My first Lovejoy and co. Postman clock - where to start?

[Gage_robertson_collector]

I was given this clock for free in a deal for two Seth Thomas Tambour clocks, and I wanted to ask where should I start with the restoration? It is missing the weights, and the pendulum is broken. Also, the chain for the time has fallen off. (Luckily I still have the chains for both time and strike.) Should I start by surface cleaning and just putting the chain back on? Or should the whole clock be taken apart and cleaned in solution (for me that would be mineral spirits) like I said no clue if this clock works so I am just looking for a bit of advice. Also, any other info about the clock would be awesome because I don’t know much about it other than the maker. Like how old is it? E.t.c. Thanks everyone.

(I do have the little brass alarm dial piece that goes on the front it is just not pictured)

 

[JTD]

Also, any other info about the clock would be awesome because I don’t know much about it other than the maker. Like how old is it?

Just a few thoughts: Lovejoy & Co., were not the makers of this clock, they just imported it from Germany. Lovejoy and Co. were wholesalers in London and these clocks were made over a long period of years and imported into England in their thousands, from about 1870 - 1900. These clocks were often made at home in Germany by out-workers, put together and sold to wholesalers who then in turn sold them to clocksellers who brought them to UK and went round the country visiting retailers. The clocks were usually unnamed or marked, simply because no one person made the whole clock.

They are often called Postmen's clocks, apparently because of the alarm (the alarm disc is missing from yours) but it has never been proved that they were ever used by postmen. (Timesavers used to sell these discs, they called them Center Alarm Rings, part #14524, and they probably still do).

You can find out a lot about cleaning these wooden plate clocks if you use the search icon at the top of the page, and you will then see the best way of going about getting yours working.

JTD

 

[Gage_robertson_collector]

Just a few thoughts: Lovejoy & Co., were not the makers of this clock, they just imported it from Germany. Lovejoy and Co. were wholesalers in London and these clocks were made over a long period of years and imported into England in their thousands, from about 1870 - 1900. These clocks were often made at home in Germany by out-workers, put together and sold to wholesalers who then in turn sold them to clocksellers who brought them to UK and went round the country visiting retailers. The clocks were usually unnamed or marked, simply because no one person made the whole clock.

They are often called Postmen's clocks, apparently because of the alarm (the alarm disc is missing from yours) but it has never been proved that they were ever used by postmen. (Timesavers used to sell these discs, they called them Center Alarm Rings, part #14524, and they probably still do).

You can find out a lot about cleaning these wooden plate clocks if you use the search icon at the top of the page, and you will then see the best way of going about getting yours working.

JTD

thanks for the info. My clock is not missing the alarm disc as stated prior it is just not in the photos.

 

[JTD]

thanks for the info. My clock is not missing the alarm disc as stated prior it is just not in the photos.

Sorry - I missed that line in your post. My apologies.

JTD

 

[Gage_robertson_collector]

Sorry - I missed that line in your post. My apologies.

JTD

No worries

 

[Gage_robertson_collector]

It

Just a few thoughts: Lovejoy & Co., were not the makers of this clock, they just imported it from Germany. Lovejoy and Co. were wholesalers in London and these clocks were made over a long period of years and imported into England in their thousands, from about 1870 - 1900. These clocks were often made at home in Germany by out-workers, put together and sold to wholesalers who then in turn sold them to clocksellers who brought them to UK and went round the country visiting retailers. The clocks were usually unnamed or marked, simply because no one person made the whole clock.

They are often called Postmen's clocks, apparently because of the alarm (the alarm disc is missing from yours) but it has never been proved that they were ever used by postmen. (Timesavers used to sell these discs, they called them Center Alarm Rings, part #14524, and they probably still do).

You can find out a lot about cleaning these wooden plate clocks if you use the search icon at the top of the page, and you will then see the best way of going about getting yours working.

JTD

It appears that the gears are not all lined up for the clock to work. It looks like the movement is tilting down towards the floor causing the gears to slide out of place. When I put on the cuckoo clock weight, and lift the bottom front edge of the clock up towards the cieling a little bit, it seems to tick loudly and proudly, but when I let go, the ticking fades and lasts for about 15 seconds before stopping. Do I have to rebrace the cabinet or something in order to make it work?
Thanks

gage

 

[shutterbug]

Before attempting to clean your clock, you need to disassemble it. Don't get the wood wet. You'll likely need to do some bushing work too. Look carefully at the existing holes to see if they were bushed with Ivory (bone) or metal. If neither, you'll have to make wooden bushings for it. Try to determine the wood type and match it as close as possible.

 

[JTD]

It


It appears that the gears are not all lined up for the clock to work. It looks like the movement is tilting down towards the floor causing the gears to slide out of place. When I put on the cuckoo clock weight, and lift the bottom front edge of the clock up towards the cieling a little bit, it seems to tick loudly and proudly, but when I let go, the ticking fades and lasts for about 15 seconds before stopping. Do I have to rebrace the cabinet or something in order to make it work?
Thanks

gage

If I have understood you rightly, you can solve this problem by putting a couple of self-adhesive felt pads on the lower part of the back of the clock, which would raise it away from the wall and up slightly in the way you describe. These pads are easily available from the clock material suppliers or hobby/craft stores.

However, I am not sure if I have understood you. It would be helpful if you could show a photo of the gears when they have slidden out of place in the way you describe.

JTD