel clock that once was gilded but now is painted with an unfortunate gold. The movement caught my eye more than anything. From the pics I thought it was a silk supsension but the pendulum actually hangs from a metal ring like I have seen in cuckoo clocks. Is there a term for this? Is this a later addition or original? It still has its original crown wheel escapement. The movement looks pretty heavy duty to me, much larger than I thought it was. The pendulum rod has no bob, I understand that the bobs on verge escapements are light weight, is there a way to tell how much is appropriate?
I have done a little research on Buschberg Berlin, and found a Carl Ludwig Buschberg in Berlin, who died in 1805. Would he have made the movement or just sold it? There is an example of one of his clocks in Stadtmuseum Berlin, the dial is nearly identical. As I did more reading I found he feuded with a fellow clockmaker over the job of setting the Domkirche Clock, a public clock. This turned into a very interesting read about the effects of time keeping on the public from a journal article by Michael J. Sauter Clockwatchers and Stargazers: Time Discipline in Early Modern Berlin.
The dial has been repaired kinda poorly in several places, but its hard to tell from a distance. I think I will leave it be. I would love to be able to restore the case. I have some experience with oil gilding but I would like to rebuild the gesso and try traditional water gilding. I will experiment with some picture frames first. Has anyone watched the video offered by NAWCC on gilding? I am sure a professional could do it, but I don't want this hobby to turn into just check writing. I've had some good success with case work so far. Clock movements, that's a different story.
The movement pics aren't very good since I didnt remove it yet. As always, thanks for any input, comments, criticisms, etc
Will










