Military alarm clock

[RJSoftware]

Just won this clock.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260158662347

Lots of questions come to mind. Wonder who contracted for the military at that time to make the clocks. Patent date is 1890.

Wonder if it was issued during war time.

I think the iron rod on back might be part to serve as legs.

Can't wait to get it, hope the hairsprings good.

Any comments apreciated.
RJ

 

[harold bain]

Looks interesting, RJ. Not sure why he thinks it would be military issue. Post some pictures of the movement when you get it

 

[RJSoftware]

Will do Harold.

I guess nobody recognizes it so far...

RJ

 

[JTD]

I agree with Harold, it doesn't seem to me that this is really 'miltary' in the sense that is was issued by/to military personnel. I suspect what the seller may have meant was that this was the type of clock known as 'campaign clocks' (or he may have been told that this was a campaign clock and assumed that meant miltary issue).

It looks to me as if the hole at the top was where the original carrying ring was fitted.

As for the legs, the wire at the back looks suspicously new and not really in the right position to use as legs for the clock. If it is a 'campaign' clock there would have been two small brass legs inserted into holes on the lower surface of the casing (which was usually brass).

Many campaign clocks had French movements, but this one looks as if it might not. The winding arbors look huge!

Anyway, I may well be wrong but it may become clearer when you have the clock and can post some pictures of the movement.

JTD

 

[zepernick]

RJ --

When you get the beastie, please check that patent date. US patents, at least, were only issued on Tuesdays. And January 29, 1890 was a Wednesday (I remember it well)

Gards,
Zep

 

[RJSoftware]

Zep.

Ok, let me ask a question and hopefully not show myself as a total ignrant.

Why is Jan 29 special to you, why do you remember it well?

Good info about tuesdays. The plot thickens.

RJ

 

[RJSoftware]

Ok, well turns out the clock is from Waterbury Clock Co. It's a triple plate, 1 side for the time, other for the alarm.

It's from Jan 29 1901 as the seller could not see the leading and trailing 1s.
So that should solve the tuesday issue. I suppose.

Got it working so-so.

I had to make a spring for the tension washer. So that it would turn the hands from power of the minute hand.

Just a piece of spring wire and a bushing to hold tension in place.

The hairsping was a bit difficult to say the least. Had to reshape it. I spent a few hours doing that. You know how it is when sweat starts dripping down the rim of your magnifier visor.

I also found another good gotcha on these little pin palette escapement. On the lever/anchor assembly you have to check to see if everything is square. Really square.

What happened on mine is that the lever that reaches into balance wheel pin was bent ever so slight and would make a slight contact/bump when the balance wheel pin returns into contact. The pin would bump into leading fork tong, instead of the airspace between them.

So I have a new saying now,

Square your lever prongs, or your balance won't last long.

Well, maybe it could use some work. But it sure did improve things. It went from a movement that appeared to be robbed of power somewhere allong the time train to a semi-healthy balance wheel motion.

Even though it's still a tad week, might be old worn mainspring, it starts to move with the slightest disturbance. I have had other hairspring type movements that acted like this and eventually just began to run. Don't know why other than to say things worked itself out.

I checked on ebay for simular Waterbury alarm clocks. I see a simular model called the wasp and am of the opinion that this is one of those. Maybe a brass version.

A little disappointed because I thought this clock was military issue. I have already given the seller good feedback. At this point you know how it is, why bother with a feedback war. I should have wrote asking questions about it being military and what prompted them to think it was. I did ask post sale and I get no response.

Ahk, oh well.
RJ

 

[harold bain]

Come on, now RJ. More pictures

 

[zepernick]

"It's from Jan 29 1901 as the seller could not see the leading and trailing 1s. So that should solve the tuesday issue. I suppose."

RJ -- Yes, January 29, 1901 was a Tuesday. The US patent in question is Waterbury's #666997. Regards, Zep

 

[RJSoftware]

Hey Harold;

Sorry bout the delay in replying. Got a little lazy about posting pics. You know, where's that dang camera...

After messing arround a bit with this thing. Least I know it inside out now. I stretched the mainspring a tad and it seemed to give it just a hair bit more power.

The balance wheel is moving now for several hours and it looks like it's on the road to recovery.

I think the balance wheel cups and cones probably could have used a good honing and burnishing. But, I have the clock on it's side so the balance wheel has easier time running. Maybe it will self hone...!

http://www.picpuppy.com/waterb.jpg

 

[RJSoftware]

Ahhhk, it's right back to stopping again...!

Still, it's a cute little bugar aint it. Gotta love it. Paid too much, but gotta love it.

RJ

 

[harold bain]

Another learning experience, RJ