Mi-Ken Ki-Ki Pigeon Clock

[rjdj2000]

Hello all. I have done some searching but have not found much, if anything, for parts for this Mi-Ken Ki-Ki clock. I've looked on here looking for information as well and see that parts are probably non existent. I acquired one and it is missing the two pigeons and the mount they sit on that pivots back and forth. The picture shown isn't my actual clock but of what I have. If anyone has or knows of where I can come up with at least the birds or a size of the birds, I can make the pivot platform probably easy enough. Probably am going to have to raid the wife's craft stuff to see if she has any small birds that are light weight as I don't think the movement has enough power to move something too heavy.

 

[JTD]

If you google 'Mi-Ken Ki-Ki Clock Co. Ltd.' you should come up with a link to Worthpoint which shows a full-front view of the clock including the birds.

The link directly is:

www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-mi-ken-ki-ki-co-ltd-cuckoo-526983621

Hope this helps.

JTD

 

[rjdj2000]

If you google 'Mi-Ken Ki-Ki Clock Co. Ltd.' you should come up with a link to Worthpoint which shows a full-front view of the clock including the birds.

The link directly is:

www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-mi-ken-ki-ki-co-ltd-cuckoo-526983621

Hope this helps.

JTD

I think I saw that on one of my searches JTD. I just wished I could enlarge the photos some without losing the clarity, I may have to fiddle around with a photo edit and see if I can make one of those bigger to see the bird mounting. There is one where I saw them sitting on a platform of sorts but these look to be suspended by a wire only. Also I've noticed the weight size being quite small. The one I have is probably closer to a 750-1200 gram weight that would be on a regular cuckoo. Probably too much weight for it. I am going to try to tear the clock down and get to the movement to take a look at it as I had it running last night and the minute had would go for a bit then just hang in one spot, the clock still ticking away but no movement from the hands what so ever.

So something can't be right in it and I'll have to look at it. I may end up using some cuckoo birds for the time being and come up with a way to mount them as on FB someone had one and I commented on it and they said they were probably some sort of celluoid plastic. I may reach out to him to get a better picture of the insides as he didn't have pendulum for his and I have mine, just no birds.

Edit: Just tried a 320g weight on it and it won't run. So some cleaning etc. is in order as it should run with that size weight.

 

[rjdj2000]

Well I took a few minute quick this morning and stripped the movement out and showed it some love. Got it all cleaned and back together, hung it up and put a 375g weight on it and it happily running. Now to see if it will keep time as it would 'stick' in random places. Now to get some birds in it and repair the case.

If a moderator thinks this should be in repair forum, please move as such.

 

[Mike Mall]

I think I saw that on one of my searches JTD. I just wished I could enlarge the photos some without losing the clarity, I may have to fiddle around with a photo edit and see if I can make one of those bigger to see the bird mounting. There is one where I saw them sitting on a platform of sorts but these look to be suspended by a wire only. Also I've noticed the weight size being quite small. The one I have is probably closer to a 750-1200 gram weight that would be on a regular cuckoo. Probably too much weight for it. I am going to try to tear the clock down and get to the movement to take a look at it as I had it running last night and the minute had would go for a bit then just hang in one spot, the clock still ticking away but no movement from the hands what so ever.

So something can't be right in it and I'll have to look at it. I may end up using some cuckoo birds for the time being and come up with a way to mount them as on FB someone had one and I commented on it and they said they were probably some sort of celluoid plastic. I may reach out to him to get a better picture of the insides as he didn't have pendulum for his and I have mine, just no birds.

Edit: Just tried a 320g weight on it and it won't run. So some cleaning etc. is in order as it should run with that size weight.

It looks like you'll need to fabricate an arbor to support them, for that bracket in the center.
JTD's link shows wires as the support.
I found this, it may be easier to fashion a sheet metal cross, than wires

 

[rjdj2000]

It looks like you'll need to fabricate an arbor to support them, for that bracket in the center.
JTD's link shows wires as the support.
I found this, it may be easier to fashion a sheet metal cross, than wires
View attachment 740043

Mike,

That is the one I found in my searches online. I think I can do one similar to that on my laser and use a lightweight but sturdy plastic and affix it to a center post like they have. I know I need to keep it light weight as this is driven of the verge on the escape wheel. If anything I can make up a wire assembly as well to do the same thing. Just have to come up with a couple birds for it that are not going to be heavy is all.

 

[Mike Mall]

I know what you mean. I have a few novelty clocks that use the same method to drive the "show". And a Woodsmen Cuckoo clock, that has a two man saw team driven in the same manner.
I must say yours is the nicest novelty movement I've seen.
The movement version in the photo I posted, has been cheapened up quite a bit.

 

[rjdj2000]

I know what you mean. I have a few novelty clocks that use the same method to drive the "show". And a Woodsmen Cuckoo clock, that has a two man saw team driven in the same manner.
I must say yours is the nicest novelty movement I've seen.
The movement version in the photo I posted, has been cheapened up quite a bit.

Yeah it isn't too bad LOL. The gears were stamped that I can tell and the good thing is I didn't have to worry about bushing anything. Everything seemed to fit nice but not sloppy. I know it would not run on a 320g weight before I serviced it and now after the cleaning and pinning the holes with a toothpick, she runs happily now on a 320g weight. I'm going to try a 275g here at some point as all the pictures I have found on these the weight isn't very large. So with the birds being moved by the top pin (extremely thin I might add) keeping weight down and how free I can make the mount, without binding up, is going to be the most important thing. I could be wrong on all counts but as just got done doing a 400 day Kundo, anything that takes away power is not good for it to run. I also have a little Unimate III lathe my dad had so I can make the small bushings and pivot pin I need to go into the mount without much trouble.